Best Way to Get a Crisp, Sharp Stenciled Effect with Royal Icing?

I like to use palette knives you find in the art department.  They come in several sizes.  The tips on most are nice and flexible making spreading your icing nice, thin and even.  Definitely in most cases less is more.

Rose

I like to use a turkey lacer to hold the stencil firmly on the cookie top, especially when there's little room to put my clunky fingers without covering up the stencil.

I use turkey lacers for popping air bubbles, marbling, and a few other things too. They're a handy tool!

Agree also with how the poll is shaping up, insofar as a thicker icing laid in a thin layer is generally better. Though icing consistency can vary (and still give good results) depending on the size and detail in the stencil.

Julia - exactly how do you use the turkey lacer?  Do you use it, in essence, as an extension/replacement of your fingers?  I find I have to spread my fingers and hold both sides of a stencil with my non-dominant hand so it doesn't slip.  Do you have a video snippet of your technique?

Do you, or anyone else, use the slightly adhesive stencils?  Marlyn of Montreal Confections has demonstrated those before and I have the easiest time with those...but you better have really hard icing or they will rip the top layer right off the cookie when you remove it!

I'm curious where do you get these adhesive stencils.

The only ones I knew of were for  glass etching.  Are these new?

There used to be a spray that you could use, left the stencil with a tacky feel, but this was for walls ect and not sure if food safe.

I've done lots of wall stenciling in my time.  I was thrilled when they came out with culinary ones.

I have found a decent selection of Martha Stewart adhesive stencils at Michael's and Amazon.  I have also used ones intended for glass etching.  I don't know if they are food safe...I frankly didn't even think about it.  I've even used Scotch tape on the edges before (for masking) - and I don't know if Scotch tape is food safe.  Good grief.  This is why I don't sell my cookies.  Marlyn of Montreal Confections does sell hers though - and I got the idea of adhesive stencils from her.  I don't think she is on Cookie Connection yet, though...haven't seen her yet anyway.  Does anyone know?  I have used them and people (including myself) have eaten them with no negative effects.  <sigh> I always find cool things and then find out they aren't food safe or edible...i.e., the 10 bottles of disco dust I possess and can no longer use

interesting about the adhesive stencils - I'll have to check them out!

Yes, I press down on the stencil with the tip of the turkey lacer (usually in the middle of the stencil) to hold the stencil in place/flat while I spread. It's smaller and so fewer fingers get in the way! A toothpick could work for the same purpose too, though the lacers are taller so I get more hand clearance with them.

I have tried some of the Martha Stewart adhesive stencils, but I don't like the thought of some of the adhesive coming off on the cookie, which I'm sure it does; plus they can leave marks of their own. I find them harder to wash and reuse too. So I stick to culinary grade stencils - there are so many available from Designer Stencils, I find I rarely have to look further.

I have some stenciling tips here on my site: https://www.juliausher.com/kitc...iling_technique_tips

One of the lessons in my video series is completely devoted to stenciling and shows me using the turkey lacer. The series is available for sale here: https://www.juliausher.com/store/video/videos_on_dvd

Thanks for asking!

I have a bunch of new stencils from Designer Stencils - I will be trying them soon!

I also love Designer Stencils.  Their quality and variety

 is like no other!

I've also had them do several custom stencils for me.

Once you've used them it's hard to use others.

Callye aka Sugarbelle and Kim of Kookie Kreations came up with the idea of using craft magnets to hold the stencil down!  I bought the necessary magnets but haven't tried it yet.  Callye says it works with airbrushing and royal icing!

Sherrie - It works great to use craft magnets.  However, if you use a metal offset spatula be careful.  I got too close to the magnet and the spatula jerked onto the magnet.  I jumped and screamed.  Then I carefully raised my spatula and the entire contraption raised with it.  Fortunately, it was my last swipe so it didn't ruin everything...but it could have been a mess!

I find that applying some pressure to the top of the stencil with a simple trussing needle or your finger works just fine - and requires fewer tools. Though I think I mentioned this earlier.