A stencil is a simple tool, essentially a piece of flat material with holes cut from it. Simply lay the stencil in place and paint through the holes.

If you were to cut a circle from the middle of a piece of card it would drop out. This circle is a template. The card now has a circle cut from it, this is the stencil. It can be used loads of times to reproduce the circle design onto your chosen surface. Our stencils are laser cut and are suitable for use with any type of paint.

All of our stencils are precision laser cut from 190 micron Mylar. Mylar is a thin polyester material similar to acetate but much stronger. Mylar is very flexible and can be used for stencilling on slightly curved as well as flat surfaces. The fact that Mylar is thin allows for excellent close contact with the surface you are stencilling. It is semi-transparent which makes it ideal for stencilling because you can see through it for accurate re-positioning. Mylar stencils are reusable, washable and can be used with any type of paint. Mylar is not sticky in any way.

It's really easy. Just position the stencil in place and secure with masking tape or just hold it in place firmly. Use a stencil brush, peice of dense sponge or a foam roller to apply paint through the holes. There is one major rule when stencilling and that is to NEVER use too much paint. Thicker types of paint work well, the runnier the paint the less paint you should use as it will find it's way behind the stencil and cause blobbing!

Remove the stencil from the surface before the paint dries. Repeat the process for a pattern or border.

See product information for the actual size of the stencil design. The stencil design will always be cut from a slightly larger sheet to allow for a border.

We use standard paper sizes as a general guide.

XS/A5 sheet size - 148 x 210 mm (5.8 x 8.3 inches)
S/A4 sheet size - 210 x 297 mm (8.3 x 11.7 inches)
M/A3 sheet size - 297 x 420 mm (11.7 x 16.5 inches)
L/A2 sheet size - 420 x 594 mm (16.5 x 23.4 inches)
XL/A1 sheet size 594 x 841 mm (23.4 x 33 inches)

Using standard paper sizes should give you a general understanding to the scale / size of our stencils. We also offer Stencil MiNiS.

Stencil MiNiS - The Stencil sheet is 20.7cm x 8cm. The design will be slightly smaller to allow for a border. Stencil MiNiS are a packaged product & ma

Yes, we list up to 6 sizes for most of our stencil designs, however, we cut all stencils to order so it's possible to ask for an alternative size. Just contact us.

Yes! We make bespoke stencils all the time, just get in touch with us with details of what you want/size you need etc and we'll send you a non-obligation quotation. If you would like to go ahead with your custom stencil we will create a listing so you can purchase it here on Etsy.

Please note that we will not make custom stencils of other peoples designs or copyrighted material. We will check that you have permission to use any pictures or files you send to us.

No. Our stencils are not sticking in any way. You will need to fix the stencil in place using stencil tape, low tack masking tape or spray mount adhesive.

A stencil is a sheet of material with holes in it which you apply through. A sticker is usually made from vinyl, you apply the ready coloured sticky shapes to the wall.

Yes you can, we grant a small-use licence for individuals to use our stencil designs on items to resell on a one-off or very small scale basis. For multi-use, commercial use and large scale manufacture please seek prior permission in writing.

In all instances please give credit to The Stencil Studio Ltd for the stencil design.

Cleaning will depend on what type of paint you have used:-

Water based paints - clean the stencil with warm soapy water.
Oil based paints - clean the stencil with turps or white spirit.

Immerse the stencil in warm soapy water for some time to soften paint. Lay the stencil on a flat surface and gently rub with a soft brush to remove paint. Alternatively paint can be peeled off the stencil. Take care not to tear or bend the stencil in any way. If damage occurs, repair breaks or tears with sticky tape.

Stencils should be stored clean, dry and flat, never folded.