Plaster Stencils

Plaster Stone Wall Stencil

 (Click Photos to Enlarge)

First off, through working with it, we've learned that if you don't scrape off the excess and apply a bit more of the joint compound to the stencil, allow bumps, ridges and depressions to happen naturally, once you remove the stencil, you not only get a much higher relief off the wall, but the stones also look much more natural!

If you want more rounded edges to your stones, once the stencil is removed, simply take a damp Q-tip and gently smooth any "squared" edges.

Want colored stones? Do it the easy way (much more fun than painting each one individually!) Simply add fabric dye (or any pure pigment coloring) in a shade close to the color you would want your stones (gray ones? Brown, Beige?) After the colored stones have dried, now go back with a sponge and sponge an additional coordinating color just here and there on your stones. For instance, if you did your stones in light gray, how about sponging a hint of deeper gray here and there.

Now for some fun stuff! Stones typically have veins of deeper or even severely lighter color running through them (remember, they've been compressed in the ground over hundreds of years!) so take an artists brush, dip it in yet another color and make "streaks" through some of your stones. WAY fun!

So here's some color ideas:

Deep gray joint compound, light gray sponging, iridescent silver streaks.

Pale brown or beige stones, deeper brown sponging, iridescent gold streaks.

Pale beige stones, sponge with yellow tones, streaks of pale brown.

Stencil is 15" x 11" with stones ranging from 1" to 3x4".

When repeating the stencil, turn it in a different direction each time to make the stones look different.