Hello everyone! It's been about 6 months since I wrote up my first blog post talking about my process on how I make my prints and stickers at home, and since then I've slightly changed how I cut my stickers. So in this post, I'll be going over my updated process!

I won't be going in depth on materials here because nothing has really changed, but ONE thing did change. I upgraded my old Cricut Explore Air to the Cricut Explore Air 2 (in cherry blossom pink!) The reason why I upgraded was because my old one that I got 4 years ago (2016) started having connectivity issues through both the cable and Bluetooth. So every time I would cut a sheet, it would disconnect and I would have to restart the whole cutting process again which is a pain.  Especially with my updated new cutting process which I'll get into shortly. 

The upgrade is nice and all, but it still does the same thing as my old Cricut. So if my old one still worked and connected properly, I'd still be using it. I think the port for the cable was faulty so I tried getting a Bluetooth adapter and cutting through that. That also didn't work very well, so my decision on getting a newer updated model came with the spring sale that Cricut had and I was able to get my new one with a discount!

That is all that has changed regarding materials. If you're interested in the materials I use and also process for my prints and stickers, please check out my past blog post here: CLICK ME :)

Now let's get into my updated cutting process!

Firstly I'd like to preface the steps with some thoughts of mine. I call this my KISSCUT-DIECUT stickers because it's like a hybrid of both cuts in one sticker, and it's also straight to the point lol. I was never too much of a sticker-sheet fan since it took some time to align things nicely AND it took up soo much space on my sticker paper. I think I would get a good 2 sticker-sheets out of a letter sized (8.5x11 inches) sheet of sticker paper. Don't get me wrong, sticker-sheets are really nice and it keeps all your designs together — especially if you have A LOT of small stickers like for planners or something. Then you wouldn't have a bunch of little sticker flakes all around you.

But for my personal preference and, I guess sticker style, it was better for me to cut them out all individually and it also maximizes the space on my sticker paper. Meaning that I could fit and cut more of the same design on the same sized sheet of sticker paper.

In this updated process I will also be using my strawberry painting as an example for visual aid!
​I'll be starting off this process for AFTER you have your sticker drawn, illustrated or designed and saved as a .png file. This is my process, but it'll be written out with a more tutorial feel to it!

Let's start.

• For the KISSCUT-DIECUT stickers that I make are 2 different files that are saved onto my computer and Cricut design space.
• In the image below, I have my original illustration of the strawberry that I want to turn into a sticker. I give it a white border (or you can use any color border you'd like) which will be my KISSCUT outline.
  • If you were to make DIECUT stickers only, then it would just be a DIECUT outline instead and you'll only have that file you can work with.
• But if you are wanting to make the KISSCUT-DIECUT version that I make, I make another outline that will be labelled as the DIECUT outline. Which is in the third image to the far right. Make sure it's a good width away from the KISSCUT line so that the cuts are not too close together.
• I make the outlines around my illustration with the "Figure" tool in Clip Studio Paint EX with the "Continuous curve" tool in the sub tool tab. Alternatively, you can also just use the pen tool and draw it yourself but I find the tool more useful and consistent all around.

And that is all for my updated sticker cutting process! I hope it was easy to understand and that it was helpful to anyone who checks this post out. ;w; <3 Also if you're interested in more info regarding Prints and Stickers, please check out my past blog post here: CLICK ME :)

​Here are some stickers that I've made using this process, you can see there's a small border around them which makes it easy to peel! (: Also if you can, please check out my online shop here where you can also grab these stickers for yourself!! SHOP: twirlyful.com

Hello everyone! My name is Twirly and I like to make prints and stickers at home. I get some questions about how I make them and I usually end up giving a *short* answer, “I print on sticker paper and cut it with a silhouette machine and there you go”. Mostly because I can’t really get in depth at a moment’s notice when asked suddenly. This usually occurs during my streams on Twitch. I don't mean to sound or be dismissive, but it's just a lot of information for me to personally recall and relay back in a way that's understandable, clear and helpful. It's technically not a wrong answer, but I can see that it's kind of underwhelming for those who want a bit more information. 

Well, in today’s post, I’ll be going way more in depth on my process for those who are curious and who have asked in the past. It can also serve as a reference, mostly for me if I get asked again lol, and for those who are interested in trying it out. Disclaimer; My aim isn't really to make a 'guide' or 'tutorial', I just wanted to share my process. This is just how I personally make them, I'm sure there are a lot of different methods and techniques out there that can be just as helpful. But I hope this information that I can provide helps out and gives a little more insight on how I make these things at home!

I’ll be organizing this information into 3 main sections:

• Materials - What I use + blurbs
• Process - How/What I do
• Extra Thoughts

Alrighty, let’s go. :^)


✧ Materials ✧

TL;DR for materials : https://www.amazon.com/shop/twirlyful

The main items I use for creating stickers and prints at home are . . .

