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October 23, 2021 in Handmade

Stenciling mistakes you don’t want to make!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I'll make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
end table with fern stencil
End table with fern stencil that stays put!

Stenciling mistakes. Eeekk. Stenciling is not for wimps. I had to learn the hard way.

Supplies were ordered. Everything was rearing to go. Stenciling expert here I am. Or not.

My garbaged-picked end table was made for a fern leaf stencil on top. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.  

Was I ever wrong. 

In fact, it took six attempts to get it right. I made so many stenciling mistakes.

If you don’t implement best stencil practices, it’s like that recipe from Pinterest that bombs.

Technique is everything. 

Stenciling is far too easy to mess up. In this post, I’m referring to the stenciling of a piece of furniture or sign, but these tips would work equally well if you are doing a border or accent wall. 

​Here’s what I learned about stenciling so that you don’t make the same stenciling mistakes that I did. 

top of DIY stenciled end table
Top of DIY end table

Stenciling mistakes happen to good people….

My heart goes into full panic mode the moment I’m about to rip the stencil off the project.

What if the paint bleeds? What if the paint peels off? What if the colors are off? 

In the world of stenciling, you must be tenacious. If it doesn’t work out, step back, reflect, figure out what you did wrong. Then try again!

Joy in the journey.

​But once you get it, realized that you’ve mastered a great skill. One that you’ll use forevermore.

Don’t hesitate to test out techniques on a piece of cardboard to get an ideas on how that it will work on a real piece of furniture.

After all, messing up on a trial run is much better than messing up on a piece of furniture, or worse, on a wall when you’re wobbling on a ladder. 

Small containers of Mod Podge help you to avoid stenciling mistakes
Small bottles of Mod Podge can be bought at most dollar stores.

Not using Mod Podge is a stenciling mistake…

I read that Mod Podge is the way to hold your stencil down to prevent bleeding. This advice is sort of true to avoid a stenciling mistake.

While I like Mod Podge and found it effective, I learned a few things about this product along the way.

1.) Only put one thin layer of Mod Podge on or all your paint will peel off.

More is always better? Right. So I put a layer down and then added a second layer.

When I went to remove my stencil, all the paint peeled off. It was too thick.

One thin layer works best. If used correctly, Mod Podge will hold the stencil down, prevent bleeding and not peel off the paint.

​I just used my fingers to apply a small amount of Mod Podge to hold down the stencil but a foam brush works well, too. 

This step seals the edges of the stencil so the paint won’t bleed underneath. 

2.) Small bottles of Modge Podge are better.

You can buy 2 fl oz of Modge Podge at the Dollar Store.  

Or you can buy much bigger bottles at craft supplies stores for a whole lot more. But those bottles will dry up before you can use it. Smaller is better.

​Mod Podge works great on bare wood, especially rough, reclaimed wood like pallet boards. It will certainly help a lot with bleeding. 

Painters tape holding down stencil
Using painters tape to hold down the stencil is key

Not using painters tape is a stenciling mistake…

So it’s true, Mod Podge holds the stencil down. But I view Mod Podge as a product that prevents bleeding more than anything else.

This is why I still used masking tape to hold the stencil down. As a backup precaution, it’s worth it.

Why risk doing the stencil again over a tiny bit of tape? 

​And in the end it was the low tack masking tape in conjunction with the Mod Podge that help the stencil in place and prevented bleeding.

Look for the low tack masking tape also labelled “easy mask” or “quick release” tape, for masking. It will seal stencil edges securely but not remove any existing paint. 

Craft bold holds down stencils to avoid stenciling mistakes
Use Craft Bond to hold down the stencil

No painters tape? Try Craft Bond….

Craft Bond. Ever hear of it? It certainly helped me avoid another stenciling mistake.

I hadn’t until I found myself wandering the Walmart aisles looking for buckets. Oh well.

Craft Bond has a plethora of uses besides spraying it on the back of your stencil for a temporary bond. It’s sticky stuff!

​And it’s a great product to prevent stencil paint bleeding~ our ultimate goal. Use it solo or with your low tack masking tape for a non-bleed stencil project.

