What’s Stenciling?
Stenciling is the technique of placing a sheet with cut-out letters/designs on top of an object, then applying paint over the sheet — only the cut-out areas get painted. (I first saw this on the Japanese show “Tokoro-san’s Setagaya Base”.)
Even a generic mass-produced item becomes a one-of-a-kind piece once you stencil it.
Below is a guitar gear case with a band name stenciled on it.
How to Stencil
This article focuses on a low-failure-rate technique using paint + sponge.
You can also use spray paint, but I find that risky — too easy to overspray, and disposing of the spray can afterward is annoying. So I use the sponge method.
What You Need
① Stencil sheet
② Paint
③ Sponge
④ Masking tape
① Stencil sheet
Sold ready-made (letters already cut out) — those work great if they fit your need.
To make your own, the classic approach is to cut letters out of a clear plastic file folder.
100-yen / dollar store also sells stencil sheet material:
The sheet is translucent, so you can lay it over your design, trace with a permanent marker, then cut with a utility knife to make your stencil.
For DIY stencils, my go-to materials are:
“OHP transparency sheet”
“Masking-tape-based printable sheet”
Both can be printed directly from a PC via inkjet printer — that’s the killer feature.
Plenty of free stencil-style fonts online too. (My favorite is “Boston Traffic”.)
Note: masking-tape sheets are one-shot — they don’t reuse.
② Paint, ③ Sponge
Any paint compatible with your target surface works. My personal favorite:
“nuro” (Japanese brand)
It’s water-based, so it handles like watercolor — easy to work with.
Despite being water-based, it sticks to metal, wood, paper, foam, plastic, concrete, you name it. Great color range too.
Sponge: a regular kitchen sponge works fine.
④ Masking tape
Mask off areas you don’t want painted.
Also use masking tape to attach the stencil sheet to the workpiece.
Examples
Example 1: Snoopy sign — using a pre-made stencil + a DIY one
Tape the stencil sheet down to the wood with masking tape.
Squeeze paint onto the sponge and work it in so the sponge is loaded.
(Wear gloves so your hands don’t get messy.)
Tap (don’t smear) the sponge over the stencil — repeat the tap motion to build up color gradually.
※ Don’t try to do it in one heavy pass. Light repeated taps give the cleanest result.
I had a Snoopy outline on cardstock at home, so I cut my own Snoopy stencil with a utility knife.
Same sponge-tap technique.
Done!
A Snoopy quote (…kind of):
“Dogs could fly if we wanted to…”
In hindsight, I should have drawn flying-Snoopy.
Example 2: Site logo on a brick block
I made a title image for this blog by stenciling on a brick block.
Brick block + a DIY masking-tape stencil sheet I made.
The masking-tape sheet runs through an inkjet printer, so I just printed the design from my computer, then cut out the letters with a utility knife.
Stick the stencil sheet onto the brick.
Load the sponge with paint.
Tap the loaded sponge over the stencil. Same idea: build up color in light passes.
Let the paint dry, then peel off the stencil sheet.
Done!
I’m using this as the title image for this blog.
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