How to Stencil on Wood: Secrets to getting perfect results every time

Hi, I'm Carrie from Lovely, etc. and I'll show you how to

stencil

wood

and get

perfect

lines

every

time

. It's the easiest way to make signs and many other decorations, so let's get started. so this is what you need. you need something to

stencil

. I have an old cutting board; In fact, I bought it at a thrift store. I just like it, it has a nice patina and it was only a quarter so that's what I'm stenciling. Again, any type of

wood

will work. you need a template: this is my template. I'll put a link in the description.

It is a reusable template. You can also get vinyl stencils from Etsy that are single use or many other reusable stencils from Etsy and other places, but that's one of my favorite sources. You need repositionable adhesive or painter's tape. Either will work, but the spray adhesive really helps get

perfect

stencil lines. you need some paint. You can use almost any paint, but something with a more even sheen will be best. I really like using these super inexpensive little acrylic paints that you can get at craft stores. They are really cheap, there are tons and tons of colors and they work great.

You need a paper plate or a painter's palette if you have one, but this is where you are going to put the paint. and the secret, one of the

secrets

, to achieve a truly perfect stencil is that you are not going to use a roller, you are not going to use a brush; those have their place, especially if you're stenciling an entire wall. or floor. but if you're just stenciling something small and want it to look absolutely perfect, these makeup wedges are what you need. They are small sponges with which you apply makeup. It's like a dollar for fifty at Target.

It may not be that cheap, but it's pretty close. and they are perfect for stenciling. Whatever wood you choose to use for the jig, the softer it is, the better

results

you will get. you want your template to rest on something really soft. You can use a rough wood stencil if you're looking for something rustic, but it will be very difficult to get perfect lines because the stencil won't be able to lay perfectly flat on the wood because it's rough, so there will be small holes, dips, and valleys. under the stencil and that's where the paint will want to go.

So the softer the better. Okay, get your surface. If it's dirty or something, clean it but generally just take your surface. you can sand it to make it smoother if necessary. take your template. If you're just going to use painter's tape, simply take a few pieces and tape them in place. The reason I prefer repositionable spray adhesive (it's hard to say) is because with painter's tape, let's say you put a piece here and a piece there, the stencils will stay in place on the wood. It won't move

every

where, but when you use the spray adhesive, the adhesive covers the entire body, so everything stays stuck to the wood. which means that all these little bits between each letter are also firmly adhered to the wood and it simply means that it is much harder for paint to work its way under the stencil where you don't want it.

When you spray the spray adhesive, you should be in a well-ventilated area, but you should also be sure to spray it on newspaper, if someone has it, or on old cardboard or wrapping paper—anything that can catch the excess. because anything this full spray falls on will be sticky and not what you want for your home. so place your stencil on your surface and make sure you line it up exactly how you want. so if you need to center it, make sure it is centered. If it needs to be straight, especially for words, make sure it is straight.

It doesn't have to be 100 percent perfect, but try to do the best you can. and then you'll just press it into place, especially if you used the spray adhesive. If you didn't, you'll just set it up and use a couple of painter's tapes to keep it in place exactly where you want it. Okay, so take your paint and pour some on your plate and you're just going to use your makeup sponge. put a little at the end, but you don't want a lot of paint, so once you've dipped the makeup sponge into the paint, you'll dry most of it.

If you are using a paper plate for your palette, simply blot it directly on the plate until there is a very fine amount of paint left on the sponge. and then you're just going to start painting. When you paint, you simply make an up and down motion to get the paint into the stamped area, pressing it lightly. You don't want to press too hard because that will cause the paint to squish under the stencil, which is exactly what we don't want. When it looks like maybe the paint is lightening a little, just apply a little more paint and continue.

You may need to apply a second coat of paint, especially if you are stenciling white paint on dark wood. Okay, so it looks pretty good. There's one more trick you can try if you want your sign or whatever you're using to look more hand-painted and less stenciled. The small marks between the different sections of the template are a clear indication that you are template. Now I have no problem with something being stenciled. I think it can still look very beautiful, however, if that's not the look you want for your particular project, there is a simple method I use to get rid of those small spaces between letters.

Okay, so I use a simple toothpick and dip it into the paint and then basically use it like a little paintbrush to remove any gaps. You can also use a very small brush, but I find that a toothpick is very easy to control and also doesn't hold too much paint, so it blends better with the design that is already stenciled. There's one more trick you can use if you're still struggling to get really clean lines with your stencil. After placing the stencil on the wood, before painting, use a little Mod Podge. So mod Podge is primarily used for decoupage, but it's also a sealer, a glue, a finish, and does all kinds of things. and it's clear, so when you paint a little Mod Podge over your stencil before painting, it creates a seal along all the edges of your stencil. and also if there are little air bubbles under the stencil where maybe the wood is a little rough or just not very flat, the Mod Podge will seep in there under the stencil and seal it. which is much better than if the paint leaks through there.

Because mod Podge is clear, you won't see it and the paint would be a mess. So if you decide to try it, be sure to pay attention to the type of Mod Podge you have, as to whether it's shiny or not. It comes in satin matte and gloss, I believe. So if you are stenciling over furniture that already has a glossy finish, you will want to use gloss. if you are stenciling on something that is matte, use matte and if it is more satin, use satin. If you're not sure, I generally like the matte Mod Podge better for basically anything.

This is another tip you can try if you are having problems. Okay, I hope that helps you next

time

you try to make a stencil to get some of those clean lines. I know that I am a perfectionist and that is why every little imperfection drives me crazy. But with those tips I have been able to make my projects look really good and as perfect as possible. Thanks for joining me. I'd love for you to subscribe to my channel Lovely, etc. where I share inexpensive DIY projects to create a home you love.