CRAFTS Index
Baskets
Beading
Boxes
Candles
Children's Room Decor
Clay
Clothing
Dolls
Faux & Other Finishes
Flowers & Foliage
Furniture
Garden & Patio
Glass
History
Holidays
Jewelry & Accessories
Kids Crafts
Lamps & Shades
Linens & Fabrics
Memory Crafts
Metal
Natural & Homemade
Needle Arts
Organizing & Storage
Painting & Staining
Paper
Photo Projects
Quilting Techniques
Recycled Objects
Ribbons & Bows
Rubber Stamping
Scrapbooking
Special Days & Gifts
Stenciling
Storage
Tabletop Decor
Toys & Games
Walls & Floors
Wedding
Wirework
Wood & Leather

BEST OF CRAFTS
Puttin' On the Knits
Knitty Gritty
Creative Juice
Sewing for the Home
Scrapbooking: Flowers
Scrapbooking Basics
Scrapbooking: Holidays
Scrapbooking: Vacations

SPONSOR LINKS

  • Stenciling Techniques
  • From "DIY Crafts"
    episode DIC-242
    advertisement

    Click here to view a larger image.

    To subtly blend and shade -- as seen here -- a dry brush works best.

    Click here to view a larger image.

    Figure A

    Click here to view a larger image.

    Figure B

    Stenciling expert Cynthia Willoughby demonstrates how proper technique produces the best stenciled effects. A dry-brush technique can prevent paint from leaking under the edge of a stencil and allow crafters to artfully blend and layer color.

    Materials

    Several colors of craft paint
    Paper or plastic plates (for palette)
    Paper towels
    Blue painter's tape
    Three 1" stencil brushes
    Stencil

    Basic Dry-Brush Technique

    1. Dab stencil brush into paint, loading thoroughly. Brush should be coated no more than 1/8" to 1/4" up the bristles.

    2. Dab brush onto paper towels, using a circular motion, to remove excess paint. Tip: Swipe stencil brush across hand. If it doesn't leave paint, it's dry enough to continue.

    3. Hold bush perpendicular to stencil (bristles should be flat) and swirl brush around edge of design. While swirling brush, the bristles should be kept flat against surface the entire time.

    Shading a Circle

    Stencil along the edge, overlapping each rotation to create darker edges and lighter center (figure A).

    Color Blending

    Begin with a fresh brush. Load stencil brush with paint and rub excess onto paper towel. Stencil one edge and lighten color while moving toward center. From the opposite side, repeat process with second color, overlapping the two colors in the center (figure B).


    RESOURCES :
    Stenciling for the First Time
    ISBN: 0806944854
    Author: Rebecca Carter
    Order this title from Amazon.com.

    Stenciling
    ISBN: 0764115499
    Author: Reyes Pujol-Xicoy
    Order this title from Amazon.com.


    GUESTS :
    Cynthia Willoughby
    16115 Vanowen St.
    Van Nuys, CA 91406
    Phone: 818-989-0262
    Tollfree Phone: 877-989-0262
    Email: lastencil@pacificnet.net
    Website: www.lastencil.com
    Stencil Artist/Expert
    L.A. Stencilworks

  • ALSO IN THIS EPISODE: