Are you looking for a new pastime? Try making stickers! They're simple to make with materials you probably already have at home, or you can make professional ones using sticky paper available at stationery and fine art stores. Learn how to make stickers in three different ways; with homemade glue, with transparent tape or with sticky paper.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: With Glue
Step 1. Draw the subject
When creating your own stickers, the possibilities are endless in terms of design. Use whatever material you like: colored pencils, markers, crayons, whatever. Make sure, however, that they are not washable colors. Trace the design on a thin sheet of paper, such as on a page detached from a notebook or notepad. Keep these creative options in mind when thinking about your subject:
- Draw a self portrait or a portrait of your friend or pet.
- Cut out beautiful pictures or words from magazines or newspapers.
- Print an image you found on the internet or one that you uploaded to your computer. In this case, use printer-specific paper instead of notebook paper, so you'll get great results.
- Use sticker images that are available online and that you can print.
- Create a drawing with the molds.
- Decorate an image with glitter.
Step 2. Cut out the sticker
Use a pair of scissors to cut out the edges of the design you traced or printed. You can make the sticker as big or as small as you want. If you like fun borders, you can use scissors that create decorative cuts.
Try using a hole punch to cut out hearts, stars and other shapes for the stickers from the decorated paper
Step 3. Prepare the glue
It is a safe glue to use even for children who brush and lick stickers. It will work as an adhesive for sticking images to most surfaces without the need for harsh chemicals. To make it, mix the following ingredients in a bowl until well combined:
- A bag of natural jelly
- 60 ml of boiling water
- 5 g of sugar or corn syrup
- A few drops of vanilla or mint extract to give the aroma.
- Use extracts with different flavors according to your imagination! Apply them to the various stickers and give them to your friends, you will surprise them with your tastes! You can also make themed stickers for Christmas, Valentine's Day or Easter.
- Once you have made the glue, you can store it in a small package (such as the one for medicines) or in an airtight container and then store it in the refrigerator. During the night it will become a gel and if you want to bring it back to a liquid state, put the container in very hot water.
- You can also use this glue to seal envelopes.
Step 4. Apply the glue
Flip the stickers over onto a sheet of wax paper or aluminum foil. Use a small brush or a kitchen brush to spread the glue on the back of each image. When you're done, wait for the gelatin mixture to dry completely.
- It is not necessary to impregnate the paper with gelatin, a light layer is enough.
- Before using the stickers, make sure they are completely dry.
- Store them in a plastic bag or box until ready to use.
Step 5. Lick the stickers
When you're ready to stick them on different surfaces, lick them on the back, like you would a postage stamp, and then press them for a few seconds where you want them to stick. This kind of homemade glue is quite strong, so be careful where you decide to place the images.
Method 2 of 4: With Masking Tape
Step 1. Cut out images from magazines or print some
For this method you need the stickers to be printed on paper with a water resistant ink. You can use coated paper from newspapers or books; alternatively, you can test your printer's ink and print images from your computer. If you've opted for the latter option, do a test print and lightly wet the image before continuing. Cut out your chosen design or word with a pair of scissors.
- When choosing images, take into account the width of the adhesive tape. Each design must fit within the margins of a strip of tape, which is why it must be as wide as the tape or slightly less.
- If you are going to make a large sticker, then you will have to use two overlapping pieces of tape and it won't be very easy. You will need to line up the strips so that they overlap slightly so that no millimeters of paper are exposed. Eventually you may also damage the adhesive and you will notice the "seam" between the two pieces of tape.
Step 2. Cover the image with masking tape
Cut a piece of clear tape large enough to cover the entire design. Put it on the front side of the image you traced or printed. Press so that the adhesive sticks to the sheet.
- At this stage, be very careful to put the ribbon right on top of the design. If you were to move it, you could ruin the image and tear it. Also try to avoid blisters and wrinkles.
- Consider using double-sided tape. You can find it in various options.
- Consider using decorative tape such as Washi Tape. It is similar to parcel tape; This type of adhesive tape is great for making stickers because you can stick it wherever you want and it comes off easily. It is available in various colors and different patterns.
Step 3. Rub the front of the sticker
Use a dime or your fingernail to scrub the surface so the scotch tape sticks well to the ink. Continue for a couple of minutes to make sure the adhesive and ink blend perfectly.
Step 4. Put the image under hot water
Proceed with one sticker at a time and place it under the hot water jet from the tap with the paper side facing up. Continue until the paper flakes. The ink shouldn't disperse, but the paper will dissolve completely. You can help the process by scrubbing the residue.
