Stencils

Altenew sells layering stencils, available standalone or coordinating with specific stamp and die sets. As of July 30, 2026 the store lists 674 stencil products.

What they are for

Building background texture, pattern, and depth.

Stencils are used two ways. With ink and a blending brush or sponge, they lay down soft colour and gradient. With embossing paste or relief paste, they create raised physical texture. See Embossing.

Layering stencils

Layering stencil sets work on the same principle as layered stamps. Several stencils are used in sequence with progressively darker colours, building one composite image.

Single stencils are used for backgrounds, patterns, and masking.

How to choose

• Coordinating stencils are designed to align with a specific stamp or die set. If the intent is to combine them, buy the matched set.
• Standalone stencils work as general-purpose backgrounds with any stamp set.
• A stencil intended for paste needs to be sturdy enough to hold its shape under a spreading tool.

What stencils do not do

A stencil cannot be used on its own. It needs a medium pushed through it — ink applied with a brush or sponge, or paste applied with a spreader.

Stencils used with paste need cleaning promptly, before the paste dries in the openings.