How to Create Wall Stencils

The day has finally arrived! You've saved enough money to begin redecorating your house and can see the completed project in your mind's eye. You go to the store and flip through endless stacks of paint swatches until you find the perfect colors. You know that you want to stencil little pink ballerinas across the top of the chartreuse wall but, alas, you can't find the stencil that you desire. You frantically search all of the interior design stores in the area, but eventually reach the conclusion that your ideal stencil does not exist.If you find yourself in this situation, don't worry. You can have the exact stencil that you want if you make it yourself.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sketching pad
• Pencil
• Transparent blank stencils
• Wood burning tool
• Permanent marker
• Tape
• Scrap plywood, an old cutting board, or any hard, non-plastic surface that can sustain damage and withstand heat
• Re-positionable stencil adhesive

1. Create a stencil design. Whether you want geometric shapes, cars, coffee mugs, flowers or all of the above, design your theme, but keep it simple. Remember that stenciled images are like a puzzle: Each image is created using smaller geometric shapes that fit together to create a whole picture. Keep this in mind unless you are trying to create a geometric pattern or a sillhouette.

2. Sketch your stencil design to scale on your sketch pad and hold it up to the wall that you will stencil on. Make sure it's large enough and looks exactly the way you want.

3. Trace your stencil design onto your transparent blank stencil with a permanent marker. Tearing your design out of your sketch book and taping the paper to the stencil will keep your design from sliding and make for easier tracing. Make sure your lines are straight and even.

4. Attach the fine-pointed tip to your wood burning tool and plug it into an outlet. Allow adequate time for the tool to heat up.

5. Tape your stencil to the scrap plywood or hard surface. Hold the wood burning tool as you would a pencil and carefully cut out your design. Allow your stencil to cool.

6. Lightly spray the back of your stencil with re-positionable stencil adhesive. Place it on the wall, making sure that the edges are straight, and begin to stencil your ideal wall border.

Tips & Warnings

• If aren't a skilled artist and are having difficulty sketching your ideas, sometimes you can trace the basic outline of your design using a picture of the object that you're stenciling. Try finding a stock photo on-line or take a picture of the object with your camera.
• If you're having difficulty finding a wood burning tool or transparent blank stencils, check local craft and hobby stores such as Michael's or Hobby Lobby or see resources for more information.
• To create a wall stencil you don't have to be an artistic genius, but you should have at least a creative bent. If your last artistic masterpiece is still lovingly hanging from a magnet on your mother's refridgerator or immortalized in your baby scrap book, consider describing your stencil design to an artistic friend who could lend a hand.
• The wood burning tool will reach temperatures high enough to scorch wood and melt plastic. Keep all flamable objects at a distance, including baggy clothing and be careful not to damage anything around you.

Resources

• Tips for better stenciling
• Order a wood burning tool