DECORATE INEXPENSIVELY... WITH STENCILS
(Page 3 of 4)
If you plan to use more than one color, it'd be best to
make a separate stencil for each hue. In that case, to make
sure the design elements of all stencils always line up
correctly, make notches or registration marks at the same
spots on each one (two lining-up points are sufficient).
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MEASURE . . .
Since you'll be using the same stencil over and over again,
it's important to mark some guidelines on the wall in order
to correctly place the stencil each time you move it. For
my continuously repeated pattern at chair-rail height, I
simply measured 36 inches up from the floor and marked that
point, at about 30-inch intervals, all around the room.
Then, using a yardstick, I connected all the marks with a
light pencil line. I also drew a line across the stencil
itself that could be matched to the guideline each time the
stencil was repositioned.
Turning corners—around a window frame, for
example—isn't difficult, especially since most border
stencils include matching corner designs. Just divide the
size of the stencil into the area to be covered, and use a
partial repeat, if necessary, to make the corners come out
where you want them.
When using a repeat pattern that isn't continuous,
determine the amount of space between each repeat by
figuring out how many times the whole design will fit into
the wall area you want to cover. With a little adjustment
of the blank spaces, you can avoid having to end up with a
partial design.
AND PAINT
When your stencils are cut and your guidelines marked,
assemble the rest of your materials. You'll need the paint,
of course, and a large, flat stencil brush, paper towels, a
disposable pie pan, and some masking tape. Fasten the
stencil to the wall, using a couple of pieces of tape, in a
spot that's appropriate for the design you've planned. (For
my 36-inch-high repeat around the room, I started as close
as possible to a corner. For a design that's centered over
a door or window, I'd probably start in the middle and work
outward on both sides.)
Pour a small dollop of paint into the pie pan (it takes
surprisingly little), and touch it lightly with the tips of
the brush's bristles. Then hold the brush as you would a
pencil, and pounce it on a clean part of the pan to
distribute the paint evenly through the bristles. (Pouncing
is a light, rapid tapping motion.) Pounce a few more times
on a paper towel, and you're ready to paint. (It's a good
idea to practice ahead of time, stenciling on newsprint or
brown wrapping paper.)
