Make Your Own Stencils [Quick & Easy]
Hi there! Looking to add some character to your mantel, or perhaps your antique booth? Farmhouse buntings can be a quick and easy way to accomplish this, but they’ll be even more unique if you decorate them with your own handmade stencil.
Using regular old plastic packaging, today I’m going to teach you how to make your own stencil! You can use it in a variety of ways, but I used mine to create a spring bunting.
It fits right in with my neutral mantel. [Read more about this Winter Mantel, and how I painted the vintage mirror and used an antique French door for the backdrop.]
Over the years, I’ve experimented with making stencils out of various materials. When I taught art for several years, I had my classes make them out of paper plates (elementary school) and acetate, available on rolls in hardware stores, (middle school).
Materials to Make Your Own Stencil
Today, I’m going to show you how to make them out of the thin, clear plastic that you can find as packaging, often for baked goods in the grocery store. I’ll be using a piece that I cut from a container that once held Christmas decorations.
Note: This post contains affiliate links for [the same or similar] products used to complete this project. This is both for your convenience as well as to support my website, since I receive a small compensation whenever you click on a link and make any sort of purchase, for which I thank you 🙂 See my full disclosure here.
Materials:
- Plastic packaging
- Black Sharpie
- Craft knife
- Self-healing mat
Draw the Design for Your Stencil
I decided that I wanted to make a spring bunting with a special stenciled accent: a bird. You want to first draw a rough sketch and then begin to separate it into pieces for stenciling.
Next, outline your drawing with a Sharpie to make it stand out for cutting.
Cut Out Your Stencil Design
Cover the drawing with the plastic and tape to my mat to hold it in place.
Cut out each part of the stencil with your craft knife.
Use Your Stencil
Once you’ve cut out all the parts of the stencil, your ready to use it! Here’s a short video I shot on stenciling basics.
I made my spring bunting out of vintage music paper, so I stenciled my bird onto that.
That said, I wasn’t in love with that particular bird, so I decided to create another, simpler one.
You can right click on the photo of either bird design and save it to your photos if you’d like to use either of them as a guide.
I’m much happier with this design!
I added him, as you can see, to a simple spring bunting.
The original stencil was a touch bigger than I bargained for; this one is smaller and cuter.
I hope you had fun learning how to make your own stencil–happy spring!
Thanks for hanging out with me today! If you enjoyed your visit,
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Bye for now,

I’d love it if you’d pin for later!
Love the little spring bunting. Thanks for sharing the process.
Fun way to re-use and create an original stencil! Your banner is adorable!
I like making my own stencils, too, Diana. Lord knows we have plenty of these plastic packages comig into the house. Great way to recycle and repurpose! xoKathleen (The bunting is adorable.)
That is a good idea and can save costs!
OH my word he’s cute! I can’t draw at all – so this feels beyond me. But sure do love what you’ve done!
So clever & great way to recycle!
This post makes me SO excited for spring!!! Love this!
– Seri
http://www.Serisblog.com
Thank you for sharing your stencil making post, very helpful tips!
Love your mantel and the Spring update. I like to try my hand at making my own stencils. Your bird is adorable and that banner is awesome. Thank you for sharing at Share It One More Time. Cathy
So cute! Am I the only one who liked your first bird, too? In Maine we have our share of blue jays, cardinals, and occasional cedar waxwings so I love the pointy heads! I have been on a garland making binge for several years now and really enjoy them. Great way to use free printables, too. I ask my kids for printer ink cartridges as gifts; couldn’t live as well without my printer!
Glad you liked him Kathy! Garlands are so much fun to make and have such an impact on our decorating, don’t they??