Stain sensations

Hands-on time: Less than two hours
Total time: Plus four hours drying time
Skill: Easy
Cost: Less than $25

Materials and Tools

• Unpainted wooden oval box
• Sandpaper and tack cloth
• Minwax water-based pre-stain wood conditioner
• Minwax water-based wood stain in four colours (I used Cherry Blossom, Midnight Blue, Wild Berry and Coffee)
• Stir sticks
• 4 sponge brushes, one for each colour
• Lint-free cloths
• Minwax polycrylic clear gloss protective finish
• Design of your choice
• Latex gloves (optional)

Here's a way to revive garage-sale or flea-market finds. Plain wooden items, from wooden boxes to furniture, can be transformed by camouflage staining. This involves applying, combining and blending four different shades of stain to give a distinctive look.

First, sand the item and wipe away dust with a tack cloth. Apply wood conditioner with a foam brush to ensure an even and smooth surface for staining. The pre-stain application is crucial to successful camouflage staining. Because Minwax conditioner and protective finish are odourless, they can be used indoors or out, and clean up is easy. The wood conditioner is milky white and clear as it dries. Allow a few minutes to dry.

Choose stain colours that go together well in both dark and light tones. Mix each stain well. Dip brush in stain and remove excess. Work on one small area at a time. Start with one colour and apply various small shapes, leaving spaces in between for the other colours. Use a different brush for each colour. Apply colours randomly, using a combination of small strokes, dashes, half circles and line shapes, to make it look like a patchwork pattern or camouflage design.

It will look messy. Wait about three minutes for stain to penetrate the wood but do not leave on longer. Using a lint-free cloth, wipe off stain in a circular motion. Repeat until entire box is stained and wiped. Use a dark colour on the trim around the lid.

Allow to dry at least two hours before applying a light coat of clear gloss protective finish. Let dry for a couple of hours, and then lightly sand with fine sandpaper, and wipe with a tack cloth. Apply a second coat of protective finish, and let dry overnight.

Variations

• Apply and blend more or fewer stain colours, just keep layering them.
• Try the technique on unpainted mirrors, frames, small tables, shelves or wooden-rack CD holders. Use bright, fun colours on kids' bedroom furniture.