How to Stencil a Wall Like a Pro

I have an embarrassing confession.

I’m afraid of something that probably wouldn’t scare most normal people.

You see, I have a fear of stencils!

How to Stencil a Wall Like a Pro - tips from the stencil creators themselves!  kellyelko.com

 

Strange but true.

Not the small stencils made for crafting – but those great big stencils for walls.

I’ve had a few sitting in a box for over a year, collecting dust, just waiting to be used to make an amazing focal point.

 

Luckily, our Bloggers Day Out was at Cutting Edge Stencils where I learned a few tips and tricks on how to stencil a wall like a pro from Janna & Greg, the owners (who have 20+ years of faux finishing experience under their belts), to help me overcome my fear.

How to Stencil a Wall Like a Pro - tips from the stencil creators themselves!  kellyelko.com

Stencil a Wall Like a Pro – Insider Tips From Cutting Edge Stencils

1) Use flat or eggshell basecoat on walls ( not gloss/semigloss if possible)

2) Tape your stencil to the wall with a few pieces of painters tape (no need to use self adhesive spray)

3) Start at upper left corner (or the middle if symmetrical corners are desired)

4) Make sure the stencil is level

5) Load a small dense foam roller (not a regular paint roller) with flat or eggshell latex paint (Ben by BM is a great choice) and make sure paint is absorbed evenly on roller

6) Offload excess paint onto paper towel

7) Roll over stencil with medium pressure

8) Check for coverage and remove stencil when finished

9) For next stencil, align using the elements of the previous stencil you just completed (by overlapping stencil onto a part of the previous design)

10) Repeat the process

11) For top of wall, you can use a special top edge stencil if desired

12) Finish edges after the main wall is done

13) For corners, tape the next wall with blue painters tape, bend stencil so it fits into corner, then roll straight into the crease and finish with a stencil brush

Watch this short video from Cutting Edge Stencils to see how a pro stencils! 

Janna & Greg, the owners of Cutting Edge Stencils, have over 20 years of professional faux finishing experience under their belts so they really know their stencils!

Here’s our practice wall – isn’t it gorgeous!

How to Stencil a Wall Like a Pro - tips from the stencil creators themselves!  kellyelko.com

Eclectically Vintage

I’m happy to say that I’ve conquered my fear of stencils (but I’m still scared of mimes).

No non-moving object is safe from me or my stencils now.

 

Who am I kidding, I may even stencil my kids and our goldfish!

 

Thanks Janna & Greg of Cutting Edge Stencils for hosting our outing, providing us with fabulous food and stencil swag!  All opinions are my own.

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26 Comments

  1. You’re not alone; as I’m a bit intimidated by the large wall stencils myself.
    Have been wanting to do something with my entry way but have put it off for over 10 years now but with the tips that you have listed I just may give it a try.
    Thank you
    ColleenB.

  2. I’ve never done it, and I’ve been afraid to try…it seems so daunting. I’ve watched Cutting Edge Stencil’s videos but still I”m still afraid to try. I should tell myself, it’s only paint, easy to repaint if I mess it up!
    What a fun day that must have been! And I love your entry!
    Debbie 🙂

  3. I’m in the same boat Kelly, really, really will use mine this year, thank you for the wonderful tips and excited about your upcoming projects! Happy Sunday!

  4. Have never stenciled my walls, which is too bad because I’d love to have such a pretty pattern on it. The selection of wall stencils in Germany really is a shame. Can we get them to expand to Germany?

  5. I’ve done quite a bit of stencilling and I do it just like your tutorial. The two best tips are to make sure and use a level to check that your stencil is level and to use a tiny foam roller (as it works like a charm). I look forward to seeing your soon to be completed stencil projects.

  6. I’ve never stenciled a wall because, like you, I was afraid of it too. I’ll keep your instructions in mind, however, should I be overcome with the desire to take on such a project again. Thanks for walking us through it. When will you be doing the post on overcoming the fear of mimes. I’d love to see the step by step on that!

  7. Hi,
    Great post and thanks for the tips and tricks!
    I have a question. On point 9, you say, and I quote, “previous stencil align using the elements of the previous stencil you just completed (by overlapping stencil onto a part of the previous design.” You would smudge the paint doing this. So does that mean that we have to let each square dry before we go on to the next? That would take forever. It was my understanding Cutting Edge and other high quality stencils have marks on all the sides. These marks are to be noted on the wall (with a pencil, maybe) so the next stencil can be lined up and won’t smudge the last stencil. For instance, if you’re moving from upper left to upper right, on the first stencil you would pencil the mark on the right side of the stencil. When moving on to the next stencil, you would line up the pencil mark with the mark on the left side of the stencil. I think I’m missing something important here.
    Help me get over my fear!!!!
    All the best,
    Cathy

    1. Cathy – you can line up the stencil by doing an overlap over the stencil you just painted. The paint dries very quickly (we only loaded our brush once for each stencil – so you don’t need a lot of paint) – I couldn’t believe it either! We did about 10 squares – and each time, we immediately placed the plastic stencil over the previously painted one – no problem! Janna – the owner of Cutting Edge stencils said to do it this way – and a big mistake people make is by trying to line up the stencil by using the edge of the plastic stencil (instead of overlapping). Hope that explains it!
      Kelly

      1. Thanks, Kelly
        I’m actually shocked that we would overlay the next stencil over the previous one. You got it right from the horse’s mouth so to speak. And after all these years she would certainly know what she’s talking about.
        My fear is still there just not as bad.
        Cathy

  8. Kelly,
    That looked like a great outing you guys had! I used the Casablanca stencil on a wall in my sister-in-law’s house and it turned out great. My tip for folks is that…hey, it’s only paint! If you mess up, just paint over it and begin anew!.

  9. Thanks Kelly, I have been thinking about trying this and I feel much more confident now after reading your tips! I went to the stars party and saw your planted dresser, TOO CUTE! What a fun and crazy idea, loved it! I hope to spend more time there later, so many fab ideas at that party!! Thanks for the tips!

  10. Those large stencils scare me too! Let me know when you finally do a wall at home – I want to read the tips and see if it’s as bad as you thought. (I don’t like mimes either!) Thanks for your sweet comment and for Pinning the bathroom. Glad you liked it!

    Allison
    Atticmag

  11. Hi, I totally agree with you. I bought some stencils about a year ago and my fear has prevented me from using them. I plan on redoing the wall in my bathroom so hopefully these tips help me out.

  12. Thanks for the tips! I work for Benj. Moore and I have tried paint from everywhere over the years and the Ben eggshell has excellent coverage and levels so nicely. Priced right too. Just about to try the Ben flat on a stencil I ordered from Cutting Edge Stencils last year! Finally getting around to doing it.

  13. I really want to know how to handle a situation where I’ve got overlapping stencils in different colors. I’m trying to bring all the colors to the fore, in differing places (it’s a flock of cranes stencil). Some will be in metallic, some in flat, some in semigloss.

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