Using transfer tape with vinyl decals

March 19, 2011 at 5:00 am | Posted in crafts, Cricut | 7 Comments
Tags: evenly spaced vinyl lettering, transferring vinyl from cricut mat, using transfer tape

Transfer tape is a wonderful invention!  It can be used to move vinyl decals, stickers, or paper piecing – the tape keeps your design perfectly lined up, and allows you to see exactly where it will be placed.  Personalized Christmas ornaments look so much nicer with the letters lined up neatly.  And transfer tape is relatively inexpensive – I paid $14 for a 300ft roll of 6″ tall clear industrial grade transfer tape.  (Clear contact paper is an acceptable substitute that is more expensive per square inch, but easier to find and available in smaller amounts.)  {UPDATE: This is a great way to transfer vinyl.  Vinyl will just wash off of a coffee mug though, so don’t transfer your vinyl to a coffee mug 🙂  }

To start with, you will need a vinyl decal.  I designed and cut my image using computer software and my cricut machine.  You will need to peel away the extra vinyl so that only your design remains.  (If you would like to purchase a custom vinyl decal visit my etsy shop or contact me.)

If you are using stickers, you can line them up on a piece of waxed paper or parchment – I prefer parchment since nothing sticks to it.    I accidentally transferred my penciled guidelines a few times, so if you need a guide line draw or print it on a separate piece of paper and place it beneath the waxed paper.

Cut a piece of transfer tape a little larger than the image – you don’t want a lot of excess tape around the edge of your design.  Rub the tape down onto the vinyl using your finger, or something flat and smooth like the lid of a glue stick.

Make sure that the object you are transferring onto is ready.  Lift the transfer tape starting in one corner, leaving the backing behind and just lifting the image.  If you notice a portion getting left behind, rub the tape back onto that area and bend the backing paper as you lift that section.

Center your design on the object you are decorating.  Since the transfer tape is see through, it is easy to line things up.

Place the decal on the object, starting at one side and gently smoothing it down to the other side.  Rub the decal onto the object.

Slowly pull the transfer tape off of the object, making sure that the vinyl is left behind.

And you are done!  Sit back and admire your perfectly spaced and centered lettering.