Coloring Stickers Using Cricut Printable Vinyl

If you love adding a personal touch to your projects, coloring your own stickers can be a fun and creative way to make them truly unique. While it's sometimes nice to to just print off pre-made stickers, coloring them yourself gives you the chance to choose your own colors, experiment with different styles, and create something that reflects your personality. Plus, it's a relaxing and enjoyable activity for unwinding after a busy day! With a little creativity, you can turn simple designs into something special and one-of-a-kind!

Materials:

I’m using Cricut’s Printable Waterproof Sticker Set, which comes with 6 sheets of printable vinyl and 6 sheets of clear laminating vinyl. But if you prefer, you can always swap in your favorite Cricut Sticker Paper or Printable Vinyl.

I tried coloring my stickers with both permanent alcohol-based markers (like Sharpies or art markers) and watercolor paint, and both worked great. I also experimented with Prismacolor Premier colored pencils, and those performed well too. Just be sure to use the laminating sheet to protect the surface of the stickers if you choose watercolor paint or colored pencils.

You can use the Cricut Joy Xtra, as well as any Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore machine, with these products. Just keep in mind that you'll need a compatible Cutting Mat to work with the sticker materials.

Directions:

I created my coloring designs in Cricut Design Space. There are tons of "coloring page" designs available for free with Cricut Access, so I just searched for mandalas and simple zentangle designs - basically anything that would print as a simple line drawing you can color. I made my stickers about 3 inches in diameter. When you're picking your designs, remember to consider the size since some of them might get too complicated when scaled down to a small sticker.

Make sure to set up each design as a sticker, so it’s ready for Print Then Cut. Pick your border width and decide how you want the stickers to be cut - either all the way through the backing or just a kiss cut.

Arrange the designs so they fit within the printable area for Print Then Cut, and then Attach all the designs that can fit on one page. This helps keep them in the right orientation, especially since you might not be cutting the project right after printing.

Follow the steps in Design Space to make your project. Send each page of designs to your home inkjet printer. Instead of using the paper tray, feed the printable vinyl into the printer one sheet at a time. The printer will add registration marks as a black border, which helps the machine line everything up when you go to cut out the stickers.

Now for the fun part! Color your stickers with your favorite markers, paints, or colored pencils. Let any paint you use dry, then apply the laminating sheet over the printable vinyl. The laminating sheet has a strip at the top where you can peel off a small section of the adhesive backing to line it up on top. Once the top is in place, you can remove the rest of the backing and smooth the sheet down to seal everything.

Next, head back to Cricut Design Space to have your Cricut machine cut them out. Carefully place the laminated vinyl in the top left corner of your cutting mat. You might be asked to calibrate your machine for Print Then Cut. If that happens, just follow the steps in the on-screen prompts (which are also outlined in this blog post).

You can use your stickers to decorate notebooks, laptops, phone cases, or even make personalized gift tags and cards. They’re also great for scrapbooking, journaling, or adding a fun touch to your planner. If you're into crafting, these stickers are perfect for adding a pop of color to DIY projects. Since they're made with your own artwork, you can create unique designs that reflect your personal style and creativity. 

Do More with Print Then Cut:

You’ve got the hang of making custom-colored stickers, so why not take it up a notch? Try out different materials like printable iron-on transfers, sticker paper, or even printable magnet sheets. You could make a custom t-shirt with printable iron-on transfers, create a personalized money holder gift with sticker paper, or design cool party bottle labels.

Kids Birthday Tee Using Cricut Printable Iron-on

Money Holder Gift Using Cricut Printable Sticker Paper

Party Bottle Labels Using Cricut Waterproof Sticker Set