Custom Stencils

I think I want to cut my own custom stencils with an Exacto knife. Does anyone have any experience with doing these?

Does anyone know where to get the thin plastic they use for commercial stencils like the BadAss ones? And what would I call said plastic if I wanted to search for it on the web?

Thanks, in advance, for any tips y'all can give me.

Most craft stores carry stencil material that's made by Provo Craft (for use with a Cricut), and if you have a cricut you can cut your own intricate stencils with that...but I'm sure it'd work for hand cutting too, as all a cricut does is cut with an itty bitty xacto-like blade.

Thanks, Stacia! That's a big help.

No problemo

I used to have a Cricut...I miss it
I'm gonna buy another one when I'm done sinking every dollar I get my hands on into paint.

BTW I think the material is Mylar. Might help to know that if you're asking around craft stores.

I picked up blank stencil material at Walmart the other day. It was in the craft section, with the rest of the stencils. It was three blank sheets meant to be used with an exacto for $2.99 I think.

Speaking on a quality vs price it is probably a better value to buy them.
If you don't buy the vinyl in bulk and have SCAL 2.0 (or a similar program) with a compatible cutting machine I can't imagine the stencils would be worth it.

I haven't tried cutting by hand, but I could see it being worth a try for something really custom that you don't want to have a third-party produce.