Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-06-18

~ TENCIL decoration is the vogue
of the moment now, eclipsing all
~ other method of decoration, at
least for the time being, writes an au-
thority in the Cleveland Plain Dealer
And no wonder, for the effects that
can be produced are pretty and ar
tistic and wonderful to relate anybody
can do it with a little practice. OF
course. in this, as in anything else, the
greater the cleverness and the in
genuity of the worker the better the re-
suit, but anyone-and | say that ad-
visedly-can get results that are worth
while.
I'd advise the beginner to experiment
once or twice on some material that
can be thrown away before trying to
work on new material. One has to get
the knack of repeating the pattern cor
rectly and of other things that come
easily after few preliminary trials.
take for granted that you know what
stenciling is. A design is cut through
a piece of cardboard or other similar
material, forming the stencil. This is
placed on the article to be decorated
and coloring matter-paint or stain or
other such substance-is put on with a
brush. OF course, it reaches the arti-
Gle to be decorated only through the
cut design, leaving that design neatly
and evenly on the cloth or paper or
whatever is being ornamented.
This design or pattern may be re-
peated as often as desired and the
whole secret-at least, Lost of it-of
stenciling lies in the cleverness with
which the design in whole, or in part,
is repeated to get an effect.
First, then, to make the stencil.
There is a special cardboard which is
called stencil board" that can be
bought for few cents. 1t comes in
light and heavy grades and different
sizes.
But if you wish to prepare the card
| board yourself use a heavy tagboard
a little heavier than a postal card,
unless the design is very open or large;
then heavier cardboard would be bet
ter
Trace the design from the pattern
given here on the cardboard, being
careful to get the correct swing of the
lines. Then darken the parts to be
cut, for if inexperienced you may cut
the wrong parts.
The tracing is done by putting i'm
preston paper under the pattern and
going over the lines. If you use the
unprepared cardboard after cutting
out the design rub the cardboard over
with a little sweet oil. This makes 1t
water proof and at the same time easy
to cut. Place it upon table and slip
under it piece of glass.
Special stencil knives to cut these
patterns can be bought, but any pen
knife with a sharp point and a handle
which is easy to hold will answer just
as well.
A knife that has the point broken
off square is a good thing to have on
hand, as 1t has a corner to cut with.
After cutting the stencil, varnish on
both sides with shellac. Be sure that
none of the shellac is allowed to set
tie in the corner. Hang in an open
doorway so there is no danger of 1t
sticking to the wall and let it dry
thoroughly.
Now you have your stencil ready the
next thing to consider is brushes. AL
most any kind of brush of round bristle
will do. The size depends on the pat
tern. A separate brush must be used
for applying each color.
The question of colors is too broad
to consider now. After the beginner be-
| comes more experienced she can learr
about dyes and other mediums. Al
present we will consider only the use
of oil colors which are specially made