How to Stencil without any special equipment

Let’s face it, we have all see the fancy stencil cutting machines and daydreamed about what we could make with them (Just me?), but since a large purchase was not in my budget, I was determined to find another way. The following guide is what I have found to work the best, happy stenciling!

Setup

First, I printed out the words I wanted to stencil on regular printer paper using landscape view and enormous font size. I also chose a font that I thought would be relatively easy to cut out (as few artsy details as possible).

Then, I carefully cut out the letters using an exact-o knife, on top of some cardboard. this takes some time, so don't rush.

mod podge

I love mod podge, mostly because it is so versatile. for this instance, I used it to help keep the paint from bleeding through on the edges of the stencil, since I was using regular printer paper this was a valid concern (and I think ultimately why people shy away from trying out stenciling).

I applied a super thin layer over the entire stencil. don't worry, it will appear white when its wet, but it always dries clear. I used a sponge brush and a ‘dabbing’ motion (technical term, I am sure of it!).

Paint!

Ok, the moment of truth!

Next, I grabbed another clean sponge brush and while the mod podge layer was still wet, I applied the thinnest layer of paint possible (again, dabbing technique).

Note: Be careful not to have too much paint on the brush, less is more here. you can always go back over an area that needs it, with a few additional dabs!

Additional note: if you use regular printer paper, like I did, you need to work kind of quickly so that the paper doesn't become saturated and tear.

Lastly, lift that stencil off right away, using your exact-o knife to pry out any areas that might be ‘sticky’. this method of stenciling is for more of a ‘vintage’ or ‘not perfect’ look, which is what I was going for anyway, but if you are a true perfectionist this method might not have as polished of a look that you desire.

here are the final products, with really up close pictures so you can see the edges of the letters. Again, all I used here was printer paper, an exact-o knife, mod podge, and paint!

I made these for my laundry room!