How to Stencil

What is Stencilling?

Stencilling is a fantastic decorating medium for creating up to the minute style and your own interior design statement. It is great for beginners and professionals alike, allowing you to print/transfer an already designed pattern onto a surface using paint, as many times as you like and in as many different arrangements, finishes and colours as you like. So there is plenty of room for creativity.

Getting Started

Henny has put together this easy to follow, illustrated step by step guide on how to stencil, to help get you started – so you can see at a glance what a practical and simple decorating medium stencilling really is. This guide should give every beginner the confidence to get started and a refresher course for those who have not done it for awhile! See more tips and helpful hints below and details of the paints and useful equipment to use – all available through this website. For best results with your stencil projects we strongly recommend only using specific stencil paints or water based or acrylic paints for stencilling and never oil paints or decorator’s oil paints (different to the old fashioned stencil sticks). Oil paints are very difficult to use, damage the stencil very quickly and generally create a lot of mess, bleeding and poor results. Use suggested paints and varnish with acrylic varnish where a tougher finish is required.

How to Stencil - Step by Step Guide

  • Step 1 – Marking up for Stencilling

    Pair text with an image to focus on your chosen product, collection, or blog post. Add details on availability, style, or even provide a review.

  • Step 2 – Apply Repositionable Adhesive

    Hold the can about 12 inches from the stencil and apply a fine film of repositionable spray adhesive to the reverse side of the stencil sheet/s (adhesive from stationers and craft shops).

  • Step 3 – Position the Stencil

    To position the stencil line up the top and sides of the stencil sheet with the registration pencil guides you have made – this will ensure the stencil is straight within the stencilling area.

  • Step 4 – Stick the stencil securely down

    Carefully stick the stencil down to the surface being stencilled ensuring all cut out shapes and bridges and delicate areas are stuck down – this will prevent paint bleeding under the stencil.

  • Step 5 – Pour out Stencil Paint

    Tip a small amount of the stencil paint colour/s to be used onto a paper or ceramic plate or into a divided flower palette. Only pour out a small amount and add more as you use it.

  • Step 6 – Load up Stencil Sponge or Brush

    Dip the stencil sponge or brush into the stencil paint. Only take up a little paint – too much paint will be prone to bleeding. See notes below on stencilling with rollers.

  • Step 7 – Dab of excess paint on kitchen towel

    Dab the stencil sponge or brush onto some kitchen towel to remove the excess paint. Working with a nearly dry applicator will prevent any possible bleeding. Protect the surface underneath the kitchen towel with some plastic or other waterproof material to prevent paint damaging surface below.

  • Step 8 – Stencilling with Stencil Sponge

    Gently work the stencil sponge over the stencil, wiping it over each cut out shape in smooth movements, gently pushing paint into al the detailed cut out shapes. Sponges are good for delicate stencils and for achieving crisp edges. Sponges can be washed whilst wet or desposed of after use.

  • Step 9 – Stencilling with Stencil Brush

    Work the stencil brush over the stencil in circular movements building up colour. Our specially domed brushes are best for this, as the rounded tops create a smooth professional finish. Brushes can also be used for creating more textured stippled effects, or spattering colour through the stencil.

  • Step 10 – Load up Stencil Roller with paint

    Stencil Rollers are very good for stencilling larger areas in single colours as they speed up the stencilling process. They are also excellent for intricate, delicate stencils as they do not pull up delicate sections of the stencil, eliminating possible snagging. To load the paint onto the roller dip into the paint and work over the plate or tile until the whole roller is covered.

  • Step 11 – Removing excess paint from roller

    Once the whole of the stencil roller has been covered in paint, work the excess paint off by the stencil roller by rolling it over some kitchen towel. It is better to start stencilling with a nearly dry stencil roller as this will prevent paint seeping under the cut out areas of the stencil shapes. Protect the surface underneath the kitchen towel with some plastic or other waterproof material.

  • Step 12 – Stencilling with Stencil Roller

    Gently roll the stencil roller over the secured stencil covering all cut out shapes with paint. Re-load the stencil roller as necessary until the whole of the design is covered. Then go back over the stencil again to build up opacity and eliminate any roller lines. As you build up successive coats you can work with a little more paint as the stencil edges will be sealed and less likely to bleed.

  • Step 13 – Applying othercolours

    If you are using several colours for your stencil repeat steps 6 – 8 for each colour. Allow each colour to dry before applying the next, unless you wish to ‘mix’ colours as they are applied. There will be a natural, attractive overlap of different colours on multi-coloured schemes. If you wish to prevent this overlapping use small cut down sections of stencil sponge or small stencil brushes for more detailed areas.

