How to Use Vinyl for Crafting

Every once in a while, it’s good to revisit the basics and remind ourselves that the simplest technique can result in the most impressive projects.

One of my go-to crafting materials for simple-yet-stunning crafting is ….drumroll, please…vinyl!

For years, vinyl was one of those material that confused me and intimidated me. I avoided using it with my Cricut machine and stuck to what I knew…which was usually paper.

Fast forward to the moment when specialty vinyls started showing up…and I was immediately sucked in. Give me a brushed metal or holographic finish, and I’ll be your best friend for life! I’m willing you guess you may feel the same way! Or maybe you’re a vinyl pro and you just need a little inspiration for how to use up your growing stash. As always, I’ve got you!

Make sure you Pin this project to your crafting Pinterest board so you have it to reference back to!

First things first, let’s talk about vinyl and where you can find lots of it. Yep. You guessed it…JOANN. You already know my love of all things JOANN, so it was only a matter of time before I started talking vinyl.

Recently JOANN released their own house line of vinyls that you can find in the exact same aisle with the Cricut products. You’re going to flip for all the colors and finishes available in JOANN vinyl and how they work seamlessly with all the Cricut vinyl that we know and love. My favorite feature of the JOANN rolls is that they offer lots of finishes for the same color. This means, my all-red, monochromatic holiday decor can have a touch of sparkle and sophistication by using the Crimson Glitter, Crimson Brushed Metal and Crimson Laser vinyls. All the same color, but slightly different finishes.

HOW TO CUT AND APPLY YOUR VINYL

I love using vinyl with my Cricut Maker. You DO NOT have to do this, though. You can absolutely cut your vinyl with scissors, a craft knife or paper punches to create your own custom design. If you wont’ be using a Cricut with your vinyl, scroll down to Step 4.

CLICK HERE FOR THE BORDER DESIGNS I USED FOR THIS PROJECT

STEP 2:

Place vinyl onto your Cricut cutting mat.

STEP 3:

Cut the design from vinyl then use a weeding tool to remove all the excess.

CLICK HERE FOR THE BORDER DESIGNS I USED FOR THIS PROJECT

STEP 4:

Now it’s time to apply the vinyl to your surface. For this project, I’m using some simple vases I grabbed from the JOANN floral department.

For the application, you’ll need some Cricut Transfer Tape.

Not all transfer tapes are created equal! Don’t grab the first one you see! You’ll want to make sure it works for the project you are doing.

Standard Transfer Tape: This stuff is going to be your go-to for MOST vinyl application.

Strong Grip Transfer Tape: I’ve found this is a must have when working with glittery vinyls. Since glitter vinyl has a texture to it, you’ll need a little extra adhesive on your transfer tape for the glitter vinyl to properly stick into place.

STEP 5:

Place the transfer tape directly onto your vinyl design and rub with a bone folder…your fingers also work find too!

CLICK HERE FOR THE BORDER DESIGNS I USED FOR THIS PROJECT

STEP 6:

Peel back the transfer tape and you’ll see that your design is stuck to it!

STEP 7:

Place your vinyl design on to the surface and rub into place. Peel back the transfer tape and you’ll see that the vinyl is perfectly adhere to your pretty new vase!