Free Printable Flower Stencils for Crafts and Painting

By Jan Bay

This set of free printable flower stencils gives you three simple designs for painted signs, storage boxes, furniture accents, wall projects and other crafts. I kept the set small on purpose: three genuinely different flowers are more useful than a stack of the same outline in slightly different sizes.

Reusable Stencil Sheets for Craft and Wall Projects

Free Printable Flower Stencils to Print

This set of free printable flower stencils includes a rounded five-petal flower, an open eight-petal daisy and a six-petal flower. Choose one design for a simple project or mix two or three when you want a loose floral arrangement.

These are stencil files, not coloring-page outlines. The petals and centers are separate openings, so there are no loose enclosed pieces to save and line up again after cutting.

The files were built as original digital SVG templates for Unique Baby Gear Ideas. They have not been physically cut and paint-tested, so make a paper check first and test your cut stencil on scrap material before using it on the final project.

Each SVG is laid out on a US Letter sheet and the flower fits within a 5-inch square at 100% print size. Print at 75% to fit the design within about 3.75 inches, or at 50% to fit it within about 2.5 inches. A 1-inch calibration square is included on every sheet so you can check the print scale before cutting your stencil material.

Rounded Petal Flower Stencil

The rounded five-petal flower is the simplest design in the set. Its broad openings make it a good choice for painted signs, storage boxes, furniture panels and first stencil projects.

Open the Rounded Petal Flower Stencil

Open Daisy Flower Stencil

The daisy has eight narrower petals and more open space between them. It works well when you want a lighter flower shape for a craft project, decorative panel or repeated border.

Open the Daisy Flower Stencil

Six Petal Flower Stencil

This six-petal design falls between the other two. The petals are broader than the daisy petals but the flower has a little more detail than the basic five-petal design.

Open the Six Petal Flower Stencil

Flower Stencil Sizes

You do not need three separate files for every flower size. Start with the original SVG and change the print scale.

• 50%: fits within about a 2.5-inch square for small crafts, boxes and sign accents
• 75%: fits within about a 3.75-inch square for signs, furniture details and canvas projects
• 100%: fits within about a 5-inch square for larger projects and wall accents

Measure the calibration square before cutting. At 100% it should measure exactly 1 inch. At 75% it should measure 3/4 inch, and at 50% it should measure 1/2 inch. If it does not, check the printer settings for options such as Fit to Page, Shrink to Fit or automatic scaling.

For a flower larger than the printable sheet allows, the SVG can be enlarged at a print shop or with poster-style tiled printing. Make one paper test before cutting reusable stencil material so you can check the finished scale on the actual project.

How to Make a Reusable Flower Stencil

1. Open the flower SVG and print it at the size you need.
2. Measure the calibration square before continuing.
3. Place reusable stencil film over the printed pattern or transfer the design onto the stencil material.
4. Cut out the black petal and center shapes with a sharp craft knife on a protected cutting surface.
5. Keep the narrow sections of stencil material between the openings intact. These sections hold the flower together and keep the petals separated when you paint.
6. Test the finished stencil on scrap paper or scrap material before using it on the final surface.

Heavy cardstock can work for a quick one-time paper or craft project, but reusable stencil film is a better choice when you plan to paint the same flower several times.

How to Paint a Flower Stencil Without Bleeding

Clean stencil edges usually depend more on the amount of paint than on the brush. Too much paint can work underneath the stencil even when the pattern is taped securely.

1. Make sure the project surface is clean and dry.
2. Secure the stencil so it stays flat while you work.
3. Load a stencil brush or small foam applicator, then blot away most of the paint before touching the project.
4. Build the color with light applications instead of one wet coat.
5. Work from the open area toward the center of each stencil opening rather than pushing wet paint under the edge.
6. Lift the stencil carefully before a heavy ridge of paint dries along its edges.

If you plan to repeat the flower, check the back of the stencil before moving it. Wipe away wet paint that could transfer onto the next section of the project.

Flower Stencil Project Ideas

A small set of flower patterns can be used in several ways without covering an entire room or project with the same design.

• Wood signs: Paint one large flower or arrange several smaller flowers around lettering.
• Storage boxes: Add a flower to the front or side of a painted wooden box or suitable craft container.
• Furniture accents: Use a small flower on drawer fronts or a larger design on a flat side panel after preparing the finish correctly.
• Canvas: Repeat two flower shapes in different sizes for simple handmade wall art.
• Wall accents: Use several flowers printed at the larger scale as a loose cluster or border instead of covering the whole wall.
• Decorative panels: Paint the flowers on a removable wood or canvas panel when you want a stencil project that can be moved later.

Choose paint made for the surface you are decorating and follow its preparation, drying and curing directions. I would keep painted decorative projects off crib surfaces and away from areas a baby may chew or mouth unless the product is specifically intended for that use.

Arrange More Than One Flower

The three flowers do not need to sit in a perfect row. A simple arrangement usually looks better when one flower is slightly larger or higher than the others and there is some open space between the shapes.

Before painting a wall, sign or piece of furniture, print ordinary paper copies first. Tape the paper flowers temporarily in place and step back. It is much easier to change the spacing before paint is involved.

If you want leaves in the arrangement, use my free leaf stencils rather than adding another flower shape just to fill empty space.

More Free Printable Stencil Patterns

These free printable flower stencils are part of my growing collection of free printable stencil patterns for crafts, painted decor and wall projects.

For another simple nature design, try the free butterfly stencil pattern. If you specifically want a rose rather than a general flower shape, use the separate free rose stencil.