The supplies I used for my project are as follows:
Wall Stencil (I used the Donatella Damask Stencil for my project.)
Level
Pencil
Paint (I used Behr Marquee Cameo White and Sherwin Williams Rainwashed, color matched in Behr Marquee paint.)
Painter’s tape
Mini foam roller
Paint tray
Paper towels
Stencil brush
Small paint brush
Scissors (optional)
Link to G.SB
Next I had to decide on colors. I already knew that I wanted to do white + the aqua color that I had already painted my office nook, but I had to choose which one would be the base color and which color I would stencil over top.
As I looked at different examples of stenciled walls, I realized that with the stencil pattern I had chosen, if I did the white as my base and the aqua color on top, I would have a more bold wall. And if I did an aqua base with a white stencil over it, my design would be a little more muted. Since I tend to be a bit scared of bold pattern, I decided to go with the latter combination.
The exact colors I used were Behr Marquee Cameo White and Sherwin Williams Rainwashed. (But I had Rainwashed color matched in the Behr Marquee paint since it is my favorite!)
To make sure that my stencil pattern would be completely straight, Donnie helped me draw a perfectly straight vertical line down the middle of the wall with a pencil.
That way I could set my first row of stenciling right against that line. Then all of the rest of my rows would be built upon that one, ensuring that they would all be straight.
To place the stencil the very first time, I lined it up with the pencil line that Donnie had drawn. I also placed it right up against the ceiling.
My stencil set came with a coordinating ceiling stencil. So if I started my design at ceiling level, I would be able to go back in with the smaller stencil later and easily fill in the little gap at the top. (You’ll see what I mean in a minute!)
I just used painter’s tape to adhere my stencil to the wall. Some of the instructions and tutorials I read recommended using a spray adhesive on the back of the stencil as well. But that sounded messy to me, so I used tape by itself. I didn’t have any trouble.
I think one of the biggest keys to getting a nice, clean stencil line is to use very, very little paint. I opted to use a mini foam roller to apply most of the paint.
So I would load my roller and roll off some of the paint in my paint tray. Then I’d do a roll or two on a paper towel. This would ensure I had only a very thin layer of paint on my roller.
I would then roll a coat of paint over my stencil. Often, since there was so little paint on my roller, I would have to refill my roller 2-3 times and go over the stencil again to make sure it was completely filled in.
I found that doing several of these thin coats one right over the other worked well. It really minimized bleeding under the stencil.
At the top, bottom, and side edges of the stencil, there are registration marks that help make sure that the stencil is lined up in the correct position. I would typically finish rolling my paint and remove the stencil right away.
Then I’d let the paint dry for a minute or two and use the registration marks to position the stencil again.
Since I was using very thin coats of paint, they dried quickly. I didn’t have to wait long in between stencils.
I also staggered the placement of the stencil, which allowed me to go more quickly. So, for example, while the paint for the stencil in the below photo was drying, I would remove the stencil and place it beside the top row. I’d roll the paint over that one, and then by the time I was finished there, I could move the stencil back down to the bottom. By then, the first stencil I had done was dry and ready to go.
The main part of the wall was a little time consuming, but the process was pretty straightforward– tape the stencil, paint, move the stencil, paint again, repeat. Eventually, though, that easier section was done, and it was time to tackle the edges.
As I mentioned previously, my stencil came with a smaller piece that was designed to help fill in the gap along the ceiling line. I actually ended up trimming down the top of the ceiling stencil by about 1/4″ or so. This allowed me to place it right up against the ceiling rather than it rolling up onto the ceiling, which would make it harder to stencil.
For the smaller pieces like the ceiling and the edges, I used a stencil brush like the one below rather than a roller because it was easier to manipulate in the smaller spaces.
If there was a spot that was really teeny tiny, I kept a small paintbrush handy and used that to fill in when necessary.
My stencil didn’t end up hitting the edges of my wall exactly. I had to do a bit of maneuvering to stencil each end and the very bottom of my wall.
I would first tape the edge of the opposite wall where I didn’t want the paint to seep. Then I would just let the stencil bend into the corner and press it in with my fingers on one hand and stencil with the other hand.
The one piece of the wall that perplexed me a bit was a little two-inch strip between the door molding and the wall. There was no way to bend the stencil to make it fit neatly in that space. So I ended up cutting a two-inch strip out of my stencil once the rest of the wall was complete and using that to fill in the gap.
