If youd like to make a decal for something that will be outdoors in the elements then you want to think extreme wear and weatherproof, not just waterproof. Added bulk makes finding the correct cut settings a little trickier, using a spray negates that issues. You can use waterproof stickers/decals in more places (like water bottles); as a bonus, the ink wont fade as quickly either. Mod Podge is probably your safe bet, just don't put them in the dishwasher. I would really suggest you use printable vinyl for your sticker paper as well. I use the Canon Crafters Printer. Thank you, My pleasure! I got a waterbottle as a pressent from when I was in our schools musical, but they put stickers on it already. The main difference for me is thicknessthe sticker paper is much thicker than the vinyl. Its just a circle. Just once with the 40 sheets of laminated stickers did I get an error and it was easy to cancel out and then start the cut over again. Not just one that is water resistant. All copyright, trademark, impersonation and intellectual property violations will be subject to legal action. What do you recommend sealing stainless steel water bottle and mugs with? I am considering running them back through. Hi. It looks fantastic, you can't see that I've done it and the vinyl is well and truly sealed and stuck down. Let it sit for several weeks. In addition to printable sticker paper, theres one more printable material you may run acrossprintable iron on vinyl (sometimes called printable heat transfer vinyl or printable HTV). Learn more in my Cricut Comparison. With printable vinyl, youll print once, cut once, and apply once. They are super thick this way also and after being cut on my Cricut the edges seem super sharp. Hi, this is probably a silly question, but how do your stickers still stick after theyve been laminated? How to Make Christmas Gnome Stickers with a Cricut! - It can be purchased at craft stores, hardware stores, or online, - Straight up-> you NEED to follow safety precautions (which may include purchasing personal safety equipment), - Needs multiple coats and you may need to wait 10-30 minutes between coats, - Your coverage must be full and evenly applied, you'll need to test to be sure it's working, - Because of VOC fumes you must have proper ventilation, - Temperatures need to be optimal so you may not be able to spray outside at certain times of the year. And because the ink will often run when wet, youll often get a soggy, water-logged, and unreadable sticker when wet. Cool, right? I also test three different brands of protective laminate and have recommendations so you can find the one thats right for your custom waterproof labels or clear stickers. Spray sealer wins this one because you can hardly tell its there, although Averys Self-Adhesive Laminating Sheets are super thin and dont add much bulk or weight to the sticker. 3 Best Methods to Protect and Waterproof Your Stickers, - Application doesn't require any tools other than old credit card + gets easier with practice, - You can find different thicknesses (from barely there to thickness of a transparency), - Because these are meant as lamination they are bigger than needed which makes application less stressful, - Can be purchased at Office Supply Store or Online, - No heat, no odor, and no power source needed, -It's easy to get bubbles or folds that are hard to get out, - Some brands do not come clear but frosted (even if they say clear), - Using a scraper to smooth helps with bubbles but can scratch the surface, so be careful, - The edges of the laminate can seem sharp w/ some brands, - Super Simple Application that's Hard to Mess Up, - Saves time (you'll laminate 2 sticker sheets at a time), - Can purchase laminating pouches in 3 mil or 5 mil, - Easy to find generic versions of both laminating machine and the pouches, -You need to purchase a laminating machine, -You'll need space to store the machine (9" -13"), -May take 1-9 minutes to warm up (depends on machine), -Can get wavy vertical lines that show at an angle, -You may need to press flat with stack of books. I cut the monogram in half and carefully painted one half with mod podge and left the other as is. The cheapest, Avery is also a good choice. I don't want the glitter layer to poke through the smooth surface of the top layer. Start with printable vinyl and if you can, use UV-protectant inks so that you minimize fading. But, it sometimes had wavy lines where it didnt heat properly, and if I didnt let it warm up the full 7-9 minutes, then the laminate didnt fully bond to the sticker paper surface. Wall sticker on a wall. First and foremost, let's talk about a common myth in the vinyl world - that vinyl shouldn't be sealed because it needs to "breathe". Because Mod Podge is a thinner substance, you will be able to feel the grit of the glitter, even after several layers of Mod Podge. I am working on a post using waterproof printable vinyl, so be on the lookout for that! Lets start out by learning about printable vinyl and what you can do with it. I LOVE how fast and easy this was but concerned that Ive possibly gotten off to a bad start! All Rights Reserved. Ill talk you down. Copyright Silhouette School 2016. Because of you, I feel ready to attack this project. Only time will tell if it's durable enough for what I put my notebooks through!Re the dishwasher mod podge - it definitely does work and protect items in the dishwasher after it's been cured for the 28 days. Copyright 