Look for clean-lined furniture—a plant stand, writing desk, or nightstand, for example—at a flea market or thrift store. Color it the hallmark pale gray of the stoneware using ordinary latex paint, then add sienna glaze highlights to give the finish an aged look. Download the leaf pattern, and cut it out of stencil Mylar (available in sheets from the crafts store). Using blue acrylic crafts paint, stencil leaves across the front. Add more decoration with hand-painted borders and details.

TEMPLATES & PATTERNS: Leaf pattern