Easy Stencil Method

Materials

• If you don't want to make your own stencils, buy them from a craft store. Choose simple designs for easiest paint application. To make your own stencils, buy sheets of Mylar from an art supply shop. Mylar stencils are reusable. For simple stencils for fabric only, freezer paper can be used instead of Mylar.

  You'll need a craft knife and a self-healing cutting mat or piece of cardboard to protect your table when cutting your stencils.

  Buy stencil paint, acrylic paint, spray paint or latex paint to stencil on furniture and walls. For floors, buy paint designed for floors. Use fabric paint for stenciling on fabric.

Design

• Make stencil patterns out of simple geometric shapes and natural forms. Simple shapes are easiest to cut and paint. A good source for simple shapes are the wingdings fonts on your computer. Wingdings are fonts that are pictures instead of letters. You can download hundreds of wingdings for free on Web sites such as Dafont.com. Enlarge the wingdings to the desired size and print them. For natural forms, collect elements such as leaves and seed pods and trace them on paper.

Cutting

• If you're making a Mylar stencil, place the sheet over your pattern and trace directly on the Mylar with a permanent marker. If you plan to make an all-over wallpaper-style pattern, use a hole punch to make registration marks on all four corners of your sheet. This will help make evenly spaced shapes. Cut out the stencils with a craft knife.

  For freezer paper stencils, trace your designs on the freezer paper by placing it over the design on a window pane, letting the window light illuminate the designs through the freezer paper. Cut the freezer paper shapes with a craft knife.

Painting

• For Mylar stencils, use painter's tape to attach the stencils to your surface. If you are using registration marks, lightly pencil them in--erase them when you're done painting. For freezer paper stencils, iron your stencil directly on the fabric, shiny side down. Don't slide the iron back and forth. Just press the iron gently.

  Always practice stencil painting on scrap paper before painting your project. If you are using spray paint, carefully spray the paint over your stencils. For brush paint application, place a small amount of stencil paint on a disposable plate. Carefully immerse the tip of the stencil brush into the paint and dab off any extra on the plate. Paint inside the stencil shape with a tapping motion, holding the brush straight up, not at an angle. Remove the stencil or freezer paper when you are done painting.

  If you are painting on fabric, follow the manufacturer's instructions for setting the fabric. On other surfaces, let the paint dry and coat the stenciled design, if desired, with a protective varnish.