How to Stencil Words on the Wall

Prepare the surface. Stencils work best on walls that are completely smooth. It is also a good idea to clean the surface to ensure that the paint sticks well.

Tape your stencil into place. When stenciling words, you will often be using an alphabet stencil page, so you will need to reposition the stencil for each letter. If you are going to make the words straight, it is best to pencil a line onto the wall, using a ruler and the level, to make sure that your letters will all be in line.

Dip your paint brush into the paint. The best way to stencil is to have the brush as dry as possible. Dip the brush into the paint and wipe off as much excess as possible. Too much paint will make your letters blotchy and uneven.

Apply the paint to the wall. There are many different types of strokes you can use for various different effects. Some of these strokes include swirling, sponge painting, stippling or edging. This allows you to personalize your statement.

Carefully remove any pencil markings. This is best done after the paint has dried to avoid damaging the words you have stenciled. This can generally be done by using a regular pencil eraser. Cleaners may be necessary if the marks are more difficult to remove.