Questions & Answers

1. How well can you see through your plastic?
All our plastic is “contact clear” which means that it looks somewhat opaque when sitting on a shelf, but if you put it over a magazine, you can easily read through it. This makes it easy to see your seams on a quilt for proper alignment or other elements of a painted design.

2. What is your minimum order amount?
Our minimum order amount is $20.00 (before tax and shipping). When you place an item into your shopping cart, a new page will show the items in your cart, your subtotal, tax if applicable, shipping charges and your grand total. If your order subtotal is below $20.00, there will be a $5.00 handling fee, which will show up as part of the shipping and handling charge.

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3. What will the arrival date be for my order?
After payment is received, please allow up to 15 working days for your order to arrive. Before you panic, let us explain. We try to get all orders shipped within 3 business days of receipt, but sometimes we get buried and it may take a day or two longer. Being in California it can take up to 8 business days for a package to get to the East Coast.  So, to be on the safe side, we say 15 days but it may be a lot less for you, depending on where you live. Back to Top

4. How do you ship orders from StenSource® International, Inc?
All orders within the Continental U.S. are normally shipped via USPS or UPS. See Shipping and Handling above.
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5. Why do you need my e-mail address & phone number?
Orders using our secure on-line shopping cart program and included your e-mail address with your order, UPS will send you a confirmation (via e-mail) of when your order was shipped and will give you tracking information. If we have questions about your order, we need your e-mail address or phone number to correspond with you. Back to Top

6. Do you have a mail order catalog you can send me?
Yes, we have painting stencil, quilting stencil and Creative Iron (fusible appliqué) catalogs. There is a $5.00 charge for these catalogs but you will be sent a $5.00 coupon to be redeemed with your first order.  If you would like one of these catalogs, you can either call our office at 800-642-9293 or 209-536-1148 and give us your information and credit card number or send us the information along with a check, to StenSource International, Inc, 18971 Hess Ave., Sonora, CA  95370. Be sure to indicate which catalog you are interested in.
We have added a print-it-yourself version of our catalog in black and white.

 For painting stencils, click here or for quilting stencils, click here.
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7. Do your stencils come with color packaging and instructions?
With the exception of our Wall-ternatives®, Paint-A-Patio™ and our Laser stencil line, our stencils have no packaging or color information. Check out our Projects & Helpful Hints for kit instructions and our Gallery for great ideas. Back to Top

8. I have a craft/quilting store and want to sell your stencils. What do I do?
Contact our office (209-536-1148) and our Customer Service Dept. will fax your shop an application and credit application to return to us or go to our page about Wholesale Order Information. Back to Top

9. How can I contact StenSource® international, Inc.?
Please email or call our offices at:  (209) 536-1148, where you can speak with a representative during our regular business hours, 8:00 am to 4:30 P.M. PST (California).  Back to Top

10. How can I order from StenSource® International, Inc.?
Please use our secure on-line shopping cart program, or email to orders@stensource.com and read our order information, or call our offices at (800)642-9293. Back to Top

11. How much do I have to order to get free freight?
A retail order subtotaling $100 or more gets free freight in the continental U. S. (Orders shipped outside the continental U.S are subject to actual freight costs and are not eligible for free freight. International customers, AK and HI, will be emailed with actual freight charges for approval). Back to Top

12. What is your general return policy?
If you wish to return a product, please contact our office at 800-642-9293 or at orders@stensource.com for a Return Authorization Number. No merchandise will be accepted or credited without this authorization. We must be contacted no more than 15 days after you receive the merchandise because authorizations will not be granted after this time. You will be given instructions for how to return the merchandise.  A 20% restocking fee maybe charged for items returned due to an ordering error.

If the return is due to an error on our part, you will receive a full cash/credit refund on the purchase price, including tax and shipping if applicable. If the return is due to an error in your ordering or simply changing your mind, you will receive a refund of the merchandise value and tax, if applicable, only and be charged for return freight.

For credit, merchandise must be unused and returned in original condition (product packaging intact). Back to Top

13. What is your return policy on paints?
Please be careful ordering paints. We do put color samples of the paints on our web site but every monitor displays them differently. If you are not familiar with the paint colors, please request a free color chart. You may want to wait to order paint until you can see the colors on the chart. (Please note that we only sell the paints listed on our web site and not all paints shown are on the color charts). If you wish to return paint only because you don't like your color choice, you will be responsible for paying return shipping charges. Back to Top

14. If my shipment is damaged or contains the wrong items, what do I do?
Please contact our Customer Service Department for return information immediately within 10 days of receipt of your order. If you have received the wrong product, then the right product will be sent to you immediately.  If the product was damaged, you will need to keep all boxes and packing material so a claim can be filed with UPS. Back to Top

