How to Make Stencils Out of Paper

If you have a crafting project that involves stenciling, perhaps you have decided that you need to make your own stencil. Finding the right design for a stencil can often be done by browsing the Internet and looking at the various images that you can download. Finding an image you like may be the most time-consuming part of making your own stencil. Once you've found your image and downloaded it, print it out and you are ready to make your stencil and paint.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Graphics program Printer Card stock X-Acto knife

1. Browse images on the Internet by using Google's image search function. When you find an image you like, download it to your hard drive.

2. Open the image in your graphics program. Resize it as needed. Be aware that you will have to reverse the image if it involves lettering. Experiment with other images to see if you need to reverse them before printing. Save the image when you have edited it as you desire.

3. Print the image onto your card stock paper.

4. Carefully cut out the image with the X-Acto knife to finish the stencil.

Tips & Warnings

• Be very careful when cutting with the X-Acto knife.