• Clip Studio Paint (Drawing Software)
• Canon Pixma Pro-100 (Printer)
• Photo Paper Pro: Premium Matte (Print Paper)
• Online Labels Matte & Glossy (Sticker/Label Paper)
• Dahle 15e Vantage Paper Trimmer (Paper Trimmer (for prints))
• Cricut Explore Air (Silhouette Machine (for stickers))
• Matte Scotch Tape (for glossy stickers)

Blurb On Each Item

• Drawing Software: Clip Studio Paint EX

I have CSP EX version, but everything I use in the program is available in the PRO version. I have EX because I wanted to experiment with animation because there’s no limit to how many frames I can have in this version. PRO version caps at 24 frames. If this program is out of your budget, it does go on sale quite often, but feel free to use other programs too, like Procreate, Medibang Paint, etc. 

• Printer: Canon Pixma Pro-100

The Canon Pro 100 is used to print all my homemade prints and stickers. Keep in mind that it uses dye ink rather than pigment ink, and it uses 8 different ink cartridges to print with. If you are looking to make fine art prints that would be archival and long lasting, I’d recommend using a pigment ink printer. But for something like my stickers and prints, I think this ink and printer is fine for me! If this is a concern for you, be sure to research their differences to see what would be right for you.

• Print Paper: Photo Paper Pro: Premium Matte

I like this paper for my prints, you can click the link to check it out on Amazon along with the details of the paper weight, quantity, etc. I think this paper has a good weight to it and the ink is printed out nicely. I've tried glossy/luster paper, but I personally enjoy matte paper the most for my artwork. I personally like glossy/luster paper for photography related prints, but if you're not sure, I recommend trying out a sample pack of different types of paper to see and compare the finishes and to see which one would better suit your artwork!

• Sticker Paper: Online Labels (Matte & Glossy)

I like to use the matte sticker paper for my packaging usually. Like the “Don’t Bend” stickers and other labels. Sometimes I like to use them for stickers because I like the matte look in journals, it helps keep the look and feel of the material similar. The glossy sticker paper is usually what I use for most of my stickers and I think the glossy sheen is more pretty and decorative. They are both paper sticker-sheets, so they are not waterproof and are great to decorate journals, planners, and more.

• Paper Trimmer (for prints): Dahle 15e Vantage Paper Trimmer

This paper trimmer is my favorite out of all the ones I’ve had and used so far. I got this in 2017 and it’s really sturdy and well built, the cuts come out clean (I usually cut one sheet at a time even though the description says it can cut up to 15 sheets at a time) and the clamp helps hold the sheet in place. I’ve had the paper trimmer (the one with a sliding blade) and the cuts weren’t really crisp and I’d have to replace the blades many times which got kind of expensive. I’ve also had regular guillotine type paper trimmer (without a clamp) and sometimes when cutting, the blade would pull the sheet and I wouldn’t get a straight cut and the paper would be bent sometimes.

• Silhouette Machine (for stickers): Cricut Explore Air

I don’t believe this model is on Amazon or the Cricut website anymore, so I linked to a newer model! I believe I got mine in 2016, it's getting kind of old but it still cuts pretty well! This video helped me choose which cutter to get at the time of research and reviewing in 2016: https://youtu.be/aox_OHb-d8o Initially, I got it to help me out with my art projects during my time in university which involved A LOT of paper cutting (usually with the x-acto knife which can be a literal pain), but now I mainly use it to cut out my stickers!

• Matte Scotch Tape (for glossy stickers)

If I’m using glossy sticker paper, I put matte scotch tape on certain spots on the sensor lines where the machine tries and read them. This helps remove the glare from the glossy sheen and helps the light sensor on the machine to read/detect where the lines are. If the sensor lines are misread, then your cut might be misaligned! Before I started using this tape method, I would align a regular printed sheet of paper and put it on top of sticker sheet for it to read the lines and it didn't turn out so well sometimes: click for example! It was also really difficult to align the sheet on top, you had to be very precise so the cut isn't misaligned!! I barely learned about this recently, but hopefully it'll help out for those who are also having trouble with glossy sheets not being read correctly.

✧ Process ✧

Prints

• I start drawing in Clip Studio Paint/Procreate on an A4 or letter sized canvas and adjust from there.
• After finishing the artwork, I like to adjust them to the appropriate print size. I usually like to stick with 4x6 inch prints, but because I have a larger version I can also make letter sized prints if I wanted to.
• I save the file as a .png file and then it’s ready to print.
  • I’m not too well versed in printing, like converting to CMYK or saving in different file formats. But this works fine for me!
• I use image garden software on the computer to send the print design to my Canon Pixma Pro-100.
• Then the artwork is printed onto the matte print paper.
• If multiple prints are printed on one sheet, I use my paper trimmer to cut down to size.
• Then my prints are done!

