How to apply Self Adhesive Vinyl to your project

Adding self adhesive vinyl to your projects make them personalised and unique. It's such an easy thing to do and in this blog I will explain all you need to know on how to apply self adhesive vinyl to your project.

To add vinyl to your project you will need the following items:

Items that I used in my project: Cricut maker, Standard grip mat, Black self adhesive vinyl, transfer tape, ruler, scissors, weeding tool, burnishing tool and brown scrap book

Self Adhesive Vinyl

Cricut maker

Fine point blade

Standard grip cutting mat

Weeding tool

Transfer tape

Scrap book

DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.

Choosing the design

To get started choose the design that you wish to use. This can either be designed by yourself or a design that has been purchased from somewhere like design bundles.

Once you have the design head over to design space. Click on new project and that will take you to a new blank canvas.

For this project I’m just going to be adding a vinyl design saying “making memories one campsite at a time” onto the front of a scrap book.

Getting Started

Design space screen showing upload button

Decide on the design that you want to use and download the file to your computer. Head over to design space and click on new project. Click on the upload button on the left hand side of your screen. This will take you to the next screen where you can click on upload image.

Design space screen showing recent uploads

Click on upload image and you will see another screen appear, click on browse to locate the file you wish to upload. 

Design space screen showing options for uploading files, Drag and drop file here or browse

Next click on the file you want to use and you will see it appear in the recent uploads.

Showing all the files that can be selected and uploaded
Showing the selected file I will be using

Once you have selected your design you will see it on the prepare to upload screen so you can check its the right design. Click on upload if the design is correct.

The prepare to upload screen showing my design

Your design will now be in recent uploads. Click on the design and you will see a green box appear around the design.

Click on Add to canvas and your design will then appear on your canvas.

Upload screen showing the design that we have just uploaded

Your image should now be on your canvas

Our design on the design space canvas

Getting the size right

Measuring the front of the scrap book with a ruler width ways
Measuring the front of the scrap book with a ruler. Measuring the height

Measured the size of your scrapbook. My scrap book was 8” by 8” so I made my design a maximum size of 7” x 8”. This will allow room for the ribbon.

To change the size of the design you can do this 2 ways. The first way is to use the sizing handle in the bottom right corner of your design. Click on it and move it until the design is the right size.

The design on the canvas and resized to fit on the front of the scrap book

The other way is to click on the width and height box at the top of the canvas and alter the size accordingly. The padlock in the middle means that they will both change in proportion unless you click on the padlock and this will allow you to change the height and width to the exact size you require. 

All the design highlighted ready to be attached

Whilst all the design is selected click on attach in the bottom right corner. This will attach all your design together so it cuts as one design.

Let's get making!

Once your design is the correct size, we are now ready to cut the vinyl. To prepare the vinyl onto the mat you should place the heat transfer vinyl shiny side down and press firmly onto the mat. Load the mat into your Cricut by using the arrow button. 

Vinyl on the standard grip mat being loaded into the cricut

Now the mat is ready head back over to design space and click on the make it button in the top right hand corner.

The canvas showing the design and the make it button being pressed

This will take you to the next screen where it will show you the prepared mat and your design on the mat. This is how the maker will cut the design. 

The design on the mat screen showing us how the design will be cut out

Head over to the continue button in the bottom right corner.

The continue button being pressed on the mat screen

Selecting the materials

Select the material you wish to cut.  If you need to search for your materials then click on browse all materials and this will show you all the materials that the cricut can cut. I personally use premium vinyl as it gives consistent results.

Design space screen asking us to set the materials we wish to use. I have selected premium vinyl

Once you have selected your material you have the option to alter the pressure. To get the best cut possible change the pressure from default to more. Change the pressure by just clicking on the box and it will drop down the options. 

Setting the cutting pressure. I have selected more.

Once the cut has finished, press the flashing arrow button and release the mat.

To remove the vinyl, flip the mat over and peel the mat away from the back of the vinyl. This will prevent the vinyl from curling up.

Removing the vinyl from the cutting. mat

Trim around the edges of your design to save excess vinyl for another project and to save time weeding. Begin to weed out all the unneeded vinyl, all you will be left with is your design. 

Trimming down the cut design to save time weeding

Time to add your design

For the final stage we now need to add your design onto the scrapbook. Cover your design with the transfer tape.

The cut and weeded design

Burnish the design well so it transfers onto the transfer tape.

Adding transfer tape to the front of the design

Peel off the backing from your design and your design should be on the transfer tape.

Removing the backing from the design to leave the design on the transfer tape

Line up your design on the front of the book.

Placing the design on the front of the scrap book

Once you are happy with the placement of the design, apply the vinyl and burnish well.

Burnishing down the design onto the scrap book

Carefully start to remove the transfer tape from the vinyl. I like to do this slowly starting in the corner.

Removing the transfer tape from the front of the design to leave the design on the scrap book

This is a great beginners project and these scrap books make great gifts. 

If you enjoyed this blog on how to apply self adhesive vinyl to your project and would like to watch how I made it just click on the video below.

Please take a look at my other blogs:

How to burn pictures into wood

How to apply HTV with a cricut heat press

See you soon

Lisa x

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