2022, Hey, Let's Make Stuff. And if youve found other ways to protect or waterproof your stickers, Id love to know! My blog is full of things to help you create a life you love: easy crafts, fun printables, SVG files for cutting on your Cricut, DIY home and decor ideas, and so much more. That way after you laminate them in a folder you can just cut the two sheets apart and they will only be laminated in the front. To make custom waterproof stickers it really was close between my top two favorites, but I think I like the self-adhesive sheets a little more. Using a spray can cause a slight cloudiness, so using a high gloss clear self-adhesive will give you the best results. This hand-lettered Read More, Learn how to make a personalized ice cooler Read More, Nothing like hearing the crashing waves and Read More, 2020 HeyLetsMakeStuff.com | Privacy Policy. Something to test I think! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm Cori and I'm so glad you've decided to stop by and make stuff with me! Problem with ModPodge is also that if it gets hot it will stick to other modpodge items. Does anyone have any recommendations about doing that? Delete the labels you are not going to use, and resize the remaining labels based on the size of your bottles and containers. Do you laminate them with the backing sheet still on and then cut them out? Its always awesome to discover new ways to do things. Troubleshooting: If your machine is struggling to read the registration marks, shine a light on your Cricutsometimes if its in a darker corner of your craft room, theres not enough light for it to read the registration marks. Hi Clarissa! It's got a glitter htv monogram on it that I forgot to reverse, and the mug is a cheapie that we rarely use. This may be the case. I printed a sticker on glossy paper, tried the scotch matte tape and my cricut still wont cut out my design. So use UV-resistant inks, a waterproof printable vinyl base (permanent adhesive), and Oracal UV Laminating Film. Thank you for sharing this information. Once you upload the files, click Ungroup at the top of the Layer Panel on the right so that all of the labels can be manipulated individually. Its easy using the Print then Cut feature, your home printer, and printable vinyl! Using printable vinyl with a Cricut means you need Print then Cut capabilities. You may want to try the more pressure setting in Design Space and see if that does the trick. Who doesnt? As long as they're good! It's as good today as the day I made it.I'm doing an experiment now where I cured a mug in the oven for an hour on 120C and then let it cool. All free printables and .svgs offered are for personal or limited commercial use (less than 100 physical units per design). Looking for more ideas to make with printable vinyl? If you dont need the auto shut-off feature the Amazon brand laminator is a sweet deal. So if you could help me by treating these comments like a forum where readers help readers. Let's start with the most common and (in my opinion) versatile sealant As most of you know (or will soon find out), Mod Podge brand has a wide range of product variations, from glossy and matte to glitter and dishwasher safe. Silhouette School Blog, Silhouette School Inc and MAV Creatives LLC are not associated with Silhouette America. So make sure your printable vinyl projects are not too intricate. Click on the gray circle in the Layers Panel on the right and change it to white using the dropdown in the Edit Toolbar at the top. Right now, these three labels are SVG filesall of the letters will be cut out of the background, like in my pantry labels (you can use them as SVGs like this if youd like!). You can sub clear sticker paper, but laminating sheets often are larger so they encase the whole paper giving you a margin for mistakes in your application. Waterproof vinyl stickers are a great way to make bumper stickers, laptop stickers, school supplies boxes, food containers that are long-lasting. Your email address will not be published. -It's SUPER IMPERATIVE you let the machine warm-up or your bond won't be secure. Looking for a high gloss look for your waterproof stickers? Youll need one of the Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore machines. For this project, keep add bleed checkedthis will help ensure that theres no white edges around your circle. Hope this helps, My second favorite method of waterproofing is Thermal Laminating. the edges are lifting on one I have done for my self. This means the sticker itself will not break down (like a paper product would) when exposed to water. I place a big cardboard box out in my yard and spray several at once, then set a timer to repeat as many times as needed. What are the pros/cons of using Mod Podge or Triple Thick? Have a great day! If we flatten them as is, however, the letters will still be cut out of the label. Jen, Your email address will not be published. You are not allowed to sell the digital files in digital form. You want to make stuff and I want to help! Tips-I cant stress it enough, use safety precautions. You can get Avery self-adhesive laminating sheets and they would work great. If you have already received a freebie from my site, just enter your information againyou wont be added to any additional lists. Two months after putting them away I went to pull a card out to use and the entire stack was stuck together. Spent weeks just researching how to (correctly) make stickers for granddaughters cups and