Since the bottle is big, save it for future adhesion projects with fabrics, cork, canvas, paper, plastics, foam, rubber, foil, cardboard, photos, films and felt. Nifty to have!

End table with fern stencil
End table with fern stencil

Using cheap stencils is a stenciling mistake….

It wasn’t until Tom bought brushes behind my back that were designed for stenciling that my project began to turn around. 

I can be so cheap. Dollar Store brushes ideal for kiddie crafts were never going to work for the professional stenciling projects I had in mind. The paint looked streaky and splotchy.

The bristles shed. No-go.  

The table looked like my kids had done the project. Don’t get me wrong. I love my kids! I love their crafts, but I didn’t want my table to look like they did it.

I wanted it to look like someone who has their own home & garden blog did it. (Did I really type that?!?) Professional results. 

​Stenciling brushes are round with short, stiff bristles. Brushes with comfortable long handles and dense, natural bristles to get the job done right.  Use them in a quick up-and-down motion to dab thin layers of paint on your stencil. 

Try not to get paint under the stencil’s edges as this increases the chances of it peeling when it rip it off. 

​Real stenciling brushes left a smooth, non-streaky appearance to my table. At first I blamed the paint. Then I realized, it wasn’t the paint, it was the cheap brush.

And remember: you if you wash the brushes thoroughly, you can use them again and again for various projects. 

Layers of paint on a stencil
Using different colors on a stencil

Insider tip: Start painting on the edges of the stencil working your way inward to the center. This is better than working from the center outward as paint tends to get globbed under the stencil.

​Bad! Then when you rip off the stencil, you are more likely to rip off all the paint. Bleh. 

Using the wrong paint is a stenciling mistake…

Determined not to spend a ton of money on this project, I decided to raid my kids’ acrylic paints to stencil.

The Home Depot workers said this was okay! And if you can’t trust them…who can you trust?

Then the unthinkable happened. 

I stenciled using the acrylic paints and when I went to remove the stencil, all the paint peeled off. What?!???

Turns out I had used a high gloss Rust-Oleum to paint the table first. The acrylic paint (not the gloss enamel variety) was never gonna stick to that high gloss paint.

Bummer. 

Apple Barrel acrylic paints are great to use to avoid stenciling mistakes
Apple Barrel acrylic paints are great for stenciling

Apple Barrel acrylic paints are great for stenciling

The whole experience was like oil and water. 

So you can’t just consider stencil paint. You have to consider the base layer of paint on your piece or wall.

If you are using bare wood, this won’t be an issue for you. You can use the matte acrylic paints. And Mod Podge works very well on bare wood. But for wood with a base layer you’ll need to fork out for the high gloss acrylic paint.

I’ve always used the Apple Barrel brand with great success on various crafting projects.

But….acrylic paints are messy and difficult to work with for first-timers.

​A better option for you might be dry brush stencil paint. This paint has a creamy consistency that allows you to avoid drips and bleeding. It’s easy to apply and moves smoothly on the surface. 

While the dry brush stencil paint comes in a wonderful assortment of colors, it’s not recommended for glossy surfaces.

Whereas gloss enamel acrylic paints are formulated for use on slick surfaces. My end table has a smooth surface so I went with the high gloss acrylic paints this time round.  Make sure you are using the gloss enamel acrylic paints, matte acrylic paint won’t stick.

not using Rust-Oleum is a stenciling mistake
Using Rust-Oleum for stencils works

Is not priming a stenciling mistake?

Do you need to prime? After all, it’s an extra step. 

And it’s extra time. And extra cost. Short answer: it depends.

My goal was a shiny table so I used white shiny semi-gloss Rust-oleum. When I added the acrylic stencil paint on top of the Rust-oleum I quickly discovered it wasn’t going to stick.

Time consuming bummer.

So I ended up using the shiny Rust-oleum on the entire table and used a second coat of paint + primer Rust-oleum just the top.

It did give the surface a more matte finished looked but since it allowed the acrylic paint to stick I was happy.

​A worthy sacrifice. And I find I can never have enough white Rust-oleum in the house. Never. 

