Doing something artsy and crafty is therapeutic and fulfilling at the same time. Learning how to make a chess board spray paint template helps improve mental health, making your brain more functional and productive. It also helps increase the dopamine in your brain responsible for your mind’s motivation and learning. Creating art can also reduce your stress and anxiety because it diverts your attention to negative thoughts and focuses more on what you are doing.
One of the most challenging yet fulfilling art activities is making a pattern. Making a pattern means that you are making something from scratch. This article will focus on using a chessboard spray paint template that you can use for your DIY chessboard. The chessboard template is a great help for painting your chessboard neatly using spray paint. Learn more with our easy step-by-step process below.
A Step-By-Step Process on How to Make a Chess Board Spray Paint Template
You will know the things needed to make a chessboard stencil are in this part. Here are the basic pieces of equipment that you need to create your chessboard stencil:
- Acetate Sheets/Thick Cardboard
- Ruler
- Masking tape
- Pencil
- Cutter
How to Make Your Chess Board Stencil
Step 1 – Prepare for all the things that you will be needing. All of the materials listed above can be easily found in the market and are not that expensive.
Step 2 – Know the exact measurement of your preferred chessboard. The standard chess board is an 8 x 8 grid, with 64 boxes on the board that measures 2-2.5 inches each.
Step 3 – There are two ways on how you can start to make your pattern using acetate sheets or thick cardboard. Here are some of the easy steps on how to start:
- Manually trace the lines using a pencil and ruler and make sure that the measurements are correct. Or;
- Get a standard pattern online and print it on a paper that is also your preferred chess board’s exact size.
Step 3.1 – Proceed first with the manual tracing of lines. Make sure that your acetate sheets or thick cardboard are clean before tracing the lines manually. Use a straight ruler and sharp pencil for tracing. Once done with making the lines, trace them using a pen or marker to visualize lines clearer.
Step 3.2 – Next way is the use of a printed pattern. This step is easier if you are using an acetate sheet since it is transparent and thinner. On a smooth surface, put the printed pattern. You can put adhesive tapes on each side to prevent it from moving. After securing the pattern, put the acetate sheet on top of the printed pattern, then start tracing the lines and boxes.
Step 4 – Double-check the lines and boxes, especially if you drew it straightly and if the measurements are correct.
Step 5 – Once done with the checking, you can now start with the cutting of squares. Every one of us knows that the chessboard has alternate dark and light boxes. Using a cutter, carefully cut the boxes alternately, starting from the top box to the bottom box. Repeat the step alternately until finished.
Step 6 – Once done with the cutting, ensure that each edge is clear and no excess lines are visible. This step is to ensure that each box is uniformly cut.
Step 7 – Once done and the pattern is ready, you can now put the pattern at the top of your board. Secure it with masking tape to prevent it from moving. Ensure all sides before spray painting prevents spray paint from leaking to your chess board’s unwanted spots.
Things to Remember
Here are some of the important reminders before proceeding with the pattern making:
- If you are too young to use a cutter, make sure that someone older can supervise you while doing your own chess board spray paint template.
- If you are not that confident with manual tracing and measurements, Step 3.2 is the best way to achieve your chessboard template’s successful outcome.
- If you are having allergies when using spray paint, refrain from doing the painting work.
Doubling Up
A typical practice is when parents buy two of everything for their twins. This has the same tenor as the question: can twins sleep in the same crib? The answer is no, especially when it comes to furniture. Sure, you have two kids, but you only have a set of hands. You cannot attend to two kids simultaneously, so keeping things in different cabinets will only wear you out.
What you can do instead is to but a single dresser and a changing table. You may also invest in drawer separators to keep everything in the right place.
Conclusion
Creating a chessboard stencil mentioned above is very easy to understand but quite challenging in the actual process. Ensure that you have lots of patience to work on this activity, and rest if you need to. It may take you hours or a day to finish your stencil, and it is totally fine. Just make sure not to give up on it. Learn more about DIY projects here!