Craft stencils are a versatile tool for crafting, allowing you to create intricate designs and patterns with ease. From alphabet and layering stencils to background and coloring stencils, there are various types of stencils available to suit your needs. Here are some of the best craft stencils for beginners, along with different types of stencils commonly used in paper crafting.

Best Craft Stencils for Beginners

Different Types of Stencils

Stencils are a versatile and essential tool for adding intricate designs and patterns to your creations. In this guide, we will explore the different types of stencils available for crafting and card making, including their unique features and how they can be used to elevate your projects. Understanding the various types of stencils will open up a world of possibilities for your crafting endeavors, no matter where you are in your journey.

1. Layering Stencils

Layering stencils are designed to create multi-dimensional and layered effects in crafting and card making. These stencils often come with multiple layers or patterns that can be used together to build up intricate designs and add depth to projects. They are great for adding dimension and interest to backgrounds, focal points, or entire card fronts.

Shape stencils include geometric shapes, animals, flowers, and more. These are great for adding decorative elements or focal points to your handmade projects. Some shape stencils have multiple layers, while others are big enough to be used as background stencils.

2. Coloring Stencils

Coloring stencils are perfect for adding color and texture to paper crafting projects. These stencils feature open designs that allow for easy coloring with various mediums such as dye inks, watercolor, markers, ink sprays, or embossing paste. These are ideal for creating vibrant and artistic backgrounds, focal points, or borders on cards and other paper crafts.

Altenew coloring stencils are part of a unique line of stencils curated to be used with their corresponding stamp sets. These stencils will provide a base for adding color and character to the images in the stamp set.

Discover the Different Types of Stencils

3. Background Stencils

Background stencils are versatile tools for creating interesting and textured backgrounds for crafting and card making. These stencils often feature larger patterns or designs that can cover the entire surface of a project. They are great for adding depth and interest to backgrounds, as well as for creating unique and eye-catching base layers for cards and other paper crafts.

4. Mask Stencils

Mask stencils are designed to create precise and controlled areas for coloring, stamping, or other techniques in crafting and card making. These stencils are typically made from a thin material that can be easily repositioned or removed without damaging the project. They are perfect for creating masking techniques, layering effects, or adding dimension to designs.

5. Builder and Scene Building Stencils

Altenew’s line of builder and scene-building stencils include uniquely designed stencils that help make the crafting process easier. Simply apply color through the stencil, flip the stencil over, then apply a different color. You’ll have a complete design, pattern, or scene instantly! From cubes and hearts to sweater patterns and mountain scenes - the possibilities are endless with this type of stencil.

6. Letter Stencils

Letter stencils and alphabet stencils allow you to add custom text and sentiments to your handmade cards and other paper crafting projects. These types of stencils feature a variety of fonts and sizes that can be used to create personalized messages, names, monograms, or titles on handmade cards, scrapbook pages, or other paper crafts. They are great for adding a professional and polished look to projects without the need for freehand writing or stamping.

7. Border Stencils

Border stencils are designed to add decorative edges and borders to creative projects. These stencils often feature intricate patterns or designs that can be used to create beautiful borders on cards, envelopes, or other paper crafts. They are perfect for adding a finishing touch to projects and can be used to frame focal points, add interest to backgrounds, or create unique borders.

Different Uses for Stencils in Crafting

Craft stencils can be used in a variety of ways to enhance your crafting projects. Here are some must-try stencil art ideas.

• Painting: Use stencils to add intricate designs and patterns to your paintings, home decor, or even DIY sewing projects.

• Scrapbooking: Create unique scrapbook layouts by incorporating stenciled elements such as borders, shapes, backgrounds, and letters.

• Card Making: Add visual interest to your handmade cards with stenciled backgrounds, motifs, or sentiments. Plus, they’re great for quick and easy handmade cards that you can make in less than 5 minutes!

• Mixed Media Art: Incorporate stencils into your mixed media artwork to create layers, textures, and focal points.

• DIY Home Decor: Personalize your home decor items such as furniture, walls, and accessories with stenciled patterns and designs.

Learn How to Stencil and Create Easy Stencil Art

Craft Stencil Ideas for Beginners

Using different types of stencils in your handmade creations saves time and allows you to be creative. Here are a few handmade card ideas featuring various craft stencils that you can easily try.

Use vellum or other specialty paper to create a unique handmade card using background stencils!

Add some color and shine to your alphabet stencils by hot-foiling them! Altenew offers stencils with coordinating hot foil plates, dies, and even embossing folders, so make sure you check them out.

Use background stencils and border stencils to create a DIY calendar!

When in doubt, go monochrome! With our coordinated ink families, you can easily create monochromatic cards with different stencil types.

Make a DIY bookmark for your book-loving friends and family using unique layering stencils and background stencils.

Try making a monogram card with letter stencils! A clean and simple 3D embossed background will help you complete this project.

A window card is always a good idea! Make it pop by adding a stenciled image (use embossing paste for some yummy texture!) as your focal point.

Here’s another handmade card made with a background stencil and embossing paste (tinted with embossing powder). Shiny, shimmery, and beautifully textured - what more could you ask for?

Do some partial stenciling using your favorite background stencil or builder stencil! This will give a minimalist vibe to your handmade cards.

Invest in layering stencils that are also standalone. This allows you to create various designs using just one or both stencils. 

Layering stencils are perfect for creating repeating patterns or designs easily, which means instant background for your handmade projects.

Make your alphabet stencils pop by adding washi tape strips around the borders.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Learn How to Clean Craft Stencils

Conclusion

By exploring different types of craft stencils and learning how to use them effectively, you can elevate your handmade projects with professional-looking designs and intricate details. Whether you're creating handmade cards, scrapbook pages, personalized gifts, or home decor items, craft stencils offer endless possibilities for expressing your creativity.