I always think of stenciling as a finishing touch to dress up a home after the renovation is complete. After having some setbacks in the house that I’m waiting on for repairs, I found myself there yesterday with nothing to do, so I decided to get to some of those finishing touches.

There’s the correct way to stencil and then there’s my way. Since I was anxious to get something done without running to the store to get more supplies, guess which way I did it?

To stencil properly, you should have the following materials on hand.

1. Paint & Stencil. Duh.
2. Stencil brush
3. Blue masking tape
4. Pencil
5. Tape measure
6. Level
7. Paper towel
8. Water or denatured alcohol
9. Stencil adhesive

If you don’t have these items on hand, you can do what I do and use your fingers and a foam roller.

1. Have your base coat down and have the stencil paint on hand. You may use as many colors as your little heart desires.

2. Measure out where to start and the distance between stencils. You’ll most likely be using the same stencil over and over. That’s where the pencil comes in but you can also mask off where it will go. Personally, I like to get this step over with so I can just paint my stencil, but you can stop and measure/level each time. Whatev. Up to you.

3. The spray adhesive will keep the stencil in place. If not on hand (I’ve never had it on hand.) you can tape the stencil but honestly, it pops up and if you’re sloppy like me, there will be some touch up. That’s where your fingers come in. You have to hold it down and you’re literally painting your fingers.

4. Dip the stencil brush or foam in paint and dab it off on a paper towel. You don’t want too much paint.

5. Stipple the brush into the cut outs. Do not, repeat: do not use strokes or it will bleed underneath the stencil. Been there, done that.

6. Carefully remove it without smudging the paint all over.

7. Take off the tape, blah, blah, blah. Beautiful, huh?

8. Repeat over and over again, cleaning the paint off the stencil each time.

9. Touch up with small brush as needed. If it looks perfect, well la-di-da….aren’t you superior?

The stencil you’re looking at has dressed up a boring newly sheetrocked archway between rooms. After the setbacks, it made me feel a bit better about the house. She cleans up real nice.