Stencils add detail and dimension to your Cricut projects; you can make them with any Cricut machine, even older models. You can make your stencils with your Cricut machine, but do you know which material you should use to make them? Figuring out the best material for making stencils is long and complicated. Fortunately, this blog can help you save precious time. In this blog, we are going to discuss Stencil vinyl. It is one of the best materials that you can use to make a stencil. Stencil vinyl has many advantages, like affordability, durability, clarity, and availability. It also adheres to wood, paper, canvas, and plastic. You can use it to create various projects we discuss later in this blog.
Difference Between Stencil Vinyl and Reusable Stencils
Stencil vinyl is affordable and easy to use but cannot be reused or washed. With a vinyl stencil, you get a one-and-done transfer with each design on the Cricut machine. Stencil vinyl is self-adhesive, and the whole thing is sticky. With a vinyl stencil, you get cleaner paint lines and less risk of shifting the paint. You can also use any image or font with a vinyl stencil because you will lift the design with transfer tape. You can use something other than interconnected images.
Reusable stencil material can withstand repeated washing in soap and water without wearing off. Unlike vinyl stencils, you have to use interconnected designs with reusable stencils. So, you won’t be able to use just any font with letters; you have to use a stencil font. Stencil vinyl gives you more freedom with your designs, while reusable stencil helps you to save time and money.
Difference between Stencil Vinyl and transfer tape
Stencil vinyl is used as a stencil, and then you use color to fill up the cut-out stencil to create designs. It is meant for one-time use. At the same time, transfer tape is a sticker material used for permanent vinyl. It allows you to peel off the vinyl decal promptly in the proper alignment and paste it onto the surface you are decorating. Transfer tape is essential for any crafter who works with stencil vinyl designs. It makes the whole crafting process much simpler and faster.
Types of Transfer Tape
There are two types of transfer tape- regular tape and strong grip transfer tape. The difference between these two types lies in their gripping strength, with most vinyl materials. Regular transfer tape works well, but if you are using more coarse material, such as glitter vinyl, for your project. Then you need a strong grip transfer tape as you will need extra gripping power to transfer the glitter design. For stencil vinyl, you can use regular transfer tape.
How to cut and weed Stencil Vinyl
If you are a beginner, this tutorial will be very helpful. To keep it simple, you have divided the whole process into simple, easy-to-understand steps. If you follow these steps carefully without skipping, you won’t face any problems and can expect desired results.
- First, install the fine point blade into the machine. Place the stencil vinyl face on the Cricut cutting mat and put it on the Cricut machine.
- From the material, the list picks “stencil vinyl.” The machine will cut it using the fine point blade.
- When the machine is done cutting the material, you can remove it from the machine.
- Remove extra materials around the outside edge of the vinyl design, then head to remove the inside pieces.
- Reverse-weed the design with a weeding tool after removing those extra pieces.
How to stencil with Vinyl stencil
To make a stencil with a vinyl stencil, you will need a few essential items, such as a Cricut machine, acrylic paint, a Cricut scraper, round sponge brushes, Cricut mats, transfer tape, and something to stencil on.
- First, select a design for your stencil or create your design from the ground on the design software.
- Cut the transfer tape slightly bigger than the size you require. Make sure that it is manageable.
- Be careful about preserving the backing paper of the transfer tape. It helps to store it for a longer time.
- Place the transfer tape with its adhesive side down on your vinyl design.
- To burnish your design to the transfer tape, use a Cricut scraper.
- Then carefully peel the transfer tape off the backing paper to ensure your design comes off well.
Stencil Vinyl Project ideas
There are several amazing and cool DIY projects you can create with the help of stencil vinyl. These projects are very easy to create and don’t require much effort and time. They are also very cost-effective, so you won’t have to be worried about putting too much burden on your pockets.
Customizing kid’s water bottles and lunch box
Kids are very much connected to their favorite cartoon characters. So, you can create a label or sticker of their favorite character and stick it on their lunch boxes and water bottles. You can also write the kids’ names on labels to help them identify their lunch boxes and water bottle. These labels and stickers also look good on mason jars and glass bottles. You can upgrade your kids’ toy boxes by adding a label.
Customizing laptop case
To amp up the look of your laptop case, you can create aesthetic-looking designs and stick them on them. Most people use pop culture symbols or quotes such as ‘peace out to give an artistic look to their laptop. Some people also use an image or picture of a well-known celebrity.
FAQs
While using acrylic paint, how to avoid bleeds and smudges?
Stenciling is all about getting crisp results. While using acrylic paint, you must ensure you don’t oversoak your paintbrush and use a dabbing motion instead of a brush stroke motion. Lastly, use foam brushes.
What are the benefits of using stencil vinyl?
Other than being inexpensive and easily available, it does have other benefits. Although it’s not reusable, you can always expect crisp results. Its edges seal the project better than regular vinyl, and the paint won’t seep under the edge, and you will get smudge-free and crisp lines.
What supplies do you need for painting with stencil vinyl?
You will need the following items besides stencil vinyl and the Cricut machine.
- Cricut mat
- Cricut scraper
- Stencil template
- Acrylic paint
- Round sponge brushes
- Transfer tape
- Material on which you will stencil (wood sign, furniture, corkboard, etc.)
