How to Make a Personalized Stepping Stool

Stepping stools can make life easier if you need to reach a high cabinet or if your kids need help reaching the sink. Make your own personalized stepping stool to fit your home décor or to fit the personality of your children. Look for unfinished wooden stepping stools at craft stores or used stepping stools at thrift stores and yard sales. Personalize the stools with decorative paint, vinyl stickers and stenciled lettering. Personalized stepping stools are also good ideas for handmade gifts.

• 1

  Lightly sand an unfinished wood stepping stool to prepare the grain for painting. If you are using a used stepping stool, lightly sand it to remove the old finish and prepare it for painting.

• 2

  Spray paint the stepping stool in the desired color. It's best to use a smooth back and forth motion when applying spray paint; hold the paint can 10 to 12 inches from the surface of the stool. Always apply paint in a well-ventilated environment. Let the paint dry.

• 3

  Tape the stencils to the top of the stepping stool. Stencils are available in a variety of letters or images. Talented artists can personalize the stepping stone with a freehand design.

• 4

  Squirt a quarter-size amount of acrylic paint onto a paper plate. Tap the blunt-ended stencil brush into the paint.

• 5

  Tap the brush onto the paper plate to remove most of the paint; stenciling works best when your paint brush is almost dry. Swirl the blunt end of the brush onto the stencil cutouts, working from the outside edge of the design inward.

• 6

  Repeat Step 5 to fill in every part of the stencil cutout with paint. Allow the paint to dry. Repeat as needed to darken the color. Remove the stencil.

• 7

  Decorate the stepping stool around the stencil and on the legs with vinyl rub-on stickers. The stickers look like painted designs; cut around an individual sticker, place it onto the stool surface and rub it with the craft stick enclosed with the kit. Remove the paper facing and the sticker will remain.

• 8

  Spray the stool with polyurethane spray. This will protect the finish. Let the polyurethane dry before using the stool.