It is simple and fun to do wall stenciling with the following basic tips.
- Supply checklist
- Planning
- Preparation
- Positioning of stencil
- Painting methods
- Clean up
Be certain to have the required material at hand. Materials required are:
- Wall pencil stencil Kit
- Sample board
- Latex or acrylic paints (Benjamin Moore recommended-it is perfect for stenciling) including basecoat paint
- Dense foam roller with rounded ends
- Stencil brushes
- Regular nap roller and sash brush for base coating
- Paint tray and large Styrofoam plates
- Low tack painter’s tape
- Spray adhesive (opt)
- Cutting edge Stencil level (opt.)
- Cleaning material-soap paper towel etc
- Sand paper
- Step ladder
Planning:
- Choose color combinations and workout techniques on a sample board. Tapping or dabbing technique is called stippling or by making circular swirling brush motions, called swirling technique.
Preparation:
- Clean the walls to make them dust free and in good condition. Sand paper can be used for smoothing and removing rough stains or marks.
- Repair and fill any cracks or chips
- Apply base coat on the surface with latex flat paint. Do 2 or 3 coats for good coverage.
- 24 hours are needed for the base coat to dry up completely.
Positioning of stencil:
- Position stencil #1 in level on the wall and tape it to the surface with a few pieces of low tack painter’s tape. Adhesive spray can be used for sharper edges by beginners.
Painting procedure:
- Absorb the paint onto the dense foam roller from the foam plate.
- Blot off excess paint on a paper towel by rolling the roller back and forth
- Apply medium pressure on the roller to avoid paint seepage under the stencil. Peek regularly, to check seepage by lifting the stencil from a corner.
- Two or three coats may be required when stenciling, lighter colors over darker colors. Let the first coat get dried before doing the next coat.
- Place blue masking tape on the narrowest edges and also use roller slowly to prevent ‘roll-overs’.
- Paint has to be dry to remove the tape slowly.
- Repeat stenciling by repositioning the stencil until the walls are fully covered with your choice of design and color. Each stencil is good for many repeats before cleaning it.
- Place blue tape on floor and ceiling. Position the stencil to overlap the edges, roll it right into the crease.
- Stencil brush is used with a little paint in dabbing motion to get the details.
- Take new dense foam roller for stencil #2.
- Place stencil #2 in level and tape it on the wall. Repeat procedure, that is, load roller with next color, blot off excess paint and do stenciling on all walls.
- Stencil #3 is used with same procedure with a different color.
Clean up:
- Paint palette, stencils and brushes can be easily washed with warm water and soap.
