Learning how to stencil is a fabulous way to bring out your inner-artists and create a unique handcrafted finish on any surface: walls, floors, furniture, wood, metal, paper, fabric.

Stencilling is easy as it is fun and inspires a feeling of creative satisfaction. Pieces made by hand have a certain charm and a vibe that is undeniable; a quality that store-bought art cannot compete with. Not to mention, stencils are economical. You can reuse a quality mylar stencils many times with simple care and proper storage. Whipping up a design that looks amazing for a fraction of the cost is just a dab (or roll) of paint away.

 

Tools:

Application tool: brush, dabber, sponge, or roller.

Adhesive: Painter’s tape or Spray Adhesive.

Paint: Acrylic ( matte), chalk paint, stencil creme.

Paint Tray: to hold paint or blend and create custom colors.

Paper towel or Rags: To offload the paint before stencilling.

Ruler/Tape measure: Measure and align the artwork.

Stabilizer ( optional): Dowel, Pencil, or any stick-like tool.

Steps of painting with stencil

Choose your stencil

This might be the hardest step of the entire process. There are so many different designs to choose from. When selecting a stencil for your wall, I recommend getting a large stencil. The bigger, the better when it comes to stenciling walls and other large spaces.

Prepare the surface before you start

By not preparing the surface beforehand, you run the risk of a failed project. Stencilling over an unprepared surface ( dirt, dust, oil, old paint) it is like building a house on a sand hill. All that work will slide or peel off.

Removing loose paint, dirt, or oil with a quick wipe down with a cleaning solution will help the paint stick to the surface — no need to buy fancy store-bought cleaner. A mild soap and water wipe is all you need for most hard surfaces.

When stenciling, use a low-stick painter’s tape, such as 3M blue tape, to avoid pulling the base color. Cover walls, baseboards, moldings, ceilings and non-stenciling surfaces. Cover (rub) the edge of the tape to create a line of color with less seepage. Always remove your masking tape gently and pull it at an angle.

 Keeping the stencil static

To ensure the stencil stays in place whilst painting it’s best to secure with low tack stencil tape or spraymount.

Top Tip – if you can’t get your hands on low tack tape just remove some of the stick from masking tape by applying the tape to some fabric (like your jeans) before sticking the stencil in place.

Applying the paint

Any type of paint can be used to apply the stencil to your chosen surface, just use the most appropriate paint for the job in hand. Remember that the thicker the paint, the better the results. Thinner paint has a tendancy to seep behind the stencil causing blotches and bleeding. Stencil paint – acrylic paints for stenciling – How to stencil Tutorial from The Stencil Studio Ltd

You could use stencil brushes, pieces of sponge, foam rollers or even fabric to apply the paint. Our preferred method with smaller projects is a stencil brush. Stencil brushes have a flat end and are designed to be used at a 90 degree angle to the stencil, this ensures minimum paint bleed and a sharp finish to your stenciling.

Stencil brushes come in a variety of sizes. Choose brush size according to stencil size and one brush for each colour you choose to use.