Hey Cricuters! Today I’m excited to share with you the foolproof way of making waterproof stickers using laminate film. If you’ve struggled with applying laminate film before, don’t worry – I’ve discovered the perfect Dollar Tree tool that will make the process a breeze. Let’s dive in! Check out the video below to see my technique for making perfectly laminated stickers!
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What is Laminate Film?
Before we jump into the tutorial, let’s understand what laminate film is. It’s a super-thin, transparent sheet that acts as a protective layer for your stickers. It’s waterproof and self-adhesive, allowing you to create stunning waterproof stickers without the need for a laminator. To be clear, you don’t print on these laminate films. The film goes on top of your stickers as a second layer, providing the waterproof protection desired.
Laminate films are often called different things like overlays, transparent overlays, or laminate vinyl but all of these terms mean the same thing.
Laminate sheets come in various types, such as Crystal Clear for a simple waterproof finish or holographic sheets for a dazzling, colorful effect.
Materials Needed to Make Waterproof Stickers
Let’s start by gathering the materials you’ll need.
- Cricut Machine with print and cut capabilities (Explore Air 2, Explore 3, Maker, Maker 3 or Cricut Joy Xtra)
- Printable vinyl sticker paper
- Inkjet printer, such as the HP ENVY Inspire 7255e Wireless Color Inkjet Printer
- Teckwrap holographic vinyl laminate film
- Blue light grip mat
- Scissors
- Weeding tool (if needed, such as this nice basic tool set)
- Scraper tool (Dollar Tree’s painting shield works wonders)”
My Technique: How To Use Laminate Film
After printing your stickers, the first step is cutting the laminate film to fit inside the registration marks on your paper. To avoid any issues with your Cricut not detecting the registration marks, keep the film inside the marks. Here’s my technique:
- Cut the film to size with the grid lines facing up.
- Peel back about 1 inch of the backing, then align the film just under the registration marks.
- Using a large scraper tool, smoothly press the film onto the sticker paper, ensuring a wrinkle-free application.
I would strongly recommend watching the YouTube tutorial that goes along with this post so you can see this process.
How to Cut Laminated Stickers with Cricut Print then Cut
Once laminated, position the sticker paper in the upper left hand corner on the blue light grip mat and set the material to holographic vinyl in Cricut Design Space. Load the mat into your machine and press the blinking Cricut button to start the cutting process. This method ensures perfectly laminated and cut-out stickers without any issues.
Mistakes to Avoid – What NOT to do when using Sticker Overlays
To save you from potential pitfalls, let’s go over some mistakes I made before perfecting this technique:
- Peeling the laminate off like transfer tape: This doesn’t work; the film folds and sticks to itself.
- Sticking the film to the standard grip mat: The paper backing on the film will stick to the mat, ripping the paper and damaging your mat.
- Sticking the film to the table: May damage your table by peeling up paint or laminate from your table.
Remember, mistakes happen, and it’s all part of the learning process. Watch tutorials like this one before starting a new project to ensure a smooth experience.
Conclusion
There you have it – the perfect method for creating stunning, waterproof stickers every time. If you found this tutorial helpful, give it a thumbs up, subscribe for more Cricut tips, and join our community on Facebook for project ideas and discussions. Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next one!
Looking for something to read next? Find out What’s the Best Printable Sticker Paper to Print On? Or you can Learn what else your Cricut machine can do. Before you become a Cricut expert, learn what not to do in my 10 Biggest Mistakes New Cricut Owners Make article. Or if you’ve already made something beautiful you want to sell, check out How To Get Better Pictures Of Your Cricut Projects Using Product Mockups
