HOW I DO IT... I DAB ON THICK CREAM OR BLACK PAINT USING A SPONGE,THE LETTERS ARE THEN RUBBED DOWN TO CREATE THE AGED LOOK, NOTE IF THE SURFACE IS UNEVEN DUE TO OLD PAINT OR RUST,EVEN THICK PAINT WILL LEAK PAST THE STENCIL, IF THIS HAPPENS I LET IT DRY THEN RUB THE NEWLY PAINTED LETTERS WITH WIRE WOOL DIPPED IN OIL THIS TENDS TO CLEAN UP THE LETTERS. NOTE  WE ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE OR LOSS CAUSED IN USING THE STENCIL.YOU USE THE STENCIL ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK!  THE STENCIL IS AN ALMOST THE EXACT COPY  OF THE ORIGINAL.
I DAB THE PAINT ON USING A SPONGE..IF YOU ARE USING A SPRAY CAN YOU MUST USE LOTS OF LIGHT COATS OR THE SOLVENT IN THE SPRAY CAN MAY DISRUPT THE GLUE ON THE BACK OF THE STENCIL!