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Thursday, September 8, 2011

Create Vinyl Letters & Monograms WITHOUT a Machine!




For months now, I have walked by an aisle at Hobby Lobby that displays all of the fabulous vinyl papers made specifically for a Cricut and other machines and I can't help but drool. You see, I'm Cricut-less {GASP}! I know, it's tragic... A crafty chica like me should be chirping away on a fancy Cricut, but no, not me... I have never made the investment because I'm afraid my family would never see me again and I just know that I would go broke buying every accessory that they make.

I just couldn't help myself and I decided to buy a roll of black vinyl just to play with it and see if I could make vinyl letters and monograms without a machine. Well, it worked and the possibilities are endless!

This technique involves cutting with small scissors or an exacto knife, so small intricate letters or designs would involve a little extra time. However, this technique is ideal for large letters or large monograms where the cutting is minimal. If you're willing to cut, the sky is the limit!

So I picked up a basic black roll of vinyl paper for die cutting machines made by Paper Studio for $3.50 (it was 50% off at Hobby Lobby). The package contained two large sheets sized 12" x 36" each. That's a lot of vinyl for $3.50! Here is what they look like:




I always keep a supply of full sheet labels (8.5" x 11") at home both in removable and permanent adhesive. I do more projects with this product than anything else. For this technique, I used the removable labels, permanent will not work:





I decided to start with a large wall monogram, just to see if I could make it work. I used the font Modern No. 20 in the largest size I could get on a page in Microsoft Word (hint, go into margins and choose "narrow" for even more space). I then printed it out onto my label paper:





I then unrolled my vinyl paper and turned it over and used a lid from one of my pots to draw a perfect circle:








I cut out my circle and cut out excess space on my label with the letter and removed the backing and attached to the vinyl:





I then started to carefully cut out my letter with small sewing scissors (small scissors give you more precision). You can use an exacto knife too if it works better for you. If you use scissors, you have to cut in from the side but don't worry, you will not see it once you place it together on the wall or item:





When I was done cutting, I removed the white label paper from the top of the vinyl paper (save the inside of the letter because you can use that too for something else):





I then removed the vinyl backing and carefully place on my wall in my bathroom. I used the edge of a credit card to smooth it out:








Keep in mind, if you are using the vinyl on a wall, the wall must have very little to zero texture for it to look flush and good.

Next, I used the inside part of the letter that I cut out from my wall monogram and I placed it on a large metal beverage tub and smoothed out with a credit card:





You can also buy a roll of "transfer paper" (sold next to the vinyl rolls) that you rub onto your letter or monogram to help place/transfer it better on the wall or item. If I do anything more intricate, I will use the transfer paper.


The next thing I wanted to try was to monogram my husband's Yeti. If you do not know what a Yeti is ladies, it is "supposedly" the Rolls Royce of coolers, at least that's what hubby says. All the guys in the neighborhood freaked out and ran and picked up this cooler when it came out. I'm not sure what makes it so special I do know it's bear proof (didn't know we had bears in East Texas). Anyway, it is his pride and joy and I thought I would monogram it since all the guys had one now.

So I printed out hubby's monogram as large as I could on my label paper (I clicked on orientation and switched to landscape). I again placed the label onto the vinyl and cut out the letters. I then placed each letter where I wanted it and rubbed on with a credit card:











Hubby was thrilled to see the monogram. I was a little worried if I would "de-man" it by adding the monogram but he seemed excited about it. I used the font "Batang" for the monogram in the largest size font I could get on the page (orientated to landscape).

I cannot wait to now go buy every color of the vinyl and also chalkboard vinyl to make labels too! There are so many different things that you can do with vinyl letters, monogram and images! Just look around on Pinterest and think about using the vinyl letters for personalized holiday gifts too! I love the vinyl monograms on glass large candle holders and you can't go wrong with painting a canvas and adding a large monogram or letter and giving as a gift!

So many possibilities in getting creative without a machine! I no longer have to drool as I pass the vinyl!

Have a fantastic weekend friends and thank you again for your comments, emails and notes! It means a lot to me to hear your thoughts and feedback!

Cheers!

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40 comments:

  1. This is great! The removable label idea was genius.

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  2. You are so talented!!
    Linda Durham

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  3. CHEAP, CHEAP vinyl at Expressions Vinyl...that's where I buy mine. You can buy it by the sheet in 1000 different colors (outdoor, indoor, speciality) and the shipping isn't bad...plus once you sign up for their free newsletter you start getting TONS of coupon codes! Just FYI on purchasing the vinyl.

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  4. Thank you Linda!! and I think you're pretty fabulous! Thanks ladies for the sweet comments and thank you so much for the great advice on where to buy vinyl! I'm heading there now!
    Cheers!
    Cyndy

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  5. Yay! I love vinyl, but cannot buy a machine because my entire house (and my children!) would be monogrammed... Thanks for the tips!

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  6. I too have been down the isles @ Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Walmart, you name it. Why does NO one sell pre-cut vinyl lettering!
    I am gonna try this, thanks for the tip!!!

