By creating original stencils you can decorate all types of surfaces with images that represent you. If you want to start using stencils as a hobby or just need to create a single design for a specific project, the following steps will help you choose, create and cut your own stencils.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Create a Stencil
Step 1. Choose the design
Since you are making your own stencil, there are no limitations on what you can make. Think about the size of the surface on which you will use the stencil (T-shirt, wall, bookmark), who the drawing is for (children, birthday girl, best friend) and where the image will be (bathroom wall, counter kitchen, skateboard table).
- Use simple figures. Letters, numbers and basic shapes (circles, squares, rhombuses) can be obvious yet very effective choices for certain decorations. Combine some of these elements for a more personal creation.
- Work with a theme. Consider the images associated with the different themes - shells, starfish, seahorses, boats and anchors will create a nautical motif. Aries, bulls, scales, fish and crabs are all zodiac-inspired elements.
- Get inspiration from nature. Flowers, trees, butterflies, leaves and the sun are some examples of the ideas you can find by looking out the window.
- Choose classic designs. For example, a Greek, a lily, a Celtic cross or other traditional and universally recognizable symbols.
- If this is your first time creating a stencil, you should start with a pretty simple image - without too many separate pieces or too much detail. If you are more experienced or have more confidence in your means, you can try to create something more complex.
Step 2. Create your design
When inspiration has hit you and you've chosen a design, it's time to immortalize it.
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Create the design by hand. You can put your idea in black and white. Unleash your creativity by changing the design to your liking.
Work in pencil until you get a design that suits you. Later you can go over it with a permanent marker, so that it is easier to see the outline when you cut it out
Step 3. Print a template from the internet
There are plenty of sites that offer free stencils to download and print at home.
In some cases you may need to photocopy the image to be enlarged or reduced. In other cases, you may have the option to change the image size at print time, or you may directly change the printer settings
Step 4. Use a stamp as a guide
If you find a stamp with a design you like, you can use it as a stencil guide. Press the stamp onto the ink and then onto a sheet of white paper. Make sure the lines are clear and defined. Use a copier to increase or decrease the size of the printed image according to the type of stencil you want to create.
If the stamp image is too detailed, it may not fit a stencil. If you like it a lot, though, you might think about eliminating some details - correcting them with white-out - to simplify it
Method 2 of 4: Decide on the Stencil Style: Single or Multiple Overlay
Step 1. Single Overlay Stencil
A stencil of this type is made on a single sheet of paper or plastic on which to draw and cut out the finished design.
- Create a single overlay stencil if you are working with a black and white image or if you want the final image to be a silhouette or ghost of the image.
- If you want a colorful image, choose one that has good contrast and little color variation.
- The downside to single-ply stencils is that some details may get lost, but the upside is that you will need to draw and cut a single sheet.
Step 2. Trace the image onto thin tracing paper
Outline the image and separate it into its different parts which should have defined outlines, to allow for the appearance of "bridges" around the openings where you will need to apply the paint.
Make sure the decks are large enough to prevent paint from seeping underneath and smudging the image
Step 3. Multiple Overlay Stencil
For a design with more detail or color variations you will need to create a multiple overlay stencil. In other words, you will create many stencils - each one showing a portion of the image - and you will have to spread them one at a time on the surface to be colored to create the complete design.
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Trace the image onto thin tracing paper. Start out as you would for a regular single-overlay stencil. Outline the image and separate the different parts. The sections should have defined outlines which allow for "bridges" to appear around the openings where you will need to apply the paint.
Build Stencils Step 7Bullet1 - Make sure the decks are large enough to prevent paint from seeping underneath and smudging the image.
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Make reference marks. Draw a small triangle or other simple shape in each corner of the design. You will copy them on each layer so that you can arrange them in the exact places.
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Spread a new piece of tracing paper over the first stancil. Draw openings and bridges that will need to be colored the same way or have the same purpose (shadows, highlights, etc.).
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Create as many layers as you need until you have traced all the elements of the design.
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Method 3 of 4: Create a Paper Stencil
Step 1. Choose the material
You won't have to buy expensive paper to create a stencil - you may already have what you need in the kitchen, office or DIY room.
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Greaseproof paper. You can find it in grocery stores, alongside aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and parchment paper. Unlike greaseproof paper, which is waxed on both sides, greaseproof paper is waxed on one side only.
Greaseproof paper is a good choice if you want to create a stencil for fabrics (t-shirts, bags, etc.). Draw the image on the unwaxed side. After you cut out the stencil, place the paper with the waxed side on the fabric. Use an iron to gently heat the paper, which will adhere to the fabric, making it easier to apply the paint
- Tracing paper. Use tracing paper if you want to outline your stencil from an existing design you found in a book or downloaded from the internet. It is a fairly thin, almost transparent paper that allows you to accurately copy your design.
- Writing paper. You can use printer paper and other medium weight paper to create a stencil. The great advantage of this material is that you almost certainly already have it at home.
- Heavy paper. Use cardboard and cardstock to create a stronger stencil that will stand up to multiple uses. Due to the thickness of the paper, it will be more difficult to cut it. Make sure the blade is very sharp when cutting this type of paper to create sharp edges.