(If you were planning on using your stencil somewhere else and didn’t want to cut it, one of my Instagram friends suggested making a photocopy of the stencil and cutting that, perhaps out of cardstock, which I thought was a great idea!)
As you can see, I taped up both the door frame and the wall so I wouldn’t get paint on them, then taped my little piece of stencil into the gap, and just filled in with paint like I had on the other edges.
I pulled the tape away, and my wall was done! Yippee!
I did go in and end up touching up a few spots with paint where the lines weren’t totally crisp. It still is not 100% perfect, but the pattern is pretty forgiving, so I didn’t have to be too nit-picky with it.
I would say all in all I spent about 14 total hours stenciling. (And I tend to be kind of slow because I’m a perfectionist, so other people would probably be faster than me!)
So you want to jump on the trend of the budget friendly stencil instead of blowing your entire savings on wallpaper, but your fear is that it’s going to look… like a child did it. Am I right? Well let me give you some surefire tips to help make your stencil experience not only more enjoyable, but also produce a crisp clean pattern that will have EVERYONE doubting that its painted on! Lets do this!!
If you want to learn more, please visit our website wall stencil for painting.
First, the star constellation stencil was NOT my first rodeo. I learned a TON from stenciling my daughters BOHO wall. Click here for that project. So let me save YOU the headache and jump to the good stuff.
You can find stencils all over the internet from different vendors and the prices will range from $10-50… and so do the size. Most of the $10-25 stencils are small.. I’m talking like the size of a piece of computer paper, or smaller. If you are trying to tackle an entire wall…. you are going to be SO frustrated with a little stencil. I purchase my stencils from Cutting Edge Stencil. They are 20″x28″… and have a repeating image in each corner so its easy to line up your next piece. Their stencils are also thick, but flexible.
This is controversial, but I promise for a novice stenciler on textured walls.. this is a must! I use temporary spray adhesive onto my walls, yes, I said it, on my walls.. then apply the stencil. This helps SO MUCH with bleed through and making sure the stencil is really STUCK on there. It does leave a mild tackiness on your wall.. but once the paint is all dry (a few hours later or the next day), take a baby wipe to the wall and the tackiness will come off, and your crisp pattern will stay.
Cutting Edge Stencil has hundreds of stencil options some are linear like chevron lines, or subway tiles… these have to CONSTANTLY be checked to make sure things are straight and level.. and a lot of the times walls or floors or wherever you are stenciling… isn’t straight.. and isn’t level. So stick with a more fluid or random pattern and you are sure to find success.
The BIGGEST issue I see in stenciling is loading up your brush with too much paint. First, use a flat brush that is meant for stenciling. Dab the brush onto the LID or a plate where only the first 1/8″ of the bristles actually get any paint on them.. immediately dab the brush on a clean paper towel to get rid of some paint before applying it to your wall. Its going to first feel like you aren’t even applying paint, but I promise this is the BEST way to stencil. Also go in a dabbing motion on the wall. No swiping, no circling. just dab dab dab.
Stencil projects allow for creativity! Don’t be afraid to use multiple colors on one stencil… and don’t be afraid to GO BIG and use the stencil like I did with this moon… You will get super unique and amazing finishes if you let yourself get creative.
First take a tack and push it into the center of where your circle is going to be. Take a string tied to a pencil and draw a large circle. Color in the circle with SW Whole Wheat so it is a solid gold circle.
Next take the largest moon stencil by Cutting Edge Stencils and apply it to the wall (with adhesive sprayed onto the wall first). Dab SW Chatroom onto portions of the moon. Be as free and creative with this as possible to achieve the base of the moon.
While everything is still wet mix some black acrylic paint (the kind you find at Michaels for $1), into the SW Chatroom and go back with the stencil and darken up some of the edges the moon. Once you have the dark and the light grey applied here’s where the magic happens… take some acrylic glow in the dark paint on your brush (same brush.. never washed it) and apply the glow in the dark over both the dark and the light grey areas to blend the two together and create some cloudiness. wah-lah! Star Stencil with moon is complete!
Room Colors:
Dark wall color: SW Still Water
Stars: SW Whole Wheat
Moon base: SW Whole wheat
Moon shadow: SW Chatroom
For more fun tutorials and behind the scenes of projects be sure to follow along on instagram!! @honeybuilthome
xo- Christine
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