15. Do you have a Privacy Policy?
Yes. StenSource® International, Inc. is dedicated to the privacy of its customers. We will not sell, or distribute this information to any other company or individual, it will be used solely for our order processing purposes and sale information fliers. When you give us your e-mail address for your order, we do give this to UPS so they can e-mail you with tracking information and their toll free number for questions on when your order was shipped and where it is. Privacy Policies Back to Top

16. Can I share a project on your website?
Yes. Please go to our Share Your Projects page for more information.
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17. How does copyright law apply to stencils?
Please see our copyright notice at the bottom of our web pages and in the front of our wholesale catalogs.
All StenSource® International, Inc. designs (and the designs of most other stencil companies) are copyrighted (appropriate forms filed in Washington, D.C.). This means that StenSource® International, Inc. owns the designs and no one may copy those designs. This especially includes using them in any way or form for commercial gain.

When you buy a stencil, you do not buy the design, only the right to personal use of the design. Using stencils on any product that you plan to mass produce and sell in quantity (birdhouses, T-shirts, printed fabrics, wood shapes, etc.) is illegal and constitutes copyright infringement, which is a felony offense. However, in certain cases we grant *limited use for resale. These stencils are for the personal use of the end customer.

*Limited use is granted to professional stencilers for hand painting walls or decorations. If you are not sure about your use, especially if the item is hand made, not mass produced, please call and we will most probably give you written permission for limited use.

The sharing and exchanging of information on the Web is very much like the spirit and history of quilting.  Quilters have traded patterns, shown each other sewing tricks and taken photos of quilts they want to look at over and over again, much in the same way that we bookmark Web pages, select "print" and paste links on our sites for other surfers.

If you like what you see on our Website and want to share some of the quilting tips or other information with friends, students, online quilters, etc., please write and ask permission before doing so.  We are usually happy to grant permission based on how, when and how often you wish to reproduce the material.

This may sound a little rude, but in order for the registered copyright to remain valid, it is our legal responsibility to defend the copyright.  Since it is a big World Wide Web out there, we would appreciate hearing from anyone who recognizes our products on someone's Website without credit or permission.

For more information on protection and copyrights issue for your quilts, please read this article by Maria Elkins, QUILT PROTECTION: Heirlooms & Copyrights. 

There was a copyright article in Tole World in December 2003 written by Phyllis Tilford called Copywrongs and Copyrights...Right from the start which if you have any concerns would be very helpful. Back to Top

18. Can I use quilting stencils for painting?
Yes! They can make a lovely light and lacy design. Some of the overall background quilting patterns look absolutely great painted on a wall either in tone on tone or in a coordinating color. Back to Top

19. How do I store the adhesive backed stencils cut on your Sta-Put Plastic?
We no longer offer this plastic but for you that have purchased it in the past, here is the answer.  Whenever using Sta-Put plastic, either plain sheets or with stencils cut on it, the best thing to use for storage is Bakers Parchment [this is not on the instructions that come with the stencils, it is a recent discovery we just made].  This is inexpensive and readily available in your super market next to Saran Wrap and aluminum foil and better than freezer paper.  The Sta-Put will just barely stick to the parchment.  You can also  fold the edge of the paper over the stencil and secure with a paper clip on each side. Back to Top

20. How do I stencil on fabric?
Before stenciling the fabric, wash and dry it according to label instructions.  This will remove the sizing (chemical coating) in new fabric.  If the sizing is not removed, your stencil paint will not bond well with the material. When stenciling on fabric, it is much easier if you can keep the fabric from moving around.  Do this by using a light coat of spray adhesive on a piece of cardboard that is about 2" larger than the piece of fabric you want to stencil.  Let the adhesive dry thoroughly, until it is just slightly tacky (too much and it might come off on your fabric). Then just carefully smooth your fabric in place on the adhesive and paint away.  The cardboard will also prevent the paint from bleeding through to other parts of the fabric.  Secure your stencil in place with low tack masking tape.  Load your brush and paint stencil.  Apply several light applications of paint, instead of one thick application.  When finished remove fabric from cardboard. The cardboard can be reused 2-3 times usually before you need to re-spray with the adhesive.  Allow fabric to dry for at least 48 hours.  Some fabric paints need additional treatment in order for the paint to cure.  This is usually by means of heat application by coving the stenciled area with a cloth and applying heat with an iron or the clothes dryer   Back to Top

21. What is the difference between stencil brushes and "premium" stencil brushes?
Although split ends are a bad thing for the hair on your head, they are a
GOOD thing for stencil brushes.  When natural hairs (hog bristles) are used
to make a stencil brush, the manufacturer uses the end of the hair - which
has the "split ends" called "flags" - for a premium brush.  It's premium
because the flags hold more paint and because it is much harder to get all
the ends to line up perfectly for a flat end to the brush.  Standard stencil
brushes, although made from the same bristles are taken from the next
"slice" up the bristle, so the flags are missing.  This makes it faster and
easier to make, hence less expensive.  They still hold paint well, but for
subtle shadings and really fine painterly technique, artists choose
"flagged" brushes.  Back to Top

22. What is the difference between different types of plastic?  They seem to be different thicknesses.

We make stencils on 2 types of plastic.