  • Step 14 – Applying MetallicStencil paint

    To add metallic or glitter highlights leave the stencil in place and over-stencil with Metallic, Glitter or Interference Paint. Use the same technique as before working with only a little paint as metallic colours tend to be more fluid. Build up layers to intensify the effect. Metallic or glitter finishes are stronger and more lustrous when applied over a base stencil paint of a similar colour, or very subtle if simply used on their own.

  • Step 15 – Removing thestencil

    Once you have completed the stencilling and applied all of the chosen colours and finishes, carefully peel the stencil away from the surface and allow the paint to dry. To store your stencil lay it flat on a large sheet of paper and smooth it down to stick to the paper – the original repositionable spray adhesive on the reverse side of the stencil sheet will keep
    it in place. Store flat.

Two-Layer and Repeat Stencilling

  • Two Layer Stencils – Step 1
    Stencilling Layer One

    To stencil the first layer of the design follow steps 1 to 14 of How to Stencil above, adding metallic highlights or ‘blushed’ areas as required. Then use a stencil sponge or pencil to mark through the registration dots in the corner of the stencil sheet. Remove the stencil sheet and allow the paint to dry or use a hairdryer to speed things up.

  • Two Layer Stencils – Step 2
    Aligning Layer 2

    Line up the registration dots on the 2nd layer of the stencil with the marks that you have made from the first layer, whilst checking that the layer two details (usually leaf veins and flower stamens and other smaller details) lie within the layer one stencilled shapes. Stick down carefully ensuring all detailed areas are stuck down fully.

  • Two Layer Stencils – Step 3
    Stencilling Layer 2

    Then stencil the second layer with your chosen colour/s. Layer two details are often quite fine so make sure the stencils paint is gently pushed into all lines and shapes. Over-stencil with metallic paint if desired. Peel off the stencil and remove registration marks with the original wall paint or by with a pencil eraser or some cream household cleaner

  • Two Layer Stencils – Step 4
    Finishing

    Tips for finishing your stencil decoration. If you have applied your stencil to a wall in a room that is subject to moisture such as a bathroom or kitchen wall or an area subject to heavy traffic such as a hallway or child’s room, or on a piece of furniture use our Acrylic Matt or Eggshell Varnish to seal the area and protect the decorative effect and prolong its good looks.

  • Repeat and Border Stencils
    Step 1 – Marking up

    Use a pencil and ruler or spirit level to make some light horizontal and/or vertical registration marks to line up the edge of the stencil sheet to. Along with the registration dots on the stencil this will ensure that each successive repeat of your border/repeat stencil will
    remain ‘square’ and that the design doesn’t veer off at an angle. Use a plastic eraser or household cream cleaner to remove the marks after stencilling.

  • Repeat and Border Stencils
    Step 2 – Stencil First Repeat

    Apply repositionable spray adhesive to the reverse side of the stencil. Stick the stencil down lining up the edge of the stencil sheet with the horizontal and/or vertical pencil registration guides you have made to ensure the stencil sits squarely within the area. Use
    a stencil roller if you are only using one colour to stencil as this will assist in speedy and even coverage.

  • Repeat and Border Stencils
    Step 3 – Registration Dots

    Use a pencil or stencil paint on a stencil sponge to mark through the registration dots in the corners of the stencil.
    This will enable you to line up the next repeat of the border or repeat stencil – to create a continuous pattern repeat. Remove the stencil and allow to dry before continuing.

  • Repeat and Border Stencils
    Step 4 – Aligning repeats

    For the second repeat line up the registration dots in the corners of the stencil with the marks made through the
    registration dots from the first repeat. Also make sure the stencil sheet lines up with your horizontal or vertical registration pencil marks to ensure the design is ‘square’.

  • Repeat and Border Stencils
    Step 5 – Second Repeat

    Stencil the second repeat with the same colours as before. Multiple colour schemes should be stencilled in the same
    colour order to ensure colour continuity. Repeat Steps 2 – 5 until complete. For two layer stencils finish stencilling the whole of the first layer, then apply the second layer.

Paints for Stencilling

All of the paints on the Motif website have been made with stencilling in mind.

Our Stencil Paints in Henny’s own choice of colours come in 75 great matt shades and are the ideal paint for achieving really good quality stencilling results. Use on their own for a matt finish or add lustrous highlights with our metallic paint options (see below). Each stencil page on this website offers a range of Stencil Paint colour options with links to the relevant paint colour pages so you can purchase these easily.