For $9.99 I picked up a solid wood Ikea picnic table for wee-one. (Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of the table as is. I will try to remember to take a before when I am at the beach.)

Despite the fact that wee-one is too wee for the table, I want to paint the table this weekend. Although I have not entirely decided how to paint it, I did decide to include a butterfly stencil I made myself.

First, I picked my butterfly image:

Then I modified it in Photoshop. First, I cut it in half in order to ensure symmetry. Then I eliminated any “islands.” (I am cutting out the black parts and I want to make sure all the white parts in the middle are somehow connected to the outside, otherwise they will be cut out too.) Then I printed it onto acetate.

After I let the ink dry, I used a heat tool (which was given to me by my most amazing friend Reine*) to cut the stencil out.

I cut the stencil out directly on my kitchen counter, because it is granite, therefore heat resistant. Be sure that if you ever use a heat tool, to have a heat resistant material underneath.

Then I packed up all of my art supplies in an extra beach bag!

Now I am ready to go. I leave first thing in the morning and will hopefully have some pictures to post on Monday.

* for a really cool interview with the super-awesome Reine – check out The Organic Mechanic’s Artist Spotlight on Reine Hewitt.