Many do-it-yourselfers find that stencils are the perfect way to put a nice, delicate pattern on any part of their wall. Many people use stencils for the trim, while others find that putting stencils on the entire wall creates a lovely scene. No matter how you plan to use your stencils, there are some basics that you should understand and practice to make sure that your first application is a success.
First, you should learn about stencil procurement. Many people purchase plastic or cardboard ready-made stencils. These stencils are available online and at just about every craft and hobby store. The benefit of purchasing ready-made stencils is that they are reliable and perfectly precise with a design that has proven success.
However, ready-made stencils tend to be expensive, even if you purchase only one. Therefore, many people choose to make their own stencils. If you are interested in many your own stencils, you can either download a pattern from online, scan or copy a pattern from a printed material, or you can sketch the stencil on your own.
Make sure that whichever paper you are using for your stencil is durable. Many people who want to reuse their stencils find that putting a protective layer or clear laminate paper on either side of the stencil helps to keep it sturdy through repeated use and paintings. Laminate paper is available at any crafts or office supply store.
Once you have the stencil that you prefer, you are just about ready to begin putting it on your wall. Before you begin, it is important that you have a well-planned map for where each application will go on the wall. Take some time to match these applications with the stencil so that you are sure to get the desired effect. Mark the exact locations of each application so that you can go back any time to work on it. Many people like to even sketch out the whole pattern on their wall before proceeding with the actual stencil use.
Next, make sure that you have prepared the surface of your wall by cleaning it well and laying a primer foundation. Once the primer foundation has dried, then you will want to lay your top layers of paint. Wait for these layers to dry completely before the stencil layer.
Firmly tape your stencil to the wall using a light, but firm, tape, such as painters tape. Painters tape is a good choice because it will not pull the paint away from the wall when you remove the stencil, but it will hold your stencil firmly in place.
With the stencil firmly in place, use your paintbrush to dab your color of paint in a circular motion inside the stencil. Of course, it is okay if you get the paint on the stencil, but it is essential that the inner-area is completely covered with paint before removing the stencil. Some folks find that it is also helpful to let the layer dry somewhat before removing the stencil so that any wet paint does not get removed from the wall when you remove the stencil.