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Carbon paper. If you made your stencil on tracing paper but want to transfer it to sturdier paper, you can use carbon paper.
- Put sturdy paper on the table. Spread a sheet of carbon paper over it. Make sure the glossy side of the carbon paper is facing up and the side with the carbon is facing down.
- Spread the tracing paper with the design on top of the carbon paper. Trace the design again passing over every line and every detail. Apply firm pressure as you work to make sure the design transfers clearly and completely.
- Remove the tracing paper and carbon paper. The design will now have been "printed" on the sturdy paper.
Step 2. Reinforce your stencil
It's a good idea to make a stencil as strong as possible that will hold up for the life of the project and allow you to reuse it in the future.
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Cover the stencil with adhesive wallpaper. You can find clear adhesive wallpaper in the homeware department at a hardware store or discount store.
Build Stencils Step 9Bullet1 - Spread your stencil on a non-porous surface. This will prevent you from accidentally removing the finish from a table if it comes into contact with the sticky paper.
- Cut out a piece of sticky paper the size of the stencil, remove the backing of the paper and attach it to the stencil. Trim off the excess.
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Use packing tape. Place your stencil, design facing down, on a non-porous surface. Spread strips of packing tape over the stencil. Overlap each strip on the previous one until you have covered the entire surface. Spread the tape over the edges of the paper and cut off the excess.
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Step 3. Draw or trace your stencil design
If you are drawing, you should start doing it in pencil. When you have a drawing that satisfies you, go over the pencil lines with a fine or medium-tipped permanent marker. If you are drawing a drawing, you can use a marker right away.
If you created multiple lines during the preliminary pencil drawing, clearly identify which final drawing should be inked
Step 4. Cut out the stencil
Due to its delicate nature, cutting paper requires a sharp blade and a lot of patience. Doing this too quickly may tear the paper and you should repeat the design.
- Attach the stencil. Use electrical tape to secure the edges of the paper stencil to the cutting surface. You could also use small pieces of poster gum to attach it. To make sure you have good contact between the paper and the surface, use only a small amount and flatten the eraser well.
- Use a new, sharp blade in your utility knife and remove the areas of the stencil that you will need to color.
- Don't cut out the bridges - the edges that separate one section of the stencil image from the other.
- If your stencil is very large or you are using cardboard, you may need to replace the blade halfway through the job; Do this as soon as the blade feels dull to prevent it from dragging and tearing the paper.
- When making long cuts, hold the utility knife at a lower angle and further away from the blade.
- As you move the stencil, turn the paper over and not your hand.
- To create sharp edges, cut away from the corners and not towards them.
- Use tweezers and a sharp knife to remove the stencil pieces you cut.
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When you're done, lift the tape off the edges. If you can't remove it from the paper without tearing it, just fold it and stick it to the other side of the paper. If you used poster eraser, start at one corner and remove it from the back of the stencil.
If you have noticed that one of the cuts is incomplete, re-attach the stencil and cut the paper again
Method 4 of 4: Create a Plastic Stencil
Build Stencils Step 12 Step 1. Choose a plastic sheet
There are two types of plastics suitable for creating a stencil - acetate and Mylar. Both are good choices, it's all about personal preference, so look for them at a home improvement store and pick the one you prefer.
- These films are transparent and colored, available in sheets and rolls. Some of them also have an adhesive back.
- Check the surface to make sure you can write on it in pen or pencil so you can trace your design. Look for a plastic with a matte finish, as this surface is often writable.
- Acetate has some drawbacks if you're making a stencil you want to keep. Over time, it develops yellow or gray halos and its edges curl.
- Reuse old x-rays. Find a new use for these old plastic films and use them as materials for your stencils.
Step 2. Draw or trace your stencil onto the plastic
Creating a well-defined design is the key to being able to cut it exactly.
- Use a permanent marker with a fine tip to draw or trace the design. If you made a preliminary pencil drawing, go over it with the marker.
- Be careful not to smudge the lines as you work. The more defined the lines, the easier it will be to cut out the stencil.
Step 3. Cut out the stencil
All you need is a sharp blade and a hard cutting surface to do this. Move slowly and firmly following the drawing. Pause from time to time to relax, focus, and keep a steady hand.
- Secure the stencil in place. Spray the back of the stencil with sticker, wait for it to be tacky, and glue the stencil to the cutting surface. Alternatively, you can use tape to secure the edges of the stencil.
- Use a utility knife with a new, sharp blade to remove areas of the stencil to be colored.
- Do not cut out the bridges - the contours that separate one section of the stencil from the others.
- When making long cuts, hold the utility knife at a lower angle and further away from the blade.
- As you move your stencil, turn the paper over and not your hand.
- To create sharp edges, cut away from the corners and not towards them.
- Use tweezers and a sharp knife to remove the stencil pieces you cut.
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When you're done, remove the tape or carefully lift the plastic stencil up from one of the corners.
If you have noticed that one of the cuts is incomplete, immediately put the stencil back in place and cut the paper again
Step 4. Refine the undefined sides
Wipe the freshly cut sides of the stencil with fine sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges. If the edges are not precise, your image will not be sharp and accurate when you apply the paint.
