How To Keep Paint From Bleeding Under Paper Stencil

Learn how to stencil anything including metal and wood to create unique domicile decor. I'chiliad sharing the 3 secrets y'all need to know to go perfect stencil lines every time.

I have always loved stencils. I mean that's probably obvious just based on the fact I stenciled an entire floor a few years agone!

Stencils are such a fun way to add together a graphic punch to a wall, bring an sometime floor to life, or create a beautiful wooden sign even if your handwriting is terrible. There is something virtually magical well-nigh lifting upward a stencil to reveal a perfect blueprint underneath.

When I first started using stencils I definitely did not have such crawly results. Information technology seemed like every fourth dimension I lifted up the stencil, instead of seeing my perfect blueprint, I saw lots of bleeding and extra smudges.

This really became a problem a few years agone when I was making wood signs to sell. I made custom stencils to add the diction but about every fourth dimension, I ended up with a ton of niggling imperfections.

I ended up spending mode as well much time using tiny paintbrushes to affect upward all of my mistakes. Then frustrating!

I got to work figuring out how to stencil perfectly so I could cease wasting all of my time fixing problems. I discovered a few secrets that finally made it possible to get those perfectly well-baked stencil lines I was after.

These stencil hacks brand the procedure so much simpler and the results are seriously perfection!

This post was sponsored by I Similar That Lamp. This project and all opinions are my own. This mail also contains affiliate links. If yous make a purchase using those links, I may receive a pocket-size per centum at no additional cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

A few weeks ago, I Similar That Lamp sent me an assortment of their new stencil designs and I was super excited to play around with them.

I seriously spent way also long deciding what to stencil and which stencils to employ. Then I got started and I just kept finding more things to stencil!

plain wood cutting board next to stencil that says grateful.

In the end I went a little stencil crazy and made 3 new projects using three of the stencils.

But offset, here are my stencil hacks for that perfect stencil finish every fourth dimension. And I also have a step-by-step tutorial for stenciling on woods , if that'southward what you are looking for.

How to stencil annihilation perfectly

The outset step of pretty much whatsoever projection that involves paint is making sure the surface is clean and smooth. One of my projects involved stenciling an old galvanized planter then I made sure to requite it a practiced scrub before trying to stencil anything. No thing what, paint won't stick to oil, dirt, or grit.

Stencil Secret 1: The Adhesive

Now you're ready to become your stencil in place. I used to utilise painter's tape to hold my stencils in place just that really isn't the greatest. It works okay for keeping affair from moving around, but it doesn't do anything to prevent the pigment from bleeding.

At present I employ repositionable spray adhesive instead and it is amazing.

You spray a light layer onto the back of your stencil and so set information technology in place. (If yous want your wording centered, be certain to heart the stencil. Likewise check that your words are straight.)

This works and then well. The adhesive is strong enough to agree the stencil in identify while you lot piece of work, merely it is super like shooting fish in a barrel to remove when you are done.

Even improve, the unabridged stencil is firmly adhered to the surface so stray paint can't creep under the plastic around your letters.

After you remove your stencil, there may be a very light residue left on the surface from the adhesive. This is easily wiped away with a infant wipe or damp paper towel. (In the picture higher up, I used painter's tape in addition to the adhesive spray, but and so I figured out it really isn't needed.)

If you lot are stenciling something big like a wall or a floor, you typically won't need to utilise spray adhesive, merely it works actually well for smaller, more than detailed projects like stenciled signs.

Stencil Undercover 2: The Paintbrush

The second secret is all about the brush. At that place are special stencil brushes out there and they work okay merely I've never had cracking luck with them.

Sponge brushes were slightly better, but I found something that works even better.

This might sound foreign, merely makeup sponges are the perfect tool for stenciling. I'thousand talking about the wedge shaped cosmetic sponges that are super cheap. The sponge has a nice polish texture that gives a bully finish.

Just pour a piffling of your paint onto a paper plate or a plastic painter's palette if you accept one. Lightly dab the sponge into the paint.

The fundamental is to get very little paint on the sponge. Actress pigment volition just squish under the stencil and brand a mess.

You can gently dab off any excess paint on your paper plate or a paper towel earlier stenciling.

When you start painting your stencil, gently dab the pigment straight down onto the surface.

Do NOT rub it dorsum and forth every bit if you were using a paintbrush. This volition definitely cause paint to squeeze under the stencil and brand a mess. Just gently up and down.

Y'all tin can use craft paints, leftover latex paint, chalk paint, pretty much anything will piece of work.

Because you are only calculation a very thin layer of paint at a fourth dimension, there's a good chance you are going to want to do a few coats to get practiced coverage, particularly if you are painting with white paint over wood.

Luckily because the paint is super thin, information technology dries pretty rapidly.

One time you are done stenciling, it's the moment of truth. I've got to be honest, afterward and so many fails in the past, I still get nervous when it is fourth dimension to peel the stencil off.

Yes! Simply expect at those lines! Cute!

Just wait, aren't we washed? What'due south the third clandestine?

Stencil Surreptitious iii: The Manus-painted Look

When you are using stencils to brand 'hand-painted' signs, there may be some times you don't want information technology to look like you used a stencil.

Stencils have footling connector lines that are a dead giveaway that you lot used a stencil. Sometimes these lines are so perfectly placed, it adds to the beauty of the finished production.

But occasionally you might want to 'hide the evidence'. If that's the case, you lot are going to need a way to perfectly fill in those teeny tiny little gaps in the paint without ruining all of your hard work.

The solution?

Toothpicks .

Just have a toothpick and lightly dip it in your pigment. Again, you really don't want a ton of paint on there, so information technology's a practiced thought to gently dab any excess off start.

Then carefully apply information technology like a paintbrush to make full in the letters. It's easy and information technology works beautifully.

Those are my three hacks for perfect stenciling every time:

spray adhesive
makeup sponges
toothpicks

And when you've finished your stenciling project, I've got all the details on the fastest, easiest way to clean paint and spray agglutinative from stencils right here .

Three New Stencil Projects

Then what did I end up making? Yous can check out the finished projects beneath and you can see the tutorials for each at the links.

How to Make a 10 Minute Farmhouse Centerpiece

Grateful photograph clipboard. (Full tutorial in my book Forest Plank Projects: 30 Elementary and Creative DIY Decor Ideas for Your Home and Garden )

How to make this easy Home Sweet Dwelling sign (It'south a super cute wreath culling for your front door.)

And since I'm a stencil lover, here are my other favorite stenciling DIYs:

H ow to Stencil on Wood with Beautiful Results
The best stencils for signs plus how to choose i
How to make a stencil the cheap and easy style
The all-time way to clean stencils

I'd love for y'all to share this postal service on Pinterest!

Happy stenciling!

Materials

Stencil of your pick
Stencil Ease Repositionable Stencil Spray Adhesive
Cosmetic Wedges
Paint
Tooth Picks

Instructions

Make sure the surface yous are stenciling is clean and smooth.
Use repositionable spray adhesive to hold your stencil in identify.
Cascade a little of your pigment onto a paper plate.
Lightly dab a cosmetic sponge in the pigment. Wipe off any excess paint.
Gently dab the paint straight downward onto the area you are stenciling.
Peel the stencil off.
To fill in the stencil marks, accept a toothpick and lightly dip it in your paint. Carefully use it like a paintbrush to make full in the stencil gaps.