Tools & Techniques: Let Stencils Unleash Your Inner Artist!
- Arabesque Stencils
- Aug 12
- 8 min read
Updated: Aug 15
Stencil art has evolved from simple shapes on walls and surfaces to intricate designs that showcase creativity and craftsmanship. From the street scene flair of graffiti artists, to delicate decorations on ceramics, to fun designs on cakes and cookies, stencils have become an indispensable part of the crafting toolkit.
Whether you are a novice or an established artist, every advanced stencil project requires good quality tools to ensure precise and reliable results.
In this article, we will explore some more advanced tools and techniques for creating amazing stencil arts and crafts, the difference between traditional stencils and modern reusable adhesive stencils, and some tips to enhance your stencil application process.
Essential Tools for Advanced Stencil Art
Creating advanced stencil art begins with understanding and learning the best tools for the job.
Investing in quality tools makes a significant difference, no matter where you are on your crafting journey. Whether you are stencilling as a hobby, or a professional creator, or a manufacturer of crafting products like us, better materials and equipment helps to guarantee consistent, reliable results.
Having the right tools not only makes creative crafting easier, they give you a much better outcome from your efforts too. And that's a win-win!
Here are some materials and tools that you can consider for your stencilling:
Stencil Materials and Cutting Tools
Before you even start stencilling, the stencil itself needs to be cut. A precise and reliable cutting tool is an obvious requirement, however the choice of cutting tool will depend on the kind of stencil material you plan to use.
Here are the three main materials that we work with. There are variations on these, but the overall approach will be similar:
Vinyl: We have two different types of vinyl stencil material: high adhesive and low adhesive. The most fundamental way to cut your vinyl stencil is fully by hand, using a finely tipped craft knife or scalpel to trace and cut out your design. As designs get more complex and intricate, hand cutting becomes extremely difficult - just one tiny slip could spoil an entire piece.
Our self-adhesive cut vinyl stencils - designed in the UK, made in the UK! This is where stencil cutting machines come into their own. In recent years, some very good home machines have been launched - the Cricut range in particular. We started our stencilling journey on a Cricut Maker! Our vinyl is super flexible, and its special adhesive cling layer allows it to grip a wide range of surfaces - keeping your hands free to create something super special! High-adhesive vinyl can be used on strong surfaces like glass, slate, tile, mirror, wood, metal, plastic and even fabric. Low adhesive vinyl is designed for cardmaking, or on gentler surfaces like paper, canvas, painted walls, layering or other delicate work. We now manufacture Arabesque Stencils (the vinyl ones!) on a professional blade cutting machine, giving the power and accuracy needed to produce millimetre perfect designs at speed and scale.
PET (polyethylene terepthalate): PET is a non adhesive material that is also food safe. It's the same material that milk bottles are made from, or for packaging fresh and frozen foods. Importantly, we do not use Mylar, as there are some disagreements from country to country on its overall safety for use with food.
Our non-adhesive, food safe PET stencils - laser cut for fine detail and strength PET is a very tough material, able to withstand all kinds of medium - including the kinds of solvent-based or oil-based mediums that wouldn't play nicely with our vinyl stencils. So, it's a great choice if you don't need a sticky vinyl stencil, or if you're working with mediums that aren't water-based. PET is very difficult to cut with a blade - it really needs to be cut by a CO2 tube laser. Even a powerful diode laser isn't up to the job. We manufacture our food safe stencils on a large CO2 laser cutter, giving super-precise cuts and accurate designs. CO2 laser cutters are expensive, and certainly haven't reduced in cost to the level of home crafting equipment like the Cricut. Brands like XTool are making lots of progress in that direction however, and in time we should see smaller, cheaper CO2 laser cutters for the hobbyist.
Acrylic: Acrylic is a strong, rigid material that can be used to create templates where flexible materials like vinyl or PET are no good. Examples of acrylic templates include patterns for crocheting, making wallets and other leatherwork, routing templates for woodwork, patterns for dollmaking... the list goes on! Like PET, acrylic is best cut by our good friend the CO2 tube laser. We are just about to begin exploring what kinds of acrylic template designs we can add to our range... please do give us your ideas, and watch this space!
There are other materials that you can use for stencilling too - paper and cardstock can make a quick, inexpensive single-use stencil, and is a great option for those of you with your own blade cutting machine at home.
Wood can be used as a stencil too. Our CO2 laser is very good at cutting plywood, and this material has been developed in a number of ways recently, specifically for laser cutting. These new laser-friendly plywood materials have fewer knots, different adhesives and smoother finishes to give far more consistent and neater results than, for example, the kind of construction plywood you might find at your local DIY store.
Applying Mediums to a Stencil
Now this is a real rabbit hole! Every combination of stencil material, medium and surface will need a slightly different approach - some very different indeed.
In general, if you're ready to advance your stencilling technique, you'll already be familiar with the main tools for applying media to a stencil: brush, sponge, palette knife, pads, airbrush, or a specific applicators such as chalk markers or acrylic paint pens.
