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• • • •
Time
50 mins

Learn how to make your very own stencils!
I've been busy all day writing up this tutorial on how to make your own stencils. These stencils are super easy to make and totally give your wardrobe that one of a kind edge. You can stencil on your old shirts to give them new life, or stencil onto your mini skirt to make it one of a kind.

Posted by Thera Joyce from Chandler, Arizona, United States • Published See Thera Joyce's 44 projects »
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  • How to make a stencil. Diy Stencils - Step 1
    Step 1

    First you need to find a photo of the object you'd like to make a stencil of. Objects on a white background work best. Once you find a photo of the object you'd like to use, open the photo in whatever photo editing software you use on your computer. I'm using Photoshop.

  • How to make a stencil. Diy Stencils - Step 2
    Step 2

    Then you'll need to change the photo to Grayscale (black and white).

  • How to make a stencil. Diy Stencils - Step 3
    Step 3

    Next you'll need to adjust the Brightness/Contrast of the photo.

  • How to make a stencil. Diy Stencils - Step 4
    Step 4

    Adjust the Brightness/Contrast of the photo until your image looks like the one above. It should be very dark, with minimal shadow.

  • How to make a stencil. Diy Stencils - Step 5
    Step 5

    Now make the image as small or as large as you'd like.

  • How to make a stencil. Diy Stencils - Step 6
    Step 6

    Print the image out.

  • How to make a stencil. Diy Stencils - Step 7
    Step 7

    Now you will need to tape the image to a window or lay it on top of a light box.

  • How to make a stencil. Diy Stencils - Step 8
    Step 8

    Next, tape a piece of poster board (with shiny side down) on top of the image.

  • How to make a stencil. Diy Stencils - Step 9
    Step 9

    Trace the image onto the poster board.

  • How to make a stencil. Diy Stencils - Step 10
    Step 10

    This image happens to have "islands" so we'll need to correct these so we don't loose the detail of the stencil. "Islands" are pieces that would be cut out with the whole stencil if we didn't connect them to the outside part of the stencil. I've circled where the "islands" are in this stencil.

  • How to make a stencil. Diy Stencils - Step 11
    Step 11

    To eliminate the "islands" in this stencil, I've simply erased the two small bits near the revolver trigger and re-drawn them as pictured above.

  • How to make a stencil. Diy Stencils - Step 12
    Step 12

    Grab your cutting board and X-Acto knife and carefully cut on the lines that you traced onto the poster board. Remember: Slow and steady wins the race. Take your time on this step. The cleaner the cuts, the better your stencil will look.

  • How to make a stencil. Diy Stencils - Step 13
    Step 13

    When you're done cutting around the lines you traced, pat yourself on the back! You've officially made your very own stencil.

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Comments

Shortly Blank
Shortly Blank · Amsterdam, North Holland, NL · 3 projects
What do you need all the image adjustment steps for if you end up tracing the image the old skool way
Thera Joyce
Thera Joyce · Chandler, Arizona, US · 57 projects
It's basically for when you start making more complicated stencils, or if you don't have tracing paper and a light box on hand. You should write a tutorial on how you do it. I'd love to check out your method! Happy)))
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