Freezer Paper Stencil: Silhouette Tutorial for a No Bleed, No Fail Paint Stencil

There are many reasons for making a freezer paper stencil, but among the strongest would be that it's nearly fail and bleed-proof for painting.  Your Silhouette can cut a freezer paper stencil, just as it would any other stencil making a detailed painting job super easy.

Let me start off by saying, I have tried what feels like dozens of ways to stencil - from using an exacto knife to transferring images with wax paper and water to using newsprint and a pencil.   Each method is good in its own way and much of it depends on what you are trying to stencil and what your mediums are...wood, fabric, walls, etc.

A freezer paper stencil works best on fabric.  The reason is it can be ironed directly - and firmly - onto the fabric and will prevent paint from bleeding leaving you with a good clean, crisp paint line while stenciling onto fabric.  I have used this method for pillows and table runners and it is nearly fail-proof.

So you ready? Let's get started - DIY freezer paper stencils are super easy to make.  Cut a piece of freezer paper off the roll and trim it down to 8.5x11 or 12x12 (or smaller if your image isn't a full page size) depending on if you are using the Silhouette Cameo or Portrait.  I work with a portrait, but the method is the same.

Once the freezer paper is the proper size, remove the cover sheet from your cutting mat and lay the freezer paper - shiny side down - on top of the gridded/sticky area of the mat.  On a flat surface, such as a table or a hardwood floor, press the the paper down really well, being sure there are no bubbles or bumps.

Now load your mat into the Silhouette, press the feed button, and set up your cut.  Since the freezer paper is so thin set your blade to a 1 or 2.  To be sure it cuts through perform a test cut where a little slice will be made at the top of your paper.  If the blade is cutting through, go ahead and cut your full size stencil.

Once the stencil is cut, carefully peel the freezer paper off the mat.  The trick - and the most important step - is to now take that stencil, place it shiny side down onto your fabric, and run an iron over the freezer paper. 

This paper will start to crinkle a little as it sticks onto the fabric.  This method is awesome because any tiny little detailed cuts that want to curl up when painted - won't!

The freezer paper gives a nice tight seal ensuring crisp lines for painting the stencil - just be sure you're blotting up and down and not brushing your paint brush or sponge back and forth which can cause the stencil to move or come apart from the fabric.

You can leave your stencil on your fabric until the paint dries, or remove it immediately.  I like to remove mine right away.

The only problem with freezer paper stencils is they're not re-useable.  The paint makes the paper too thin for repeated use.  However, that's a small price to pay for the crisp lines and no-fail paint stencil.

I have used freezer paper stencils cut from my Silhouette on burlap (as seen in this tutorial) and drop cloth (below) and it works beautifully.

Wondering what I made with all those hearts?  Here's the finished product...check out our sister site, Two It Yourself, for the full tutorial on making this Pottery Barn knockoff heart pillow.

Thanks for coming to class today at Silhouette School, if you like what you see, I'd love for you to pin it!