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What Are the Best Tips for Making DIY Stickers?

Anna B. Smith
Anna B. Smith

When making DIY stickers, crafters can choose from a wide variety of adhesive material to create the item's permanent backing, and should consider waterproofing the final product to protect their artwork. Stickers can be made at home using many simple ingredients found around the house, or tools commonly available in art supply stores. These DIY creations are often less expensive than purchasing pre-made stickers, and can be used as a means of demonstrating an artist's personal design skills. The method chosen for making these unique designs often depends on the size, shape, and difficulty of the image being used.

Any type of spreadable adhesive can be used to coat the back of the printed paper to turn it into a sticker. A common mixture for this solution can be made from one part vinegar to two parts white all-purpose glue. The ingredients should be thoroughly combined and painted lightly onto the back of the printed surface. A sponge brush tends to work best for creating DIY stickers because it leaves an even layer of glue without creating raised brush strokes, which can appear later through the surface of the sticker.

Man with hands on his hips
Man with hands on his hips

Once the adhesive has been allowed to dry, the DIY stickers can be flattened for several hours prior to use. Heavy books tend to provide the flattest surface for this type of project, without creating unwanted permanent indentations in the stickers. The stickers must be flattened prior to applying any protective elements to the front of the design, to prevent bubbles, streaks, and raised areas in the finished product.

It is important to waterproof DIY stickers to prolong their lifespan and the integrity of the printed design. Waterproofing can be accomplished in a variety of ways, and typically involves coating the printed sticker surface with a protective material prior to activating the adhesive on the back. Clear packing tape may be used to cover small stickers, and clear or opaque contact papers can be used on larger designs. Whichever protective material is chosen, it should be able to cover the entire sticker design without requiring an overlapping second layer. Moisture and other elements can seep between overlapping lines and damage the design underneath.

Simple designs can be turned into DIY stickers quickly using image transfer techniques or specially designed sticker printer paper. Image transfer is the process of adhering the ink of a design to a new surface, without permanently affixing the material it was printed on. To accomplish this, home crafters can print out their favorite designs on standard printer paper, limiting them in size to that of the width of clear packing tape. The printed design can then be pressed against the tape, and wet with a damp cloth from behind. After soaking for a few minutes, the paper can be removed and the design will remain on the tape, which can be used as a sticker.

Sticker printer paper is available at art supply stores and some office supply stores. This type of paper, which has a peel away adhesive backing, can be fed manually through a home printer, and used to print out favorite designs from the computer or pictures. The stickers may then be waterproofed, or cut out and used as is.

Discussion Comments

Heavanet

@raynbow- You are right, kids love stickers and love making them because this DIY project gives them the opportunity to make them out of pictures of things that they love. There is also a very simple and cheap way to do this project with kids, whether it is during free time or in the classroom.

To get started, gather a bunch of old books, magazines, and newspapers that the kids can use to cut out photos to make the stickers. Next, get several roles of double-sided tape. You can also use paper glue, but the tape is easier to use and less messy in my opinion.

When you get kids together to make DIY stickers, let them look through the books, magazines, and newspapers and cut out pictures that they want to turn into stickers. Place the double-sided tape on the backs of the pictures, and just like that, the kids will have homemade stickers.

If the kids want to save the stickers for later use, you can give them sheets of wax paper to place them on until they are ready to peel them off and use them.

Raynbow

Making DIY stickers sounds like a fun activity for children. Kids love stickers, so I would think that making their own would keep them busy for hours. Does anyone have some ideas for making this project easy and inexpensive for kids?

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