Create your own stencils

Today I am going to show you how I got the names on all my caddy's. If you didn't see all my caddy pictures - check them out here.

So first - I need a die cutting machine (I am too lazy for stencils).  I have a Cricut, so that is what I used.  So I used that.  I set my dials to a blade depth of 3 or 4.  Then I did a pressure of Medium (3), and the speed based on how delicate the cut is.  Mine wasn't bad - so I set it to high.  Instructions do come with the vinyl.  Follow them.

So below - you will see what it looks like after the cut.  They do sell transfer material specifically for vinyl.  If you have read my blog - you know I am cheap...no...not cheap - thrifty!  So - that stuff can get expensive - so I bought clear contact paper.  I cut my transfer paper to the same size as each word I cut out and was ready to go.

Here you can see a little shine on the vinyl, that is the contact paper.  Then rub it down with a credit card, Popsicle stick, anything really.

Then depending on what you want to do - you start to peel up the letters.  I wanted to paint the words on the caddys.  So I lifted the outside of the letters.  You can see what's stuck to the contact paper - that is what I will put on the caddy.  What is left on the original is left over.  (Good thing for me - you will see my craft fail in a bit!) You could also do it the opposite if you wanted the vinyl to be what gets stuck to the caddy.

Here you will see it ready to adhere to the caddy. It's stuck to the contact paper - this makes it a smooth transfer - trust me!  If you have tried it without a tranfer medium - it is an ugly un-smooth mess!

Here is the vinyl stuck to the caddy - ready to be painted.  Make sure you stick it on good.  Rub with a credit card, or your finger - make sure it is sealed tight around where you will be painting. 

Then - pick a paint color and put on a coat at a time.  I just used acrylic paints, and a cheap foam brush. 

Here is another one, you can see the air bubble between the H and the a. 

My assembly line set up of paint.  When it is dry - peel up the vinyl and you are ready to go.  If the paint isn't dry - it can leave some paint where you don't want it to be.

Finished product with paint. 

You will notice this one - not the original green I painted - but the same purple as the vinyl - ok - it is the vinyl. 

Here are some lessons learned and suggestions.

1. If you can- use a cutting program to work out your names.  I used Sure-cuts-a-lot (I also have the gypsy for the cricut, and cricuts software - they both work as well).  I could see my 12x12 mat, and lay out exactly how I wanted it to be cut.  I measure my wood - and figured out I wanted it cut 4 inch high by 10 in wide.  So they were all pretty uniform, no matter if there was 7 letters or 4.
2. If you can and have it - use a thicker paint than acrylics if you don't have a lot of time (or patience).  The lighter color acrylics took a lot of coats, because they went on thin.  But - it's cheaper and you can get a lot more colors!
3. My big craft fail and lesson learned.  Don't use too many different types of paint.  I used a gloss spray paint, then an acrylic paint, and then a semi-gloss on top of that.  I went to peel off the vinyl - and guess what - yup - you got it - the paint peeled off to...Sigh....So I peeled off all of it, and used the actual vinyl instead.  Thankfully it happened on a girls one that I could use the purple, and not a boys one I would have had to start all over.  I hate wasting stuff, not to mention time, it was Saturday night when I finished them and I didn't want to paint again.