How-to’s

This how to yields a maker look with a modern twist – Stenciled canvas art in an embroidery hoop.  It also adds a bit of class to traditional Halloween decorations.

What you’ll need: Embroidery hoops, thin canvas, 6×6 Stencil1 skull set stencils, Stencil1 quatrafoil stencil, stencil brushes, scissors and hammer and nails if you hang your creations.

Step 1: To start, lay out your thin canvas on a flat surface.

Step 2: Using the quatrefoil pattern stencil from the Swallow Set, stencil the canvas with the pattern until the entire cloth is full. We used a lighter color so when we layer the skull over it, the skull pops.

Step 3: Once all four cloths are stenciled with the pattern and have fully dried, it’s time to stencil the skulls. Place the skull stencil in the very center of the cloth. Using black paint, stencil in the open areas of the skull stencil until it is completely filled. We went nice and dark, using an up and down stomping motion with our stencil brushes.

Step 4: Once the four skulls are done and have dried, you can easily place them in the embroidery hoops.

Step 5: Cut away or even tape back the excess fabric sticking outside the hoop and hang on you wall or door for all to see!

Share what you made with us at @stencil1

Extra credit –Go the distance and further embellish with embroidery!

Pocket Ts are a huge trend right now. We love them because it’s a perfect mini-canvas to stencil a custom design on. We’ve come up with a few ideas of how you can make your pocket T extra-special with our stencils. Check out our ideas below and share your creations with us @Stencil1.

This is what you will need for this how to:  Stencil1 Scallop, Star, and Asian Dots pattern stencils, multi-purpose paint, stencil brushes, painters tape, pocket T, cardboard insert, low-tack spray adhesive.

Step 1: Slip the cardboard insert inside the shirt. This will give you a firm surface to stencil on and will prevent paint from bleeding onto the back of the t-shirt.

Step 2: Outline the pocket using painter’s tape. This will give make it easier to stencil the entire pocket without getting paint of the shirt.

Step 3: Place the scallop pattern stencil on top of the pocket and secure it down with tape. You can also spray the back of the stencil with a low-tack spray adhesive so that it is well secure to the t-shirt and less likely to move.

Step 4: Put some paint on your plate, or any other hard surface. For this stencil we used a gray t-shirt and orange fabric paint.

Step 5: Dip your brush in the paint gently. Stenciling is a dry brush technique, which means you do not need a lot of paint on your brush. If you want the color to be more saturated, you can apply multiple layers.

Step 6: Start stenciling the shirt by using an up and down or circular motion.

Step 7: Lift the stencil off, gently. Allow the paint to dry t touch and heat seal with a iron.

Step 8: Repeat steps 1 through 7 but with the other pattern stencils. Try playing around with some fun color combinations. We paired a blue shirt with a purple paint, and gray with blue.

Something fun we tried was extending the pattern outside of the pocket. Give it a try!

Don’t forget to show us what your pocket Ts look like!

Another interesting variation for this trend would be to stencil your pocket! Check out our Stencil1 Bow Tie & Pocket Protector stencil and use it for your next pocket t design.

Bucket hats are back and have been trending in Brooklyn lately.  Dig yours out of the closet and make it unique by stenciling it!

For this how-to you’ll need: A bucket hat, Stencil1 Skull set, multi-surface paint, stencil brushes, low-tack spray adhesive, tape.

Step 1: Fold the hat so you have a flat surface to work on. Spray the back of the stencil with the adhesive (make sure to do this in a well ventilated room).  Place the stencil on the hat. Since it can be difficult to stencil on cloth that is not completely flat, taping down the edges with painter’s tape will secure the stencil and make it easier to paint.

Step 2: Put some paint on a plate and use your brush to begin stenciling. Remember to use a dry brush technique. This means using very little paint and applying several coats. Paint using an up and down motion.

Step 3: Remove the stencil and allow the paint to dry to touch.

Step 4: Fold the hat so that another section is exposed as flat as possible. Repeat steps 1 through 3 to stencil another skull. We stenciled a total of 3 skulls, two blue and one white.

For the white skull, we used an extra dry brush to give it more of a vintage look.

Step 5: Heat seal the paint with an iron. Snap a picture of your hat and share it with us @Stencil1.

