I get my stencils from LQS; Joanns; shows. I mark with a #2 mechanical pencil usually. Have no issues with it washing out upon completion. Have never used a paper stencil. I think I might be too hard on them and not be able to re-use them. I have also designed my own when I wanted to do initials. I've not tried it but have read elsewhere that children's coloring books are great for quilting designs. Very simple. I, too, sometimes find the plastic templates hard to follow. Most have 'registration' marks - single holes to line up each time you move the template. Others do not and then you just have to 'wing it'. Good luck.