I am so pleased that you are interested in learning about cutting your own stencils for making art.
Cutting with an Exacto knife is a big part of happy stencil making. So here is a link to downloadable sheet to build strong cutting skills.
Click here for the Stencil Cutting Practice sheet
Be sure to print it out at 100%, my printer always wants to shrink it.
I may look too simple to be valuable but believe me if you use the practice worksheet your cutting skills will improve. And you will be making better stencils. And you will have 4 new stencils to play with.
Some other things to consider
- Print it out on the same kind of paper or card stock that you want to cut your stencils from
- Heavier paper is stronger, but is harder to cut.
- Tyvek is a thin and strong composite that is great for stencils.
- If you use Tyvek, tape the cutting sheet to the tyvek and cut through the copy paper and tyvek at the same time.
- Use a fresh sharp blade
- Be careful with the blade
- Use a clean self sealing cutting mat
- Have good lighting
- Make sure your workspace is clear enough to spin and move the paper
- Move the blade
- Move the paper
- Cut the challenging bits first
- Notice which shapes and lines are easier and which are more challenging
- Is your blade bending?
- Are your shoulders tense?
- Are you still breathing? 🙂
I hope you have fun with this and join us in a printmaking workshop soon.
Having taught at:
