Stickers, adhesive labels commonly featuring colorful graphics or slogans, have become an important part of pop culture. Children trade cartoon stickers with their friends. Teenagers buy stickers to decorate their lockers, notebooks, and other personal belongings. Adults use bumper stickers to show support for political candidates and charitable organizations. However, very few people take the time to consider how stickers are made.

Stickers can be manufactured from many different types of material. Litho stock is the most common sticker base material, although latex is sometimes added to create flexible stickers that can more easily adhere to curved objects. Bumper stickers are commonly manufactured from vinyl or other plastics in order to increase durability and weather resistance. Stickers intended for scrapbooking, card making, and other craft projects are often made from foil to give a metallic appearance.

The Pantone Matching System dominates the sticker manufacturing industry’s choice of ink colors. This system expands upon the CMYK printing process by using spot colors to produce metallics, fluorescents, and other unique color variations. The ink used in manufacturing stickers is usually transparent, but may be opaque in some circumstances.

Typically, stickers are made with permanent, removable, or repositionable adhesive. Permanent adhesive is most common for general use, while removable or repositionable adhesive is more popular on stickers intended for craft projects. Tamper evident adhesive, a variation of permanent adhesive that is designed to fracture if the sticker is removed, is sometimes used by retail stores as a precaution against theft or product damage.

Although the process for mass producing stickers can be quite involved, it’s easy to make your own stickers at home using a computer and inkjet printer. Simply print your text or images onto sticker project paper purchased from any large office supply store and use paper punches to create uniform shapes. Sticker project paper is available in matte or glossy finishes to provide a variety of unique looks. However, it’s important to realize that most stickers made with sticker paper will not be water-resistant. If you’re concerned about the longevity of your homemade stickers, seal your designs with two or three coats of clear acrylic spray.

If you want to make stickers of family photographs, a child’s artwork, or other memorabilia, try making your own homemade sticker glue. Simply boil two tablespoons of vinegar, one packet of unflavored gelatin, and a small amount of vanilla extract. Brush this mixture on the back of your paper and let it air dry. When your homemade stickers are re-moistened, they’ll adhere to almost any surface.