1. Look for a high contrast image with few variations.
2. Use a sharp knife to cut your stencil.
3. Make the longest, straightest cut first.
4. Don't lift your knife until the shape is cut.
5. If you make a mistake, you can always use tape to fix it.

</note>

• by Darcy Logan

• Stencils can be used to create elaborate murals, colorful clothing and decorative cupcakes. If you have a project that you want to stencil, but have been unable to find a stencil that fits your needs, then it is time to make your own. Making your own stencils is not hard and will ensure the stencil is the right size for what you want.

• There are a lot of materials you can use to create your stencil. A few examples include:
  1. Acetate or stiff plastic.About.com: How to Cut a Stencil
  2. Foam board.Instructables: Make Your Own Stencil
  3. Thin cardboard.Planet Green: How to Make Stencils from Used Cardboard
  4. Manila folder.touristiko: Your Own Stencil
  5. Card stock.Expert Village: Types of Materials for Stencils
  6. Poster board.Expert Village: How to Make a Beginner Airbrush Stencil
  7. Report covers.All-About-Stencils.com: How To Make Stencils In Easy To Follow Steps with Illustrations

• You will also need:
  1. A craft knifeFree Stencils Patterns: How to Cut Your own Stencils
  2. Cutting board or matAll-About-Stencils.com: How To Make Stencils In Easy To Follow Steps with Illustrations
  3. An image to trace
  4. Masking tape
• YouTube: How to Make a Stencil (Time: 2:54)

• The first thing you need to do is find an image that you want to use. You want to look for images that have high contrast with few variations.All-About-Stencils.com: How To Make Stencils In Easy To Follow Steps with Illustrations Here are a few ways to find great stencil images.

1. The easiest method is to surf the Internet for one. Try doing a Google image search for clip art images that would make good stencils.
2. Many sites offer free printable stencils. Some of the better sites include:
   • Mahalo: Christmas Stencils | Halloween Stencils | Printable Halloween Stencils | Free Pumpkin Carving Stencils, Patterns and Designs
   • Spray Paint Stencils: Printable Stencils
   • About.com: Free Stencils Collection
   • Super Cook: Free Stencil Shapes
3. Many coloring pages can easily convert into a stencil. Mahalo has a number of pages devoted to coloring including:
   • Holiday Coloring Pages: Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, Halloween, Saint Patrick's Day, Earth Day
   • Characters: Barbie, Bratz, Hello Kitty
   • Movies: Alvin and the Chipmunks, Bee Movie
   • You can also find coloring pages listed in the Fun Stuff section on many of Mahalo's pages.
4. Other items you can use to make stencils include:
   • Cookie cutters.AlohaFriends.com: Fun Uses for Hawaii Theme Cookie Cutters
   • Real-life items such as leaves and sea shells.
   • Images in books.AsktheDecorator.com: How to Make Stencils
   • Wallpaper patterns.AsktheDecorator.com: How to Make Stencils

• If you want to use your own photo to make a stencil, it is a little trickier. The simplest method is to open the picture in a paint program, such as Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, and then switch the photo from color to black and white. However, this does not always leave you with a very distinct image. Here are a few guides on how to create these images:
  1. Instructables: Photo to Stencil Without Photoshop
  2. Jack-O-Lantern.com: Portraits
  3. Photoshop Tips: Halloween Pumpkin Stencils
  4. Vinterstille: Stencil Art 101 : Design - Tutorials
  5. Melissa Clifton: Creating Stencils - Online Tutorial
  6. Stencil Tutorials: Spray Paint Stencil Tutorials

• An alternative is to print out the image, use tracing paper to trace the most dominant lines and then use the outline to cut your stencil.Reader's Digest.com: Stenciled Writing Paper and Envelopes

• If you find an image online and need to enlarge or shrink the image, you can either use a copy machine or your web browser to adjust the size. Both Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer allow you to resize an image before you print it. Here is how it is done:

1. Select the image so it is the only one on the screen. This can be done either by clicking or right clicking on the picture.
2. Under File, choose Print Preview.
3. At the top of the screen, you will see a drop-down button that says Scale or Shrink to Fit. Adjust this however you need to.
4. If you enlarge too far, the edges may get blurry, which may make tracing or cutting out the stencil more difficult.

• {{Img|ConverseStencil_JB_113008.jpg||right}}Once you have the image you want at the size you want, you need to print or transfer it onto a more durable material. Before you do, you may want to color your stencil with the colors you plan on using. This will help you decide if you like the stencil before going to all the work.AsktheDecorator.com: How to Make Stencils

• Depending on your printer and the material you are using, you may be able to print the image directly onto the stencil material. Otherwise, do the following:

1. Print out the image on a white sheet of paper.
2. Lay your image over the material (or under if using clear acetate).Instructables: Make Your Own Stencil
3. Use a few pieces of tape to secure the image and the material together.About.com: How to Cut a Stencil
4. You are now ready to cut.

• If you are using thick paper or thin cardboard, you may want to rub each piece with a light coat of vegetable oil, which makes the paper more durable and flexible. Let the oil absorb for at least an hour before using.FamilyFun: Tree Stencils This can be done before or after you cut out your stencil.

• To cut out your stencil you will need a sharp Exacto or craft knife and a cutting board. Do not try to rush this step.AsktheDecorator.com: How to Make Stencils

1. Cut your longest, straightest lines first.About.com: How to Cut a Stencil
2. Press firmly and smoothly.
3. Use your free hand to hold the stencil onto the cutting board.About.com: How to Cut a Stencil
4. Rotate the stencil as you cut and don't lift your knife until the entire shape is cut.Free Stencils Patterns: How to Cut Your own Stencils
5. Tidy any rough edges after you've finished cutting out your design.About.com: How to Cut a Stencil Don't worry about making your stencil perfect.AsktheDecorator.com: How to Make Stencils
6. If you accidentally cut through one of the stencil bridges, repair it with scotch tape and cut away any excess tape.The Stencil Library: Helpful Stenciling Hints

• Expert Village: How to Make a Beginner Airbrush Stencil (Time: 1:34)

• Now that you have made your stencil, all you need to do is use it. There are a variety of different projects that you can do with your stencils. You can also use them to decorate other items such as furniture, walls and floors. You can use them to decorate cakes, cookies or cupcakes for Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, Halloween and other holidays.

• Many sites are great resources for projects that involve stencils. Some of the best include:
  1. MarthaStewart.com: "Stencil" Search
  2. FamilyFun: "Stencil" Search
  3. Country Living: "Stencil" Search
  4. Better Homes and Gardens: "Stencil" Search
  5. About.com: Stenciling and Decorative Painting
  6. Expert Village: "Stencil" Search