Old table with new fern stencil
This fern table has a new lease on life

When to pull that stencil off for the big reveal! 

Pulling the stencil off is harder than pulling teeth. Pure agony. Timing  is everything.

My mistake was waiting to long to rip that stencil off. In fact, that accounted for 3 out of my 6 flops. 

The first time, I waited hours to peel off that stencil and it peeled all the paint off, too. Yikes.

The next time, I still waited an hour and that was still too long. Paint peeled right off. 

​The root of the problem was that I was attempting to use multiple colors on the stencil, not just one.

By the time I was finished with my third color, the first had already dried. 

And of course, I wanted to put on two coats of paint.

I confess, I started to apply the second coat before the first coat was 100% dry (I didn’t wait hours.)

​And I only waited about 15 minutes to rip that stencil off after applying the second coat of the third shade of green.

So the paint must have been slightly damp when I ripped it off. But I did not touch it to ascertain this for fear of smudging it.

Start at one corner and rip it off like a Band-Aid.  

​But the 15 minute rule worked…and that’s key. 

not using acrylic matte finish is a stenciling mistake
Acrylic matte finish seals in the stencil

Sealer is a must as a final step to avoid a big stenciling mistake!

I waffled whether to spend the $7 on acrylic sealant but I’m glad I did. It really did help to seal the paint and prevent peeling for the long haul.  

Fast-drying, Aleene’s acrylic paint seller worked well! Putting on three thin layers was best providing a protective, clear and matte finish. 

Skipping this step is a stenciling mistake as your stencil is more likely to peel off. This is especially true if you are stenciling a piece of furniture.

​Think about this: The first time someone drinks a cup of hot coffee on your table without a coaster.

I shudder at the thought. Besides, event the coaster might scratch that paint off.

Just buy the sealant and use it for lots of projects. Don’t try to seal on a windy day outside. You’ll waste less product on a no-wind day. 

Ned table outside
Spaying sealant outside

Not applying thin layers in a stenciling mistake….

Whether it’s base paint/primer, paint or the sealant, thin layers work best.

You know it and I know but we all need this healthy reminder! 

​Chunky layers tend to pull off. Kind of like when you apply makeup too thickly to your face. It peels off…does it not? And thick layers never look good. 

​I ended up doing one layer of the Rust-oleum paint + primer paint, two thin layers of the acrylic paint and three layers of very thinly spread sealant.

That’s a whopping six layers. Imagine if they were thick? 

​Thin. Thin. Thin. It’s not a rush to the finishing line. Better to get it right the first time than make a stenciling mistake.

Moreover, never overload the brush with paint. If you put too much paint on, it tends to seep under the edges of the stencil. A light hand is key.

Have a cloth nearby to wipe any excess paint on before applying. Two thin layers are much better than one thick one. 

Wait for the first layer to dry before applying the second layer. 

After all, doing the project six times took a lot more effort than finally discovering how to stencil the first time.

Old table with new fern stencil
This fern table now works as a bedside table

One last tip that should “stick” with you

Try to avoid getting paint on the stencil. I know, it’s tough avoiding this stenciling mistake.

​You especially want to avoid paint in the cut-out portions of the stencil. All those cracks and crevices. When the paint dries, it’s nearly impossible to get off.

​Therefore, when you go to use that stencil again, you’ll have lost all those clean edges. And we always want clean edges whether stenciling a piece of furniture or doing a whole accent wall. 

After you’ve ripped the stencil off your project, you’ll want to wash it immediately.

But first, always wipe the stencil with a paper towel immediately after stenciling. Then wash the stencil with a little dish soap over lukewarm water. 

And bleh. You need to wash those brushes immediately, too or you’ll ruin them. It’s always a good idea to reform the bristles by smoothing them out and laying them to dry on a few paper towels.

When dry store stencils flat in the package they came in or in large envelopes of file folders.  

Then both your stencils and your brushes will be rearing to go for the next project at hand! 

Do you enjoy stencil projects? What types of stencils would you use?