 The largest part of our line consists of single overlay stencils cut on 12 mil (.012", not millimeters) plastic.  This is a sturdy plastic that can be used for any craft or painting purpose.  They have become extremely popular for dimensional stenciling because they are thicker than the laser stencils on the market today and give you a wonderful, strong, raised look.

They can also be easily used for regular stenciling.  Be sure you use a dry
brush or stippling stenciling technique, and you should have no problems.  They are also easy to use with a small, foam paint roller for quick application of designs that don't need lots of shading.

Our laser cut stencils are all cut on 7 mil plastic (.007").  The laser
cutting allows us to put more details in the stencil and to do multi-part
(overlay) stencils.  While this material is sturdy, it cannot stand up to vigorous cleaning the way our thicker plastic can.  In general the stencils that are laser cut are more for home decor.  Back to Top

23. How do I keep my brushes in top-working condition?
Like any good tool, you want to take care of your brushes to make them last a long time.  Always clean your brushes when done.  Do not leave a brush soaking in liquid for long periods, especially resting on its bristles.  Try never to allow paint to dry on your brush or work its way into the ferrule (the top part that holds the bristles in place).  But if you forget, you can clean dried acrylic paint by soaking the bristles ONLY for up to an hour in rubbing alcohol.  You can also clean and condition your brushes by soaking in about ¼" of Murphy's Oil Soap® in the bottom of a plastic cup for a few minutes up to overnight, followed by scrubbing the paint out with a circular motion in the palm of your hand using tepid water. Rinse well. Shake out excess water, pinch bristles into shape, lay flat on a layer of dry paper towels and allow to dry.  Never soak in water.  Store brushes so there is pressure on the bristles.
Hint:  When loading, using or cleaning, work bristles in their natural direction.  Keep a damp paper towel handy when you are painting.  If you are interrupted, just slip the brush between the folded layers of the paper towel and it will keep it from hardening for up to 20 minutes (depending on humidity and temperature). Put the damp paper towel in a plastic baggie and the brush will stay wet even longer. Back to Top

24. How do I stencil on a screen door?
Clean the screen, prime with spray primer (this is actually an optional step), paint the screen. Then stencil. I use cosmetic sponge wedges for the big solid color areas and shade with brushes.  You can use the Americana Acrylic paint for the base and shade with the Easy Blend Dry Brush Paint. If you don't want to see the design from the back, be careful with the amount of paint you use if you use the sponges.  Back to Top

25. What are registration points?
Registration points are the small holes found at the opposite top corners of multiple overlay stencils and are used to align the several layers during the stenciling process.  Before removing the first overlay, place a piece of low-tack tape on the surface to be stenciled under the registration marks and stencil the registration holes with a color that contrasts well with the color of the tape.  When the stencil is removed the registration marks remain on the surface.  The ensuing layers are then lined up using these markings.   Back to Top

26. What are overlays and how do I use them?
A single overlay has the entire design cut from a single sheet of plastic.  There are gaps between the individual elements of the design called bridges which emphasize the details of the pictures

Multiple overlay stencils ( or bridgeless stencils) use extra sheets of plastic to define the details of the design thereby eliminating the bridges.  In order to line up the overlays, we use registration points.  Small marks are cut into the corners of each overlay and match up for accurate positioning.  The overlays are numbered in the order they are to be used.

Position the first overlay, secure with low-tack tape or stencil adhesive and stencil.  Apply the low-tack tape under the registration marks as stated in #24.  Line up the registration marks on the subsequent overlays with the painted marks on the wall.   Back to Top

27. How do I get my stenciled designs to look crisp & not blurry and jagged?
Stenciled designs that are not crisp usually mean that you are overloading your brush.  Loading your brush with too much paint is by far the most common mistake that is made by both beginners and pros.  Dip the tips of the bristles of your brush into the paint.  Using a paper towel remove most of the paint from the brush by swirling the brush into the paper towel.  If you have applied to much paint to your design there are several solutions to this problem; 1) Remove as much of the paint as possible, allow the area to dry then paint over the area with your base color. 2) If the paint is still wet, use a rag/towel moistened with a mild soapy solution, plain water or isopropyl alcohol. Gently wipe the problem area. Allow to dry and continue stenciling. 3) You can buy a product called the Stencil Eraser from your craft store, that helps to remove minor smudges.   Back to Top

28. Do you do custom cutting of stencils or other materials?
Yes! If you are interested in custom cutting of stencils or other plastics or wood or fabric, please click here for more information.  Back to Top