- Make sure you wet all surfaces of the tape instead of just focusing on one spot, otherwise only that will be visible.
- If you have trouble peeling off the paper, insist with hot water.
- Alternatively, dip the image into a bowl of hot water and let it soak for a few minutes.
Step 5. Wait for the stickers to dry
Once the paper has dissolved, wait for the scotch to dry for it to become sticky again. Cut out the image with scissors and stick it wherever you want.
Method 3 of 4: With the Adhesive Paper
Step 1. Buy some sticky paper
You can find it in fine art stores or in stationery. It is a normal sheet of paper, the back of which, however, is made up of a removable film that protects the adhesive side. You will remove the film when you are ready to attach the image.
- Alternatively, you can take double-sided adhesive sheets. These allow you to transfer the image onto the glue, peel off the protective film on the other side and show the second sticky side. This is a great technique when you want to use images you already have or ones you cut out of magazines.
- Buy a type of paper that fits your printer.
- If you don't have a printer, you can use sticky paper to draw the images you want yourself or cut them out of books and newspapers.
Step 2. Draw the images
You can use your computer and a graphics program or markers or a ballpoint pen and draw your stickers by hand. Your only limit is the size of the paper; if you want, you can make a sticker in A4 format!
- To create the image on your computer, use programs such as Paint, Adobe Photoshop or software that allows you to draw. You can also simply save images from the internet or from your personal album and turn them into stickers. When you're done, print the image on the sticky paper.
- If you physically have a photo or drawing that you want to turn into a sticker, you can scan it on your computer or upload a digital photo. Format this image in the appropriate format using software and then print it on the sticky paper.
- You can draw the picture yourself using markers, pencils, pens and even tempera. However, avoid wetting the paper too much or you will ruin the glue underneath.
Step 3. Cut out the stickers
Use a pair of scissors for this. Cut simple square shapes or use specific scissors with a shaped edge to create original lines.
- When using double-sided adhesive sheets, you simply peel off the protective film to expose the glue, apply the back of the image to it and then remove the second protective film. Remember to press well, so that the image adheres completely to the glue. Transfer the adhesive to the surface you want, you will need to use it immediately, as the second glue surface is exposed.
- You can choose to leave a slight white margin on the edge or to crop it perfectly following the original contours, based on your experience.
Step 4. Remove the liner from the back of the sheet
At this point you are ready to use your stickers and stick them wherever you want.
Method 4 of 4: Different Techniques
Step 1. Make reusable stickers
If you want the ones that come off and reattach several times, you need to buy less strong glue - also called repositionable - which you can find in fine art stores or online. After drawing and cropping the images, spread them with a little repositionable glue and wait for it to dry. Finally attach and detach your stickers!
Step 2. Use envelope labels
Draw pictures, shapes or words on these printable labels. You can find them at office supply stores. Cut out the shapes and remove the protective film. If you think you won't be using your stickers right now, place them on wax paper.
Step 3. Make the stickers with double-sided tape
Create a design on any type of paper or cut out an image from a magazine. Once you have drawn the image, attach the double-sided adhesive to the back by cutting it following the shape of the image (so it does not protrude from the edges). Lay down your wax paper sticker until you are ready to stick it on some surface.
Step 4. Prepare stickers with paper to coat the surfaces
Trace the design with the markers on this type of paper, cut out the edges and then remove the protective film on the back to make the sticker adhere where you want.
There is also a clear liner paper, which is great to use on top of colored cardstock
Step 5. Use a machine to make the stickers
This is a device that you can buy online and in fine art stores. It allows you to make a sticker from anything from a design to a bow. You just have to insert the subject and drag it into the camera. This will add a layer of glue on the back and the protective film. Remove the film and attach the image!
Step 6. Make another type of reusable sticker
Put some glue (Fevicol or something similar) on a surface like that of a plastic ruler of the appropriate size and be sure to fill in any gaps afterwards with more glue. Wait for it to dry. Once dry, use a permanent marker to draw and color your figurine on the sticker. Slowly remove the dry, clear layer of glue… et voila. Here is your reusable sticker.
Step 7. Make a super sticky sticker
Create your design, scan a magazine or simply print it. Don't crop it yet. Make a mix of glue (Fevicol or similar) and water. Coat the back of your design with a layer of the mixed substance using a paintbrush. Wait for it to dry. Although it is dry you will notice that it is still super sticky. Make sure you use it immediately.
