Home Decor Crafts: Pink and Black Monogram Garden Bench

One often overlooked garden theme is that of pink and black. This whimsical and fun pink and black monogram garden bench is sure to be the center of attention in your outdoor space this spring season!

For this project, you will need (per bench):

- One unfinished wooden bench (available at local home and garden stores)

- Medium or fine grit sandpaper

- Tack cloth or other similar style soft cloth

- Krylon Indoor Outdoor Primer in All-Purpose White

- Krylon Indoor Outdoor Paint in Watermelon

- Krylon Indoor Outdoor Paint in Gloss Black

- Computer with a printer

- Cardstock

- Craft knife

- Self healing mat

- Masking tape

- Sponge brush

- Polyurethane sealant

- Newspaper and/or a large drop cloth

Before you start your bench project, cover the space you will be working in with newspaper and/or a large drop cloth. Carefully sand the entire outside of the unfinished wooden bench with a few sheets of medium or fine grit sandpaper. (This will simply smooth away any rough areas on the wood itself.) Prime the entire bench with two to three good coats of Krylon Indoor Outdoor Primer in All-Purpose White. Dry for three to four hours.

Paint the bench using seven to eight thick coats of Krylon Indoor Outdoor Paint in Watermelon. Continue to add paint coats until you have reached a desired hot pink color. Let the bench dry overnight.

Print an eight inch monogram letter in any font onto cardstock. Lay the cardstock flat on a self healing mat. Very carefully, cut out the monogram design from the cardstock. Discard the cutout, leaving a template for your bench. (Note: You want the lettering to be as simple as possible, as it is the outside edge that you will be painting on the bench from the template.)

Adhere the template to the pink painted bench with masking tape. Make sure the cardstock template cannot easily move around. Cover any other exposed areas with craft paper and/or a dissembled paper bag. Spray the exposed monogram design with seven to eight thick coats of Krylon Indoor Outdoor Paint in Gloss Black. Keep adding coats of black paint if the pink underneath is showing through. Let the bench set overnight.

Use a sponge brush and a high quality polyurethane sealant to seal the paint and monogram on the bench, Cure for a couple days before enjoying your new garden creation.

TIP: For a less drastic appeal, consider using the softer pink shade of Krylon Indoor Outdoor Paint in Satin Ballet Slipper.