How to Create Your Own Stencils for Painting the Walls

Find or create the pattern you want to use on your walls. Magazines, wallpaper and the Internet are all sources of ideas if you are unsure what pattern you want on your walls.

Draw the pattern on regular white paper with a pencil. This will allow you to perfect the pattern before transferring it to the tracing paper.

Put the tracing paper over the pattern you drew and copy it onto the tracing paper.

Spray the plastic sheet with the spray mount adhesive and place the tracing paper on top. The tracing paper will bond to the plastic sheet very quickly, so use caution when placing the tracing paper. The plastic sheet that you use should be a little bigger than your pattern.

Allow the adhesive to dry for about 5 minutes.

Cut out the pattern on the plastic sheet using your craft knife.

Tape each side of your stencil to the wall where you want to paint it.

Paint the stencil pattern onto the wall using a stenciling brush. Use very little paint; the brush should hardly have any paint on it. Use a dabbing motion to paint the pattern; do not use strokes like you would for regular painting.

Allow the paint to dry and wipe excess paint off of the back of the stencil before moving it. The paint does not need to be fully dry, just dry when you touch it. Drying time will vary depending on the type of paint you are using. Check the paint label to find out how long it will take.