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Finishing Stencils
Finishing your stencils ensures that they will be around for many years to
come. This step is typically accomplished using a varnish or urethane in
either a satin or gloss finish.
Another potential step involved in finishing your stencils is taking the stencil pattern and applying another effects over top of them. This can include many different finishes, but most common are distressing and sponging. Both these additional effects combine with the stencils themselves to add depth and texture, often transforming them into much more than plain stencils, as well as blending them into the area they are used in.
Finishing Stencils:
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Using a natural sea sponge and a suitable color for both the base color and the stencil color, softly dab your sponge over the stencils, making sure to adequately cover the surface.
Then, while the sponge marks are still wet, use a clean dry rag and lightly dab it over the sponged marks to remove some of the effect. Alternatively, you can use a soft bristled brush to soften the sponge marks or simply leave them as they are.
Another popular stencil finish is the washed effect. Using an off white glaze mixture and a rag, dab on and dab off paint over the entire surface.
This will create a distressed look, making the stencils less predominant in the finish and blending them into their surroundings. One could use whatever color that would work with the decor of the room, as well as the colors used as the base and stencils themselves.
To summarize:
Finishing stencils with either another effect or simply top coating them to offer better protection is a vital last step in the stenciling process. Be sure to use the best quality urethanes or varnishes, particularly for stencils used in high traffic/wear situations, such as floor borders or table top stencils. This will prevent sections of the stencils being worn off due to normal wear and tear.
We also recommend that you think about adding a further effect as illustrated above, as this will take plain stencils a step further and provide you with a more unique and distinctive look.
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