STENCILLING.
This chapter might appropriately be headed "Decoration made easy," so simple and effective is the work. Given good taste as to color and form, or even Queen Elizabeth's power of choosing good advisers, and a little care and neatness are the only requisites for producing pleasing results.
A stencil is a pattern cut out of a thin sheet of some stiff material, applied smoothly to the surface to be decorated, the parts of said surface left uncovered by the cut-out pattern being then painted over with the desired color.
These stencils can be cut out from sheet brass, zinc, thin wood or cardboard. The metal is preferable for small patterns, as it is more durable, and less liable to absorb the paint. They can be cut out with a fret saw, or a sharp knife. When made from cardboard it is a good plan to use two thin sheets, pasted together with strong paste. These cardboard sheets are especially useful for large patterns, as they are not so apt to warp or bend. When they are to be used for distemper they should be painted over with "Pattern Knotting." This can be procured at any paint store or made at home, by dissolving gum shellac in naphtha.
Patterns for stencils should be designed on paper, pasted on to the sheet from which the stencil is to be cut, and then cut out with a fret saw, or a sharp knife. The edges of the pattern should be clear cut. It may be