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  7. Great idea! I too am vinyl cutter machine-less. everyone makes it look so fun and now we can join in too, without the machine! YEA!

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  9. I see there is a bunch of us Cricket-less ladies just hanging out and waiting to share the vinyl love! So glad that you guys can use this technique! Thanks for stopping by ladies!

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  10. I've recently started struggling with Cricket / Silhouette envy! Thanks for ideas.

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  11. What a great idea. I'll have to keep this in mind when I'm drooling over final letters again.

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  12. I can just imagine I would think... "just a couple of vinyl monograms here and there... that will satisfy me..."... and then a heck would break loose! Great technique Cyndy!

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  13. Great tip!! I'm excited to try this out. I started laughing when I saw the picture of your husbands "yeti". My husband had to have one, too. I became a big believer in it after our family vacation to Colorado. It kept everything frozen for days.....WOW!! It rode in the back of our truck in triple digit weather and it worked like a charm.
    ~Dana

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  14. Great tutorial! I have wondered about this for a long time, but was worried the vinyl would pull or stretch with cutting if it wasn't done by a machine. I'm going to try this ASAP!

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  15. love this tutorial because I don't have a machine and am too cheap to get one! but love vinyl!
    thanks!

    come link this up to scrappy saturdays @ candacecreations.blogspot.com

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  16. I love this!!! I don't have a cricut either and will definitely be doing this now :) I would love to have you share this at my Shabby Shares Saturday link party over at http://rustic-crafts.com

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  17. This is great!!! I,too, am Cricutless. I have wanted one but it's definitely not in the budget. Thanks for sharing this amazing idea.

    Ruth

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  18. love it love it love it!!!
    so i've pinned!!
    thanks for sharing this.
    cheryl xox.

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  19. I am Silhouetteless too, same thing as Cricutless I think. I like the way you think. I have been getting VAT tape from my retail display friends. It does what the large labels do to make vinyls. Using the labels is brilliant and will be much easier for me to get.
    I am going to link this post to my DIY page on my blog. It is so very clever!!
    My best- Diane

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  20. THANK YOU! I also am cutting-machine-less and now it doesn't matter :)

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  21. Yes a cutting machine would be fantastic but this is a great alternative. Lynda

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  22. Aren't you the clever girl! I too always look at those projects wistfully since I don't have a machine either, but now I can consider them. I love the letter A on the bucket.

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  23. Thank you, I'm cricutless too, giggle. This is a great way to use the vinyl. Love it. I love the tub! Hugs

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  24. You know, I was just standing in the same place yesterday wondering if I REALLY needed the machine to work with vinyl. Thanks for the great tips.

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  25. ahhh...the trials of the cricut-less.
    i, too, can feel your pain.
    but i love that you were all "what's up NOW, cricut? me and my xacto knife got you beat!"
    awesome.
    your monograms are perfection.

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  26. You guys are cracking me up! Thank you all!!
    Cyndy

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  27. Love this idea! Yours looks great, cant wait to give it a go!

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  28. It looks really awesome. gave me idea to mark my stuff like this so that my lil sister wont get on to my side of room

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  29. That is brilliant! I am going to do this! Thanks for sharing the tutorial!
    I would love to have you link up with Creative Me Monday at The Southern Institute! My linky party runs all week long. Here's the link:

    http://www.thesoutherninstitute.com/2011/09/creative-me-monday.html?utm_source=BP_recent

    Hope to see you there!

    Jenny

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  30. Love! I'm Cricut-less, too and I had to choose between a sewing maching and die cut machine, so passed on the die cutter. Thanks for the tip!

    Denise H.

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  31. GREAT idea! I too do not have a Cricut or any die cut machine so I appreciate you figuring this out for us 'less fortunate ones' haha!

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  32. me again stopping by to invite you join me at my first ever Thursday Favorites blog hop. Stop by and link up your lovely blog. Hugs

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  33. This is pure genius! Thanks so much for the detailed tutorial. I, too, drool over the "machines." Can't wait to try this.

    Visiting from DIY by Design. Following you now. :)

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  34. Thanks so much for sharing! I have to try this!!

    ~Courtney~

    love2sisters@gmail.com

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  35. This is AMAZING - love it and can't wait to try it out because I don't have a fancy cutting machine either! : )

    -Mel the Crafty Scientist

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  36. P.S. I'm your newest follower and can't wait to explore your blog more!

    -Mel the Crafty Scientist

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  37. Hi! Love it! I've also run a sheet of paper sized contact paper through the printer upside down and printed backwards. Then I cut out the letters and got the same result as you did! Nice job!
    Susan

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  38. What a great idea, I keep looking at those machines, but I'm not sure how much I will use them...I like this idea...thanks for sharing...

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  39. Awesome! I so badly want to do this, I have a million decor ideas but I don't want to spend the money on a cricut. Thanks for the tutorial. And i have never heard of the yeti.

    Blessings,
    Mel
    Please feel free to stop by: Trailing After God

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  40. Hi does this work if you wanted to stick in on the inside of the glass in a frame. Thanks x

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