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Stenciling is a timeless and straightforward decorative painting technique. It allows you to design borders in various patterns on surfaces like walls, ceilings, floors, and around windows and doors. Stencils resemble the reverse of a coloring book image, with empty spaces where the pattern would normally be. Typically the size of a standard sheet of paper, reusable stencils are made from thin plastic or sturdy paper. These can be found at art stores or paint supply retailers.
You can also craft your own stencils. Simply use thin cardboard — such as shirt cardboard. Sketch a design, transfer it to tracing paper, and cut it out using scissors or a craft knife. Place the pattern on a piece of cardboard slightly larger than the design itself, trace around it, and cut it out.
To transfer the design to your wall, secure the stencil at all four corners with tape. Use a special stenciling brush, which is usually round but flat across the bristles, to apply latex or alkyd paint to the cutout. Pour paint into an old saucer or pie dish. Gently dip the brush into the paint, then dab it on some kraft paper to remove excess paint. The brush should be almost dry. Avoid stroking the paint; instead, use a gentle up-and-down dabbing motion. Let the paint dry enough to the touch, then carefully peel the stencil off the wall and move to the next section.
If you're aiming to create a continuous border with the same pattern, it's a good idea to buy or make additional stencils, allowing you to keep working on other sections while the paint dries on the first. If your stencil requires multiple colors, paint one color at a time and allow the first one to dry before applying the second.
Plastic stencils that are pre-made are both washable and reusable. However, stencils made from heavy paper or cardboard will eventually wear out as the paint soaks into the fibers, weakening the material. When this occurs, replace or create new stencils to keep them flat against the wall during painting.
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