DIY Reusable Stencil With Cricut Maker
This is a step by step tutorial on how to design and make a custom reusable stencil with Cricut Maker and use it to stencil a gorgeous wall.
Stencils are really fun to personalize anything – from furniture to walls and all the crafts in between.
Mix in a Cricut that can literally create any design you can dream up and you have the perfect combination for infinite stencil possibilities!
I am going to show you exactly how to design your own stencil in the Cricut Design Space, cut out a reusable stencil, and use it to stencil a wall.
***This post is sponsored by Cricut. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make it possible to bring you new projects.***
First, meet my coat closet – complete with its pink carpet.
I hadn’t touched it since we moved in 3 years ago and it was finally time for it to get its long-awaited makeover.
I took off the carpet and repainted the walls – white on the sides and a pretty sky blue in the middle. More the details on the complete makeover coming soon so stay tuned.
Today, let’s talk about my favorite part of this closet makeover – the stenciled wall using reusable stencils made with my Cricut Maker.
How to Make a Stencil for Painting With Cricut
You can easily make a one-time use stencil on a Cricut using any removable vinyl. It works the same way as when you are applying vinyl to a project – except you weed out the parts you want the paint to go in.
But, that doesn’t work when you want to stencil a wall or furniture.
In that case, you need a reusable stencil – something that you can apply – paint – remove – reapply – paint, and so on.
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Materials Needed
- Cricut Stencil Vinyl
- Cricut Machine– I use a Cricut Maker
- Fine Point blade
- StandardGrip Machine Mat
- Access to Cricut Design Space
- Weeding tools
- Paints in the color of your choice
- Foam pouncer
- Extra paper towels
How to Make Your Own Stencils in Cricut Design Space
Cricut Design Space is an integral part of using Cricut machines. It is the software interface that talks to your machine.
Step 1 – Choose a Design
- Decide what you want to design in the Cricut Design Space.
You don’t have to fret about your artistic skills and coming up with your own designs, Cricut Design Space is free to sign up and you get access to a LOT of free images and fonts.
There are many images and fonts that are available for a nominal fee or you can sign up for Cricut Access – the monthly subscription service which gives you access to over 100,000 images and 400 fonts!
I decided to use feathers, and a simple search for “feather” gave me many options.
Step 2 – Import Designs You Want to Use
Once you decide on the design, you want to pick it and add it to your project.
A note about picking the design for stencils – pick designs that are a solid shape and don’t have a lot of broken or standalone lines
Here are the four feather designs I picked. The standalone lines in the middle will not show up in my final stencil pattern and I was ok with that.
Step 3 – Set Size
- Estimate the size of patterns you want to make and set the size of your design accordingly in the design space.
Optional – If you want to print multiple patterns in the same design, you can right-click on them and hit “weld”. I decided to keep them separate and I will show you why when I cut the stencil.
Step 4 – Set Position on Mat
Before you send the design to the machine to cut, be sure to move the design on the mat so you have at least 2″ space all around the design.
Cricut software automatically puts every design on the corner to use material efficiently but in order to stencil, you need space around your design or you will get paint on the wall.
It’s time to cut the stencil!
How to Use Cricut Stencil Vinyl
I made the reusable stencil using Cricut stencil vinyl. This vinyl is specifically made for reusable stencils and is repositionable.
Step 1 – Set Material and Load Blade
- Set material to stencil vinyl in Design Space.
- Load the fine point blade in the machine.
Step 2 – Load and Cut Stencil
- Apply the stencil vinyl on the StandardGrip machine mat with the white side down and load it into the machine.
- Run the Cricut to cut the stencil.
Step 3 – Weed Design
Using a weeding tool, remove the part of the stencil where the paint will go.
I cut out each of the four feathers on separate pieces and weeded the designs.
Ready to stencil!
Here is the color pallet I picked for my closet.
Step 4 – Stencil Time!
- When you are ready to stencil, remove the blue stencil vinyl from the white backing, apply to the wall, and add paint.
Tip – I like using foam pouncers to stencil. Be sure to dab off excess paint on a paper towel before applying to the stencil.
- With the paint still wet, peel off the stencil and put it on a dummy location. I just used the adjoining wall since I was going to repaint it anyway. Use a dry paper towel to dab off excess wet paint.
- Apply the stencil again to the next location, paint, peel, and repeat!
I sort of staggered the arrangement but was pretty random with the shape and colors. I just looked at what was around and what might look good next. I also mixed the blue and coral with the gold so each of the feathers was pretty unique.
How Well Does Cricut Stencil Vinyl Work?
It worked really well! I was able to do the entire 3′ by 8′ wall.
As you can see, the wall has an orange peel texture. In spite of that, the lines are nice and crisp.
Towards the end – probably the last 2-3 rows at the top, the stencils started to lose their tackiness and the lines started to get less crisp but since this was an organic design and the top would be barely visible, I just used them as is.
If I would have had more area to cover, I might have sprayed the back with a stencil adhesive OR would have simply cut a few more pieces on my Cricut Maker.
That’s the advantage of making your own stencils.
I LOVE how this stenciled wall turned out! Especially the effects of mixing the paint colors and the gold!
It makes me smile every time I open the closet.
Check out the full closet reveal here.
More DIY Projects Using Cricut –
DIY Stenciled Wall
Step by step tutorial on how to design and make a custom reusable stencil with Cricut Maker and use it to stencil a gorgeous wall.
Materials
- Cricut Stencil Vinyl
- Cricut Maker
- Fine Point blade
- StandardGrip Machine Mat
- Access to Cricut Design Space
- Weeding tools
- Paints in the color of your choice
- Foam pouncer
- Extra paper towels
Instructions
- Choose your design in Cricut Design Space.
- Import designs you want to use.
- Estimate the size of patterns you want to make and set the size of your design accordingly in the design space.
- Set the position on the mat, making sure to leave at least 2" space all around the design.
- Apply the stencil vinyl on the StandardGrip machine mat with the white side down and load it into the machine. Run the Cricut to cut the stencil.
- Using a weeding tool, remove the part of the stencil where the paint will go.
- When you are ready to stencil, remove the blue stencil vinyl from the white backing, apply to the wall, and add paint using a foam pouncer.
- With the paint still wet, peel off the stencil and put it on a dummy location. Apply the stencil again to the next location, paint, peel, and repeat!
Anika's goal is to inspire and empower beginners with woodworking, DIY, home improvement, and home decor ideas.
She wants everyone to unlock their creative potential and experience the feeling that comes with making something. Nothing feels better better than seeing something and saying "I can make that!"
I LOVE it!!! That’s a brilliant idea to give the closet some pep. It will make your wardrobe look better as well. I know mine could sure use some sprucing up. It will cost less to make the closet look better than my wardrobe!
I think this heads right to the top of the winter project list! You always have such awesome ideas. Thanks for sharing!
This is gorgeous! And only you would think to stain the closet pole! I love it! I will stain mine now!!