Learn how to stencil on a canvas tote bag with our easy to follow instructions.

Learn how to stencil on a canvas tote bag with our easy to follow instructions. The supplies that you'll need are:

Stencil brushes in a few different sizes.	Regular fabric iron
Fabric paint, dye or paint marker of your choice.	Small plastic container to rinse your brush in
Decorative stencil of your choice.	Plastic lid or paper plate to pour your paint on
Ruler or tape measure	Q tips
Painter's tape or masking tape	Paper towels
Hair dryer to speed up drying time	Heavy cardboard to place in your tote bag

Start by practicing on either a piece of cloth (close to the color of your tote bag) or poster board that has been primed. This will let you to see how different colors look before you actually stencil on your canvas tote bag. It will also give you a chance to practice stenciling techniques.

1. Began by cutting a piece of heavy weight cardboard to fit inside your canvas tote bag. This will protect your canvas tote bag from any paint that might bleed through. It will also stretch the canvas tote bag tight, making it easier to stencil.

2. Measure and place your stencil on your tote bag and secure it down with painters tape or masking tape. I find that the best way to get your stencil lined up is to measure the area between the tote bag handles to find the middle of the bag. I then line my stencil up with this mark and tape the stencil down.

3. Be sure to burnish the tape down so your stencil doesn't move. To burnish simply press the tape down with a painters stick.

4. Next, I like to take a piece of cloth or plastic and cover any areas of the tote bag that I won’t be stenciling. I do this so that there is little chance of any paint spilling on the tote bag.

5. Pour a small amount of paint (about the size of a quarter) onto your plastic lid. You don’t need much paint to stencil.

Blot paint back onto your paper towel. You want to stencil with a fairly dry brush.

Hold your stencil brush straight up to avoid getting paint under your stencil.

6. Dab your stencil brush into your paint. Now blot your stencil brush on your paper towel. You want a fairly dry brush.. It's better to apply multiple thin coats of paint then one or two heavy coats. There is also less chance for the paint to run under the stencil if you apply thin coats of paint. You can use your hairdryer to speed up the drying process in between coats of paint.

7. I like to stencil on canvas by pushing the stencil brush against the canvas and swirling the handle. This pushes the paint into the canvas without smudging. You can also stencil by holding your stencil brush straight up and quickly dabbing (pouncing) your stencil brush into the canvas. Continue doing this until you have your stencil filled in. Painting in thin layers will produce a softer appearance. If you want to add shading you can stencil around the edge of your stencil in a shade just slightly darker then the main color.

8. You can speed up the drying time for acrylic paint by using a hair dryer. When completely dry, remove your stencil.

9. To set most fabric paint you will need to use a hot iron. This is a necessary step. Heating the paint (or setting it) ensures that your paint will bind to the canvas. If you miss this step your paint may eventually come off. Set your iron to hot. Cover your finished design with a cloth towel. Gently place your hot iron on the towel covering your stenciled tote bag and let it sit for 20-30 seconds. Don't push the iron back and forth or you may smear your design. After 30 seconds lift the iron up and place it in another area of your canvas until you're done.

The Wildwood Cottage LLC 2005