Cut Stencil Spray Paint Art Project

Cardboard or heavy cardstock for cutting the stencil

Craft knife (adult supervised) or heavy scissors

Paint — sponge-dab washable paint for indoor use, or spray paint for outdoor use with adult supervision

Paper or poster board for the final art

A sponge or stiff dabbing brush

Newspaper to protect surfaces

Draw a bold, simple design on cardboard. Think silhouettes — an animal profile, a bold letter, a geometric shape, a face in profile. Simple shapes with clean edges stencil best.

Cut out the design with a craft knife (an adult should do this or closely supervise) or heavy scissors. You now have two pieces: the frame (negative stencil) and the cut-out shape (positive stencil).

Lay the frame stencil flat on a piece of paper. Hold it down firmly at the edges or tape it lightly.

Dab paint through the open areas with a sponge. Use a straight up-and-down dabbing motion — do not brush sideways or paint will seep under the stencil edge.

Carefully lift the stencil to reveal the crisp design. Clean edges come from holding the stencil flat and dabbing rather than brushing.

Reposition the stencil and apply a second color, or use the cut-out shape as a stencil to create the opposite — a colored background with a white silhouette.

Layer multiple stencils for complex compositions. Each layer adds depth and visual interest.

The key to clean edges is pressing the stencil flat and dabbing straight down. Sideways brush motion pushes paint under the edge.

Use the cut-out piece too. The positive shape works as a shield — spray around it to create a silhouette.

Stenciling is the foundation of screen printing and street art. Banksy and Shepard Fairey both use stencil techniques.

Reuse stencils multiple times. A well-cut stencil can produce dozens of prints.