Stencilling is quick. It is a magic way of applying ornamental detail to almost any surface and can be used to decorate anywhere around the home (or garden!).
The first step is the idea stage. You may already have a clear idea what design you want, but if not, you can have great fun finding the right design. Sit down and look through books and magazines or check out the designs available on stencil and decorating websites. You?ll find a vast range of designs at Stencilkingdom.com, and we?re always adding more.
What if you can?t find the design you have in mind? Can you draw? If you can draw, you can make the design yourself. I start by loosely outlining the design with a pencil and then I erase some lines and redraw them, gradually refining the design. Doing your own artwork can be difficult and time consuming, but can also be very satisfying. If you have an idea, but really don?t think your drawing skills are up to the task of completing the design, you can send a description and any images you have found to a stencil company that offers a bespoke design service.
The next move is to turn your ideas into a stencil. You can make the stencil out of cartridge paper or from a plastic film. If you want to use cartridge paper, it should be brushed with boiled linseed oil and left to dry. This makes the paper a little easier to cut and helps it resist the paint in use. You can also find specialist stencil cards ready oiled from craft retailers. If you?re using plastic, Mylar (a polyester film) is ideal. It is tough, flexible and semi-transparent. It can be washed and reused many times.
The simplest way to cut your stencils out is to use a hobby knife, but this can be tricky if the design is very complicated. You?ll need a sharp knife, a steady hand and a good surface to cut onto. I find a sheet of toughened glass is a good surface to cut on, as it allows the blade to slide easily.
Because Mylar is a tough material, it isn?t easy to cut with a knife, but you can also cut it by melting it with a hot-pen, which has a heated tip like a soldering iron. Place your design under a sheet of glass and then position the Mylar sheet on the glass. Now trace the outline with the tip of the heated pen. The Mylar will melt along the drawn line and when all of the lines have been traced your stencil is ready to use. Sounds easy? Well, it?s not that easy to use the hot pen successfully the first time. If your hand shakes, the lines will go wonky. If you draw too fast, the drawn lines will not be deep enough to melt right through the Mylar. If you draw too slowly, or pause, a melted hole will appear. Practice is the solution.
Finally, if you want your design beautifully cut using precision machinery, there are stencil companies that offer this service.
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