Stenciling Tips

Tools

• Choose your brush carefully. This is the most important aspect of successful stenciling. Stenciling brushes have short, round and stiff bristles. Avoid brushes with loose bristles or hollow centers. Foam stencil brushes should be used only for small jobs as they quickly begin to break apart.

  Choose stencils made from durable plastic or mylar. Avoid stencils with creases or wrinkles---these won't sit flat against the wall and paint may get underneath them and ruin the design. Thick plastic stencil are reusable. Thinner plastics are easy to wrap around corners if necessary.

Positioning

• Use a spirit level to check that stencils are straight before you begin painting. Set the level against the wall and move until the bubble in the liquid is centered. Line up the stencil's edge with the level's edge.

  Attach stencils with masking tape or painter's masking tape around the outside edges. Masking tape peels from walls without damaging them. You also can use a spray adhesive made specifically for stencil use. Spray adhesive is preferable for stencils with many small cut-outs because it keeps the various edges firmly attached so paint does not run under them.

Painting

• Use a paper plate or plastic paint palette to hold your stencil paints. Pour a quarter-size pool of paint on the palette then dip the tip of the brush in the paint. Remove excess paint by swirling the brush in a circular motion on a paper towel. Use too little paint rather than too much. The stencil brush should be nearly dry.

  Dab the brush onto the stencil to apply paint. Do not sweep the brush across the stencil as this will force paint under it and ruin the crisp edges of the design. Dab on additional layers of paint until you reach the desired intensity of color.

Brush Strokes

• Dabbing, or stippling, is the most basic stencil technique and best for beginners. Dab the brush in quick jabs onto the stencil. This stroke creates an even tone throughout the design.

  Swirl the brush in small circles to create more depth to your design. Work with very little paint to avoid swirling it under the stencil edges.

  Work from the outside of the stencil cut-out inward, finishing the inside of the design last. This keeps your strokes from pushing under the stencil edge and keeps the borders crisp.