I am looking for some cake stencils. I want a variety of patterns because I have none and would like to start working with them. The few places I have looked for them, I am finding sets at like $50! $50 for thin plastic with cut outs? Crazy

Is there somewhere that has them at good prices?

The expense comes from several facts:
if they're "culinary" stencils then they're made of food safe material=$$$
if they're intricate patterns=more cuts, more waste, more "seconds"=$$$
if they're multi-part=$$
if they're large=$$
if they've been designed by, and possibly copyrighted, by the supplier=$$

I've seen some lovely stencils at Michael's and the large, complicated ones are expensive, too. They're not food grade plastic (but that doesn't bother me, personally). With a coupon, the prices aren't bad, but the designs are a lot more limited than what you'll find at designerstencils.com

JMHO
Rae

You could make your own. Just cut the design out of wax paper, acetate paper, etc. Not sure what all you would use them for. If you work in fondant and were looking for something to make shapes out of, you can make your own fondant cutters out of copper wire in any shape... There is a good tutorial on that at http://whatscookingamerica.net/PegW/CookieCutters.htm. HTH