63 Comments

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tandy | Lavender and Lime says

    October 27, 2021 at 6:20 am

    what great advice. I use stencils when I do my ceramic work. Something I have not done for ages. But I have a project to make 6 mugs for our cottage soon. Sorry it took so long for me to visit back. Life is nearly getting back to normal after our time away.

    Reply
    • David Farrell says

      October 31, 2021 at 10:33 am

      so very helpful and its been ages so to do again i needed help thx

      Reply
  2. Christine @ Run Plant Based says

    October 29, 2021 at 9:30 am

    Such a great post and advice, this looks like a fun project to get into as I’m into re-purposing existing household items. Thanks!

    Reply
  3. Audrey says

    October 31, 2021 at 8:07 am

    Great advice!

    Reply
  4. Chad Boyd says

    October 31, 2021 at 8:27 am

    Thank you so much for these tips, maybe this will help my next project!

    Reply
  5. Vicki Davis says

    October 31, 2021 at 8:59 am

    Wonderful advice as usual! Thank you & have a wonderful blessed day❣️🌻

    Reply
  6. Bradley Marquis says

    October 31, 2021 at 9:58 am

    cool

    Reply
  7. monique s says

    October 31, 2021 at 10:03 am

    I haven’t tried stenciling yet, but would love to try it. It looks fun and creative

    Reply
  8. carol n says

    October 31, 2021 at 10:23 am

    I haven’t stenciled in years, makes me want to do it again.

    Reply
  9. Barbara R. says

    October 31, 2021 at 10:48 am

    I love the end table with fern stencil. It seems like it would be easy to do. Thank you for the tips.

    Reply
  10. Anita Hamilton says

    October 31, 2021 at 11:08 am

    I have used Mod Podge but I want to use that Elmers bond. Use give good advice.

    Reply
  11. Debbie Welchert says

    October 31, 2021 at 11:14 am

    I haven’t done any stenciling and probably won’t but such wonderful advice. Thank you.

    Reply
  12. Judy Rittenhouse says

    October 31, 2021 at 12:00 pm

    Thank you for the fabulous tips and stenciling ideas!

    Reply
  13. Sharon R says

    October 31, 2021 at 12:58 pm

    I like stenciling. I have done seashell ones before and they turned out nice!

    Reply
  14. Mary Dailey says

    October 31, 2021 at 1:16 pm

    Wonderful tips and I think I’m ready to stencil now! I love the leaf stencil with that beautiful rug! It’s perfect!!!

    Reply
  15. Rebecca Bishop says

    October 31, 2021 at 1:22 pm

    This looks like so much fun and I love the results I’ll be trying this soon!! 🌿

    Reply
  16. irene says

    October 31, 2021 at 1:26 pm

    Thank you for great ideas

    Reply
  17. Suzanne says

    October 31, 2021 at 1:36 pm

    Thanks for the tips, will have to try this!

    Reply
  18. Chelle says

    October 31, 2021 at 2:01 pm

    Thanks! You gave me some ideas for stenciling directly on my floor. 🙂

    Reply
  19. Leigh Nichols says

    October 31, 2021 at 2:07 pm

    I wish I had the talent to do things like this- I love the look!

    Reply
  20. Sam says

    October 31, 2021 at 2:13 pm

    Thanks for all the tips. Definitely good to know before starting and having to redo. I feel I never get clean lines with stenciling

    Reply
  21. Lisa Cress says

    October 31, 2021 at 3:04 pm

    I bought stencils with good intentions, but just never did it. Now I can! Your table turned out beautifully! Thank you.

    Reply
  22. Janis C says

    October 31, 2021 at 3:40 pm

    I haven’t stenciled in years. This looks great so now I’m thinking of what can stencil around the house.

    Reply
  23. Bobbye Pearson says

    October 31, 2021 at 4:59 pm

    Very informative. I have been wanting to try stencils but didn’t quite feel confident enough! This helps a ton! Thanks!!!

    Reply
  24. Diane Warstler says

    October 31, 2021 at 5:53 pm

    What I love most about this stencil is its simplicity. It makes the piece look perfect. Thanks so much for all of the tips.

