All About Stenciling

Hi, I plan to stencil my foyer with a damask wallpaper effect. Can anyone give me some tips? I thought I'd roll the stencil design on. Can I do the pattern at randam or should it line up? Any tips for going up the stairs? Thanks.

Well, if you're planning to roll the design on, you'll need to make sure the stencil adherese really well to the wall so the paint doesn't get underneat the stencil. You'll also need to have a lot of stencils, which is expensive. Have you considered other options? I did a hallway for a client. She wanted stencils that looked like wallpaper too. Instead of painting them on, we bought the rub on stencils that once applied, you'd swear they really are wallpaper. They are called instant stencils. We did some long rectangular frames on the wall using wooden trim and then we instant stencilled ferns, leaves, small flowers inside the frames. It's amazing and it takes minutes to do! In fact, the client has referred 3 other clients to me for the same kind of treatment. Here's a link. Scroll down to instant stencils, but you don't have to buy them onlin. Home Depot, WalMart and most paint and wallpaper stores have them. It's great because you don't have all the mess of paint, glueing the stencils to the wall, etc. In fact, you can do your whole foyer in a short time! We did the whole hallway in just under 2 hours! Enjoy! http://www.berlinwallpaper.com/

The following book has tips on the stencil damask effect. I saw it in the public library Best wishes http://www.amazon.com/Decorative-Paint-Finishes-Sunset-Books/dp/0376013885