tumblers and was getting a debilitating case of analysis paralysis -kid you not. Oh no! What would you recoomend sealing stainless steal with? Ill let you know what materials do you need to make waterproof stickers, how to make normal stickers waterproof, and answer your questions about laminating your stickers. Making a fancy glitter mason jar for your BFF's wedding gift? I couldnt get the spray, but had a laminator and pouches, I let the laminator warm up for about 10mins past the ready light and did two sheets back to back on 3mm setting. I can tell they arent waterproof because I lightly ran water over them to test them and the ink slightly ran already. To use it, you MUST wait until the Ready light is on but then you just put two sheets of printed stickers back-to-back and insert them into a thermal laminating pouch. -Jen. Avery Self-Adhesive Laminating Sheetsis the best product for this because the sheets are thinner and more pliable. It needs to be able to flex and fold at the hinge. In this case, I made it 3 round to match the cleaning label. Trace Stickers in Procreate for Beginners, Jennifer Swift (wellcraftedstudio.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Cricut cuts these options just fine. That means that if exposed to small amounts of water, the paper itself can repel it. Its so easy to feed sheet after sheet through the machine and your laminating two sticker sheets back-to-back so it goes twice as fast. Fortunately for us, this is just a myth. I dont recall why though, so I did just do a little digging and found an article that said bubbles happen if the ink isnt dry and the temperature on the laminator is too high. This reduces the shine just enough. Just adding vinyl to mugs and wish they would last a little longer? The Ultimate Guide to Cricut Print then Cut, Personalized Ice Cooler with Your Cricut + Ice Cooler SVG Files, Labels (see my tutorial below for labels for cleaning supplies! Be sure to wait 24 hours after you print for the ink to dry before you apply a spray sealant, and make sure you follow the manufacturers directions for use and safety precautions. Sorry I missed this question! I have a step-by-step tutorial for applying self-adhesive laminate sheets in my post, How to Waterproof Your Stickers [Laminate 101]. If you look for legit sticker papers, youll see that the best you can get is waterresistant. Triple Thick is still among the non-toxic sealers and is relatively safe to use. Ever had any issues with the laminator leaving little bubbles where it didnt quite adhere? If you'd like to share, you are permitted to use a single photograph and a summary of a single post with a direct link back to the Silhouette School post. In my crafting arsenal, I place Triple Thick a few notches above Mod Podge in reliability. My first two sheets (I used the Joyeza Vinyl Sticker Paper) ended up with bubbles on both sheets. Great question- if you place a clear vinyl laminate sheet over the sticker it should protect it. Some people have gone ahead and put the scotch tape right over the sensor on their machine. This is a simple way to make labels using printable vinyl and your Cricut! Waterproof is a stronger claim and means that you can do more than briefly expose the sticker to water. Have any questions about printable vinyl or the label-making process? My son is in his last year of high school and has done theater. If you start with printable white vinyl sticker paper, your sticker surface wont absorb water but repel it. A regular inkjet printer is relatively inexpensive compared to other printers. Hi Jennifer, I read your articles. Is there any way I can save the custom stickers or are they destined to run into ruin? Printable vinyl is also generally more durable than sticker paper. This free printable road trip scavenger hunt Read More, Who's lovin' summer? When we started cutting them with scissors, the laminate started peeling off, but usually were still stuck a little on the bottom or sides, which after trying to peel the rest of the plastic off, just ending up tearing the front of the sticker off. This comment has been removed by the author. If youre using a Maker, directly select Printable Vinyl as your material. Could it be that I didnt wait long enough for them to dry before putting them through the laminator? Sign up and get the password to my Design Library and get a weekly email that encourages you to be creative (with even more freebies and ideas)! The jury is still out, as Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge takes 28 days to cure. Just print, cut, and apply like a sticker. Easy! Thanks for leaving a comment! With traditional adhesive vinyl, youre limited to the colors of the vinyl, and if you want to create something with several colors, youll need to cut and layer each color of vinyl. This post and the photos within it may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. If youre planning to make kiss-cut sticker sheets with your cutting machine, then getting the right cut setting can get tricky when youre adding a laminate or self-adhesive laminate on top of your sticker sheet. You can also follow this tutorial and make these same labels using your Silhouette Cameo and Print and Cut, though youll need to know how to do the Print and Cut processes in Silhouette Studio. You may also need a new blade. Heres everything you need to know about using printable vinyl, as well as a set of cleaning labels made from printable vinyl and cut on a Cricut!