DIY Stencil | Personalize Practically Anything!

Earlier this month, greenberries hosted a Bloggers Nite and we put together gift bags for all the attendees to take with them.  We wanted to greenberries-ize their gifts, so I came up with this idea that we could do in a pinch!  It did the trick.  I was really pleased with how they turned out and super über-düber stoked that it didn’t take that long to crank them all out! (And it let the artsy-fartsy gal in me come screaming out!  It had just been too long since I had done a crafty project like this.  Perfect motivation!)  

You know you want one!  Well, start a blog, keep it up, let us know about it, come hang out at the next event, and get you one!!  

What you’ll need:

·        Printed image to use as template

·        Stencil Blank (I got mine at Hobby Lobby for $1.99, you get 3 in a pack)

·        Pencil or Sharpie®

·        Tape

·        Scissors

·        Window or light box

·        X-acto knife

·        Piece of cardboard/paperboard

·        Fabric item (canvas tote bag, shirt, etc.)

·        Acrylic paint

        Stencil brush or sponge brush

        etail brush (or ELF eyeliner brush)

If you’re doing this with children, make sure you are the one using the scissors and X-acto knife!

Let’s get started!

Note: If you are drawing freehand directly on the blank stencil (not using a printed template), skip to STEP 5.

STEP 1:  Print out your image the size you want it to appear on your fabric.  You want something that is BOLD and just one simple object, like a word or a big letter. 

STEP 2:  Cut out a piece of the stencil blank that covers the image completely.  Make sure to leave ample space around the image.  This border will come in handy when it comes time to paint your fabric.

STEP 3:  Tape the image and stencil blank to the window (or light box) with the stencil on top.

 

STEP 4:  Trace your image onto the stencil material using a pencil or Sharpie®.  Trace around all edges of your image.

 

Note: If your image has voids, make sure to mark the locations that will remain intact to hold the pieces together.  You will want them to be spaced evenly apart.

 

STEP 5:  After removing your stencil from the window (or light box), transfer it to a protected flat surface.  A cardboard or paperboard backing is best (like the cardboard backing of a notebook).  Use the X-acto knife to cut out the shapes.  (Don’t cut through your marked tabs!).  

STEP 6:  Tape your stencil to the fabric.  

STEP 7:  Use the stencil brush to stipple over the stencil with the acrylic paint.  (I used an open edge of the stencil as my paint palette.)

 

STEP 8: Once all spaces are filled, remove the stencil slowly so you don’t smudge your lines.  You don’t have to wait for the paint to dry to remove the stencil. 

STEP 9:  Use the detail brush to fill in the gaps where the tabs were and to smooth out any rough edges.

 

STEP 10: Done!