One of the best ways to entertain our little ones at home is with arts and crafts activities. It gets even better when the final product is a game! Have some fun with your little friends with this awesome puzzle how-to!

For this how-to you’ll need: Stencil1 Nature Set stencils, stencil brushes, Multisurface paint, blank puzzle from Michaels and newspaper (for an easy clean-up!)

Step 1: Use a brush to paint the background of your puzzle. Since we wanted to use the koi stencil, we decided to paint the background blue so it resembles water. We used two different tones of blue to give it a little more movement and dimension.

Step 2: Allow the paint to dry to touch. Pick the animal stencil you want to use and place it on top of the puzzle. Since this is a flat surface, holding down the stencil to paint is okay, but taping it down with painters tape will make stenciling a lot easier for younger kids. Remember that stenciling is a dry brush technique. This means using very little paint and applying multiple layers.

We wanted our fish to have a painterly look, so we didn’t fully stencil the image. Try  stenciling with different techniques for fun results!

Step 3: Lift the stencil and allow the paint to dry. Take apart your puzzle and have fun putting it back together!

Show us your puzzles @Stencil1.

It’s May and we are finally getting some sunshine in Brooklyn! To celebrate we made a spring-themed cloth napkin! We experimented with a couple things for this project. We used green for the honeycombs/hexagon pattern because it reminds us of spring but also because it is unexpected. In a similar way, we wanted to use our hexagon repeat pattern, a very symmetrical pattern, in an unexpected way so we played around with an asymmetric design.

For this how to you’ll need: Stencil1 Honey Bee stencil set, multi-surface paint, stencil brushes, painter’s tape, low-tack spray adhesive and a cloth napkin.

Step 1: The napkin that we used had a very beautiful and defined edge. We didn’t want to stencil over it but we also didn’t want the pattern to stop at the edge. In order to keep the pattern continuous, we covered the edge with masking tape this way we were able to paint the pattern without getting paint on the edge.

Step 2: Use the low tack spray adhesive to make the back of your stencil sticky. This is helpful when stenciling on fabric because it keeps your stencil in place and allows for a cleaner look.

Step 3: Paint in the stencil using a stencil brush. Remember to use a dry brush technique. This means using less paint and applying more coats. You can stencil in a circular or up-and-down motion.

Step 4: Lift the stencil and allow the paint to dry. Once the paint is dry to touch, move the stencil down and continue stenciling the rest of your napkin. Use what you already painted as your guide to place down the stencil.

Step 5: Repeat step 3 and 4 until you like how your napkin looks. Have fun playing around with placement and painting only parts of the stencil. We made a few of our hexagons yellow!

Step 6: Once you’re done with the pattern, add a finishing touch with the bee stencil. We decided to use the first layer of the stencil only because we liked how it looked with the geometric pattern we created on the napkin and silhouettes are so modern.

Step 7: Heat seal your napkin with an iron once the paint is dry. This napkin could be used as a centerpiece, a table runner or anything that needs a little spring. Show us how you use yours @Stencil1.

Everyone loves to travel. You get to meet new people, see new places, taste new food and form new memories. Our Stencil1 Travel Kit was inspired by our love for travel, so we used the suitcase stencil to personalize this gorgeous toiletry bag from West Elm.

For this how-to you’ll need: Stencil1 Travel Kit, West Elm toiletry bag, multi-surface paint, stencil brushes and a painter’s tape.

We love this West Elm toiletry bag because it is waterproof. You don’t have to worry about something spilling and soaking through the bag. And, as an added bonus, you don’t have to put a cardboard insert inside to stencil it!

Step 1:  Place the stencil on the bag and tape it down with painter’s tape. You can also spray the back of it with a low-tack adhesive.

Step 2: Pour some pain on a plate (or any hard surface). Dip your paint brush in the paint. Remember that stenciling is a dry brush technique. This means that you only need a little bit of paint to stencil.

Step 3: Use the brush to stencil the toiletry bag. We used moon yellow FolkArt paint. Paint with a circular motion or an up-and-down dabbing motion.

Step 4: Lift the stencil and allow the paint to dry to touch. Heat seal it with an iron.

Show us what your travel kit looks like! @Stencil1