How to Paint a Stencil on Kitchen Cabinet Doors

Shake your can of spray adhesive. Apply a thin film to the back of your stencil.

Measure the placement of your stencil on the cabinet with a ruler or tape measure. Gently press the sticky side of the stencil to the surface of the cabinet. Peel up the stencil carefully to reposition it if necessary.

Mix acrylic paint on the palette to make the colors you want. To create a dimensional effect with your stencil, mix light, medium and dark versions of colors.

Plan how will you paint your stencil. Start with dark colors and work your way to the lightest shades. Dip a stencil brush in the paint to get a small amount of paint on the tip. Blot the brush on a rag. You want your brush to remain fairly dry.

Gently tap the flat tip of the stencil brush against the open areas of the stencil. Apply the paint with a quick tapping motion. Paint an even coat along the edge for crisp lines.

Apply dark colors at the outside of the image and lighter colors toward the center to make your image look three-dimensional. Change brushes with each color. Blend the area where darks and lights meet with a thin coat of your medium shade.

Carefully peel the stencil off the cabinet. Wipe the stencil with a damp rag. Reposition the stencil to paint an image on another cabinet.

Wash the stencil brushes with soap and water. Allow them to dry upright.