Introduction: Sexy Mailbox
What is a new house without a cool mailbox? If you are tired of the usual, then spray paint something cool. My method can be used to do other designs, although orange and hot pink tiger stripes are HOT. Some may find this easier to get a clean, complicated design than cutting a stencil from paper.
Step 1: Get Supplies
mailbox
painter's tape- wide tape is faster
spray paint- orange and hot pink (or whatever you like)
acrylic paint- black (or whatever again)
xacto knife
tracing paper- or freehand if you like
painter's tape- wide tape is faster
spray paint- orange and hot pink (or whatever you like)
acrylic paint- black (or whatever again)
xacto knife
tracing paper- or freehand if you like
Step 2: Paint the Base Coat
Before you start, remove the flag from the mailbox.
Process-wise hot pink is the base coat. But, as the final product, hot pink will appear to be the stripes on top of the orange background. The whole mailbox was sprayed with the door closed. This made it look really cool with the inside remaining white. Then wait for it to dry. The longer you wait the better- as we all know.
Process-wise hot pink is the base coat. But, as the final product, hot pink will appear to be the stripes on top of the orange background. The whole mailbox was sprayed with the door closed. This made it look really cool with the inside remaining white. Then wait for it to dry. The longer you wait the better- as we all know.
Step 3: Tape It All Up
Like the title says. Tape it up! You will be cutting into the tape, so use some judgement. I started from the back and worked my way up evenly. Then I taped the sides.
Step 4: Draw and Cut the Image
Draw your image onto the tape. Do this by using your tracing paper, freehand, or both like what I did. Then start cutting it out. When doing this kind of work with a confusing pattern I like to label the image:
The places I want to keep on the mailbox
What I want to peel away (negative space)
Specifically, I want to keep the stripes hot pink, so I colored in all the stripes. You can cut away the rest of the tape in any way you need in order to preserve the stripes.
Just a note, this causes minor scratches on the mailbox. Hardly noticeable. I kept the tape on the sides too, because I wanted them to be pink as well.
The places I want to keep on the mailbox
What I want to peel away (negative space)
Specifically, I want to keep the stripes hot pink, so I colored in all the stripes. You can cut away the rest of the tape in any way you need in order to preserve the stripes.
Just a note, this causes minor scratches on the mailbox. Hardly noticeable. I kept the tape on the sides too, because I wanted them to be pink as well.
Step 5: Paint the Orange Coat, Peel Away, and Wha-lah
Spray the orange onto the mailbox. You should be spraying over the taped stripes. Wait for it to dry. Peel away the rest of the tape. Yay! Now you can paint your address onto your mailbox. Keep in mind where the flag will be. I didn't. oops.