But, as with any art, you can experiment and anything goes. We've tried droppers, spattering with brushes, pencil crayons, even going straight in with fingers!
Creating advanced stencil designs will benefit from combining tools to get the very best from them. For example, we get great results with acrylic paint by starting with a fine stencilling brush for the edges, followed by a stencilling sponge to fill in the shapes.
Let's think about a few different mediums and how applying them to a stencil might work. Take a deep breath.... and...!
Acrylic paint: Pretty much the easiest paints to work with, water-based acrylics help to achieve an even and solid coat, with a wide range of colours available, making them suitable for many projects. As with all mediums on this list, make sure to choose high-quality brands that are loved by hobbyists and professionals alike.
Gouache: For a matte finish with more texture, gouache is a great option to add more character and variety when stencilling with paints. It needs a little more practice than acrylic paint, but it's still water-based and a perfect match for our vinyl stencils.
Watercolours: Heading in the other direction from acrylics, watercolours combined with stencils can create dreamy, delicate designs. They are so easy to use, cheap to buy, and available in a wide range of colours and packages.
Ink: For quick impact and texture, try using inks with various applicators. Inks are a favourite of cardmakers in particular, with a wide range of colours and finishes.
Etching cream: This is such a perfect partner for our adhesive stencils. The adhesive stencils cling tightly to smooth surfaces like glass, mirror, slate and tile, giving super clean and neat edges. Apply the stencil, then very gently add etching cream to the design - don't force it. Fill all the shapes, then leave the stencil in place while the etch develops (this is different to using paint, where you remove the stencil immediately after painting). Once the etch is ready, remove the stencil and rinse both it and your workpiece under lukewarm running water. Done!
Texture paste / modelling gel: A big benefit of our cut vinyl stencils over silk screen stencils is that you are able to use much thicker, textured mediums. Gels and pastes can be sculpted at the same time as following the stencil design. This gives you the opportunity for three-dimensional effects that add depth and character to your crafts.
Embossing powder: Here's an interesting creative choice: sprinkle the embossing powder through your stencil for a raised, textured 3D result. Stand out from the crowd - literally!
Pyrography gel: A really interesting choice for a dramatic and rustic effect is to apply pyrography gel to wooden surfaces through the stencil. Once the gel is applied, remove the stencil then activate the gel with a heat gun. The result is a stunning burnt design that would be near impossible by hand.
Gilding: If you apply tacky-when-dry glue through our stencil, you have the perfect base on which to build up layers of gilding in your favourite metallic finishes. This is such a satisfying technique, and adds a serious amount of bling to your designs.
Pens, pencils and markers: So easy to use, and such a wide choice in a handy package that even the youngest kids can use - think chalk markers, acrylic paint pens, crayons, pastels, highlighters... so much to explore!
Bleach: This is a great technique for stencilling onto fabrics. Transform a t-shirt, personalise napkins and tablecloths - anything goes! Just be aware that bleach will spread into the fibres of the fabric, even with a stencil in place. So, plan your design accordingly, and make those soft edges and bleach runs part of the charm!
Food colourings and sauces: Decorate food, plates and bowls with designs that might not only look good, they can taste good too! Our food safe PET stencils open up a new world of culinary design.
Sprinkles and powders: For cakes and coffees, you can use a food safe stencil to sprinkle your design onto your creation. From cocoa powder, to coloured sugars, to flavoured sprinkles, to herbs and spices for savoury dishes - anything from fun designs to floral illustrations can add a special touch to food presentations.
Looking After Your Stencils
Always take good care of your stencils to ensure a long life of crafting and repeatable, accurate results. Here are some quick tips:
Handling: Although stencils are made of strong stuff, always be patient and gentle when removing and washing your stencils.
Cleaning: After using your stencil, clean it immediately to prevent mediums from drying on the surface. Use warm water, don't rub the adhesive side, avoid anything with moisturisers, oils or glycerine. If needs be, use a tiny bit of basic washing up liquid to help remove residues.
Storage: Store stencils flat to prevent warping or bending. Using a dedicated storage folder or a flat container can help keep them in good condition. Our adhesive stencils have a strong, clear plastic backing that will not disintegrate when wet, and keep your stencil looking good for a long time.
Final Thoughts on Your Stencil Journey
As you delve deeper into advanced stencil art, remember that practice and experimentation are key to mastering and loving this craft.
Each of the tools and techniques discussed in this article can play a different role in your creative process. Use them, get to know them, and always enjoy the process!
Don’t forget to explore our high-quality, professional stencils for your projects and always keep pushing your artistic boundaries. With the right tools and techniques, you can create stunning stencil art that reflects your unique style and creativity.
By continuously refining your skills and expanding your toolkit, you'll be able to create ambitious stencil projects that inspire and captivate. So gather your tools, unleash your creativity, and join us on a new, exciting stencilling journey!
Happy crafting 😍🎨
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