How To Make A Stencil with a Cricut

How To Make A Stencil with a Cricut using a wooden pallet sign as an example.
The files we used are below.
H - https://design.cricut.com/#/design/95758896
ome - https://design.cricut.com/#/design/75827821
Cricut Maker Bundle - https://amzn.to/2LJITzB

How to Make the Cricut Stencil:

Step 1 - Using Cricut Design Space open the "H" file.   Click 'Make It' in the upper right corner.  

Step 2:  Select Vinyl for the stencil material.  (We used Cricut Adhesive Vinyl, however you can use Cricut or any other stencil vinyl as well.)  

Step 3:  Load your mat within the guard rails and press the up/down load arrow.

Step 4:  Press the Flashing Go Button on your Cricut.

Step 5:  Repeat steps 1 - 4 using the  "it's good to be...ome" cutting file.

Step 6:  Weed the stencil by peeling away the inside of the image to be painted. 

 

How to make the Pallet Board

Materials List: 
2 - 1x4x8
​1 - 1x2x8

Cut List: 
4  - 1x4x36"
3 - 1x2x12"

Step 1:  Cut the 1x4x36 using the miter saw.  Attach 1x2x12's onto the back of the sign using wood glue and 1 1/4" brad nails.

Step 2:  Give the boards a rough sanding using 80 grit sandpaper to keep the rustic look.

Step 3:  Stain the pallet sign.  We used Varathane Stain in  Briarsmoke.

 

Apply & Paint the Stencil Design

Step 1:  Apply the transfer tape over stencil to make it easier to transfer the vinyl to the pallet board. 

Step 2:  Peel the vinyl stencil from the backing and apply to the pallet sign. 

Step 3:  Paint the stencil using Ivory Chalk paint.   Keep the brush relatively dry so it is less likely for the paint to bleed under the stencil. 

Step 4:  Let paint stencil dry 2 minutes then remove.  If the paint dries too much, it may peel up with the stencil so it's best to remove the stencil while the paint is still mostly wet. 

And, that's it!  All finished.   As I mentioned in the video, I would probably put the "it's good to be" above the seam between the boards on the next one.