    Reply
  25. Lisa Bennett says

    October 31, 2021 at 6:25 pm

    I bought stencils just recently to help me design a project for outside my home. It’s so neat to have these tips revealed to me before I get started.
    Thanks. Good luck to all.

    Reply
  26. Maryellen says

    October 31, 2021 at 7:09 pm

    I would love to do something like this, but I have like zero artistic ability. I do love this table though. Very unique.

    Reply
  27. Lori Byrd says

    October 31, 2021 at 7:16 pm

    Such a great idea with great results.

    Reply
  28. Merit Hartzell says

    October 31, 2021 at 7:45 pm

    Just beautiful!

    Reply
  29. Betsy Pauzauskie says

    October 31, 2021 at 7:58 pm

    While I’ve not tried stenciling yet, I appreciate the research and experience you’ve gained producing such a beautiful result. Fortunately I will have your blog to references should I take on this type of project. Thank you Laura!

    Reply
  30. Jill Hanson says

    October 31, 2021 at 8:11 pm

    I’ve used spray adhesive when I stenciled. Also you can use oil paint on top of acrylic but not acrylic on top of oil.

    Reply
    • Laura Sproull says

      November 1, 2021 at 9:19 am

      Thanks for the tip!

      Reply
  31. DeeAnn S says

    October 31, 2021 at 8:11 pm

    I’ve done stenciling years ago. I enjoyed it then and probably would try it again if the opportunity arose. Thanks for the helpful tips too.

    Reply
  32. Janet Ford says

    October 31, 2021 at 8:48 pm

    Thanks for the great ideas,

    Reply
  33. stephen jones says

    November 1, 2021 at 11:26 am

    thanks for the great tips! sometimes i go into a project without finding out all the details or potential issues.

    Reply
  34. Jennylyn Gross says

    November 1, 2021 at 11:54 am

    Thanks for the tips

    Reply
  35. Jean Millsap says

    November 1, 2021 at 3:00 pm

    I’ve always been afraid to stencil but after reading this info, I feel more confident to give it a try. So many ways to spice up anything to make it more interesting instead of discarding items.

    Reply
  36. Paula Adams says

    November 1, 2021 at 5:08 pm

    I attended a group workshop recently with stenciling involved. Learned quickly that less paint (rather than more paint) worked best, and dabbing on the paint (rather than brush swiping the paint on) worked better on our DIY project. With these additional tips from Raise Your Garden, I may try another stenciling project soon all on my own!

    Reply
  37. Liz Kilcher says

    November 2, 2021 at 3:51 am

    sounds fun!!

    Reply
  38. Thomas Gibson says

    November 2, 2021 at 5:15 am

    Stenciling looks fun. Thanks for the awesome tips.

    Reply
  39. Sherry McCarthy says

    November 2, 2021 at 11:04 pm

    Great advice and tips, would love to try on a table next time.

    Reply
  40. EMMA L HORTON says

    November 4, 2021 at 2:51 pm

    STENCILING IS FUN BUT YOU HAVE TO WORK ON IT SOMETIMES TO GET IT RIGHT.

    Reply
  41. Tony Platz says

    November 4, 2021 at 4:31 pm

    Really great post .

    Reply
  42. Terri David says

    November 5, 2021 at 5:01 pm

    I’ve never tried stenciling, but now I am interested. I’ve been artsy, but haven’t taken the time to do projects.

    Reply
  43. Rosanne says

    November 6, 2021 at 12:50 am

    I once stenciled an entire sports border around my son’s room but that was about 30 years ago! I used a type of wax crayon

    Reply
  44. Ron Ablang says

    November 6, 2021 at 4:34 pm

    That’s cool.

    Reply
  45. Martha DeMarco says

    November 8, 2021 at 7:48 am

    always have great posts and ideas!

    Reply
  46. Cheryl Larimer says

    November 8, 2021 at 9:37 am

    Thanks for the great tips! I’ve never stenciled and might have to give it a try now.

    Reply
  47. cynthia says

    November 8, 2021 at 7:48 pm

    would love to stencil

    Reply