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How To

Create great stencil projects


1. How to stencil and prevent paint bleed-through!

Be sure to watch this if you are relatively new to stenciling. We cover brushes, adhesives, and best practices when it comes to applying paint to your surface

2. Here we go over the things you'll need to do in order to prep your wall for stenciling. 

3. This one is on wood staining and its best practices. 

Sanding and staining, as well as using stains on top of other colored stains are a few items covered in this video tutorial.

4. And this one is all about tile stenciling.  

5. Finally, everything you need to know to start flipping furniture with stencils. 


A few general recommendations to keep in mind: 

Paint bleed through is one of the main things you'll want to avoid while stenciling. Here are a few techniques that will help you do this:
1- Keep your brush fairly dry while applying paint. You'll need to offload excess paint onto a paper towel or rag every time you dip your brush into fresh paint.

2- Gently press down on the stencil while painting in the regions that may be slightly lifted.

3- Use tapping motions to paint in the stencil (quickly tap your brush onto the stencil gaps) until you are more comfortable with circular motions. Avoid linear motions as much as possible, especially brush strokes that run from up to down, as this will encourage paint drops to form and run downward.

4- Keep clean paper towel near by so that you can remove any mess-ups before the paint dries.

 

You can use any type of paint, but here is what we recommend for best results.
1- Any kind of paint will work, but they may require different experience levels to apply. We recommend acrylic paint from your local craft store, as it tends to clot more quickly, and is viscous enough not to run when used in small portions. Water based paints present the most difficult challenge, but even beginners can use this kind of paint after a little experience.

2- Use the grade of paint that is most appropriate for your project. Outdoor paints will retain their color better when exposed to the elements for example, and fabric paint will allow you to wash stenciled fabrics in the washer machine.

3- Our stencils are not adhesive and are meant to be taped (with painters tape) to your surfaces. Spray paint should be avoided therefore, as it will certainly bleed through.

Remember that painting stencils by hand will result in some slight blemishes. This is not only fine, but it is also part of the charm of a hand-painted project.