Stickers

• I start drawing in Clip Studio Paint/Procreate. I don’t really have a size preference for my canvas when it comes to stickers, but my minimum is 500x500 pixels.
• After finishing the artwork, I outline it (making the cutline) with the continuous line tool in CSP (or you can manually draw it with the pen tool) and save it as a .png file for transparency. 
• After the sticker design is saved, I upload it to the Cricut Design Space on the cricut website.
• From here on out, everything is done through Cricut Design Space.
• I upload my image as a “print and cut” sticker and resize it in the design space.
• After adjusting the stickers the way I want it, I either save the project for later or start printing and cutting right away.
• When I’m ready to print and cut my stickers, I go through Cricut’s website which is guided and self-explanatory.
• I’m given the option to print the design (I print on either matte/glossy sticker paper depending on what I’m making), and once it’s printed you put it onto the cricut adhesive cutting mat.
  • The adhesive on the mat makes sure that the sheet does not move around during the cutting process.
  • I could also print the sheets beforehand without having to cut. So I'd just have the sheets ready to cut another day if I'm just having a print-only day. This usually happens when I'm up late and I don't want the Cricut machine being loud at night.​
    • If doing this, make sure to have saved the project that you printed. You'll be able to go back to that project, open it up and there's an option called "I've already printed". When clicked, it let's you skip printing and you go straight into cutting.
• If I’m using glossy sticker paper, I put matte scotch tape on certain spots on the sensor lines where the machine tries and read/detect them. See where your machine scans for lines, note it down and that's where you'll have to put the tape down.
  • This step helps remove the glare from the glossy sheen so it's not blinding the scanner. It helps the machine read/detect where the lines are.
  • For matte sticker paper, I just put it on the mat and load it up to the machine. No tape needed.
• Before loading the mat, I make sure the dial is set to cardstock + so the blade can cut all the way through the sticker paper to make die-cut stickers.
  • If I want to make kiss-cut stickers (usually for repeated "Do not bend" labels for my envelopes) I have the dial set to vinyl.
• Then I load the mat into my Cricut, start the cutting process, it scans the sensor lines and starts cutting the stickers out.
  • ​From what I've noticed, if you hear your machine scan TWICE or three times consecutively (one right after another) instead of once, your machine might have trouble detecting the lines. ​This could lead to misaligned cuts.
  • Make sure that your light source isn't too dark or too bright so it can have an easier time reading the lines. If using tape, make sure you covered a good enough area of the line. If this doesn't help, I'm not sure what issue you could be facing.
• After it’s done cutting, I unload the mat and use a spatula to help remove the sticker from the mat.
• Then my stickers are done!

✧ Extra Thoughts ✧

After writing all this down, I realized there's so much more than just drawing, printing and cutting. I know I give that as my short answer most of the time whenever I get asked, but keep in mind that I can't really recall all this information short-noticed and to relay all this to someone can be a bit much. There's just so much that goes into it and to take note of, but my process is definitely not an end all be all. But if I were to give a full and proper answer, this is pretty much it.

I really enjoy making prints and stickers at home. Having control on how things are printed and made is really helpful, usually for testing. I get to see how the colors are printed and test out sizes with the stickers. It’s also great for making the quantity that you need, so you won’t overstock, and printing on demand for when you need it.

Since I make these at home, I use regular sticker paper which isn’t too durable against water. They're nice to decorate your journal/planner with, but probably won't withstand being on something like a car or the back of your phone. (Unless the sticker is inside the case, that's a different matter.)

There is also printable vinyl available, but I’ve tried it and it feels kind of flimsy/thin to me so I don't personally gravitate towards it. But if you do like vinyl, a tip to help combat that would be laminating it. This helps add some extra weight and sturdiness and makes it a little bit more resistant to water from the top. But if doing this, remember to adjust your cutting machine so it can cut through the laminated layer!

A con to this "making it at home" process is that there is an initial investment into getting some of these materials and equipment. I was able to save up for some of the items and also spaced out my purchases, in the span of years, which made it a little easier to finance them. It also helped me take things one step at a time and to experiment with what I already have. Also be on the look for sales, discounts and promos to help out!

Well, that’s all the info I have for now! I'm sure I probably left out some things that are worth mentioning, and this just looks like a giant wall of text. I might come back to this post to re-touch it, edit and possibly add some photos.

I know this process isn’t for everyone and sometimes things are out of budget and maybe outsourcing might be more beneficial in some situations. Either way, remember to do your research, check reviews, look up some YouTube videos on how other artists create prints (there's quite a lot out there now that are really helpful!!) and compare your pros and cons to see what is right for you. 

With whatever process you think you want to do or try out, I hope this information is helpful, answered some questions you might've had or satisfied your curiosity on how I make my prints and stickers at home. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post and good luck!! TT u TT <3

- twirly (: