Can you buy and use the stencils that are made for paint on cakes?
Or do you have to buy the special cake stencils?

I'm going to the craft store today to get some (Hooray for 50% off coupons!) I have a cake due next Wed. that will have stenciling on it. I'll share my experience! As long as they are very flexible and the right height, I can't see why they wouldn't work.

I've used craft stensils on cupcakes and cookies, worked well. Make sure you use brand new stensils and wash and sanitize prior to using.

you can also get blank stencil sheets (they're transparent and flimsy enough for a cake) and use an x-acto knife to carve out your own stencil design if you don't see any you like in the store, for example you can just print an image of a design you like from a google images search (or anywhere), trace it onto the blank stencil and cut it out. i was looking at stencils in walmart the other day and came across these blank ones so i got a pack of 2 & a x-acto knife, together prob cost about 3 or 4 bucks, haven't used em yet but i have em if i need em lol.

Thanks ladies! I have a blank stencil sheet I may have to live on the edge and make my own stencil!!

The hatbox on the suitcase in my pics was done using a cheap stencil I bought at Michaels. Worked fine.