How do I prepare a wood piece or plywood paneling for stenciling?

For unfinished wood: Apply a base stain or clean wood sealer and allow adequate time to dry. After stenciling, wait 2-3 days and apply waterbase varnish to finish. Test a small section before applying the finish coat. Choose waterbase finishes; oil-base polyurethane can yellow the surface.

For pre-finished paneling: Wash to remove wax or dirt. If applying a glaze for a pickled look, test the color in an inconspicuous place. IF paneling has a glossy finish, paint may not adhere to it. In that case, paint paneling with a bonder/primer such as BIN or KILZ. After stenciling, roll on one or two coats of waterbase varnish for maximum scrubbability. Be sure not to layer water and oil based paints together.