How to Create a Stencil from Any Picture

The use of stencils allows people that are not artistically inclined to create great creative pictures. This is a very popular craft or art form to do on painted walls, pottery, and even fabric. While there are many machine cut stencils available at craft and decorating stores, it is also possible to cut your own. You can use any picture you would like to create your own stencil.

Materials Needed to Create a Stencil

1. Stencil or other thin plastic sheet
2. A pattern or picture
3. Tracing paper
4. Narrow tipped permanent marker
5. Sharp Xacto type knife OR
6. Heated stencil cutting tool

Preparing the Picture

After you decide what picture you want to make a stencil out of, you must reduce it to a simpler version. You want to create a picture much like those you would see in coloring books. To do this, you will use the tracing paper over the picture you wish to use. Simply copy the most dominant lines of the picture.

For example, if you want to make a stencil of a daisy, you would trace the center circle, each petal, and perhaps a leaf at the side. You would not trace every dot in the center part, every leaf, the stem, and the background of the picture.

Tracing the Picture on the Stencil Material

Once you have your basic picture pattern, you will have to trace it onto the plastic stencil material. It is easier to trace it than it is to work with the picture underneath, as it may shift as you work.

You can lay the plastic over the picture and carefully trace the lines with a permanent marker.

Cutting Out the Stencil

Cutting out the stencil is rather tricky. You have to realize that the lines on your picture will be places where the stencil plastic material remains.

To achieve this, simply use your very sharp blade or heated stencil cutting tool to cut on either side of the lines you have drawn. You need them to be at least one quarter of an inch wide and attached to the outside.

Using the Stencil