Homemade Stickers

Want to make stickers, but don't feel like forking out lots of cash for sticker paper? Thankfully there's an easy way to make your own with stuff you probably have around the house, or are easily accessible.

WARNING: These stickers can be VERY difficult to get off depending on the surface you put it on. They are not like your average peel-n-stick and might rip during removal. If you get in a...sticky situation...for what you stick where it's your own damn sticker adhesive and you're gonna soak in it!

If you like my Instructable please rate it. :)

UPDATES:
- Thanks to ItstheHobbs for helping me remember what contact paper is called.

- Please do not ask me to upload my sticker designs. I'm not going to give them to you no matter how nicely you ask. The only way to get one is for me to personally hand you one.

- I just added that pun in the warning there. Please do not hesitate to shoot me in the face.

Step 1: Materials

You need:
White Vinegar
White Glue (Elmer's works fine)
Your design(s) printed out on paper*
A wide brush
Tupperware container OR jar (optional)
Packaging tape OR Clear Contact Paper (optional)**
Straight edge
Little spray bottle (Recommended)
Scissors OR X-acto Blade

*Regular printer paper works the best I've found. I printed some on matte paper and the adhesive didn't absorb into the paper, making for a weaker sticker.

** Utrecht's art supply carries this in about 36" rolls. It's also great for making very crisp stencils. The only bad thing about this is it rips easier than the tape. It's also a tad expensive, last I remember.

Design Tips: Try to fit as many stickers as you can on one sheet. With rectangular or square stickers this shouldn't be a problem. But with stickers with a more dynamic shape I like to leave about an 1/8" border around the edge of the ink.

Comments

[kcarring]

Can you use color ink jet printed images?

[Jessie Marie]

Wow, I have always wanted to make my own stickers, and now I know how! :D

[Palo013]

Cool instructable whats the dead squid called in the first photo

[Pancake!]

This is pretty cool :)

[JamesAre]

In step 3 theres weights ontop of a book ontop of the drawing. what surface is the glue touching? do u have a nonstick surface touching the glued side of paper? another question is. how can u make the stickers portable. like having a peel of backing to it?

[adacus]

I'm a little confused. are these lick-and-stick stickers or the kind where you peel off the back and stick it? I have the ingredients ready to go, I just wanna make sure I'm making the kind of stickers I want to sell at a convention :)
thanks!

[gossip13]

can they stick to skin n be removed?

[Energyzed]

So I tried my hand at this Instructable, and I followed everything correctly. For every 2 tbsp of glue mix in 1 tbsp of White Vinegar. Put one coat on the back of the sticker horizontally, let it dry, then put another on vertically, and let it dry. I put a heavy book on top of the sheet with my gaming computer on top of that. Let it sit for like 20 minutes, then put on the packaging tape to cover the artwork.

The only problem I'm having is that the water isn't making the glue sticky...it gets a little gummy, but the stickers want to curl up rather than stick. I can force them onto a surface and they seem to stick for the most part, but the corners are not lying down flat, and there's water spots. Is there something I'm doing wrong?

[SirBrittanicvs]

Could be the size of your sticker. They look a tad small. Mine were all two or three times that size.

[Energyzed]

That could be it. Never thought of that. I'll have to make a bigger sticker some time then ;P

[cbishop3]

Is it possible to stick these stickers onto things such as bags, t-shirt etc. and remove them afterwards??

[keelan2009]

Do you think that malt vinegar would work or does it have to be white vinegar?

[bshin1]

This looks really fun and your stickers are very cute (even the Dethklok one)! For a minute I thought one the squid/octopus was Cthulu. ^^

[SirBrittanicvs]

He is Cthulhu, actually. :)

I had meant to draw the rest of him, or at least some wings behind him or something, but never got around to it.

[pixiesandprincesses]

Have you ever used these to stick on glass? Thanx so much for thisTutorial, it is awesome!

[charleschiu1996]

Is it okay to use PVA glue?

[SirBrittanicvs]

I have no reason to believe that it's any different from Elmer's glue.

[charleschiu1996]

okay, thanks

[ilpug]

PVA glue will not work. i tried it and it would not re-constitute when i sprayed the water on it.

[rockgod57]

Yo u cant believe how much money i was makin wit these things (btw i giveu full credit). The only problem i had was the glue mix would turn my ink green n the kids wer lickin it all off so it would never stick.

[ilpug]

the kids were eating the glue? what?

[c_fish]

Since the white glues arent too widespread here and the brands you spoke of are not imported here I have to ask. Is it the plain glue for wood or some non toxic varieties made for little students and is it the waterproof or the not waterproof type?

[SirBrittanicvs]

Regular students glue should do just fine. Wood glue *could* work, but I don't know for sure. The white glue is just your standard all-purpose glue.

[c_fish]

Thanks! How about the waterproof factor?

[SirBrittanicvs]

If I remember correctly, they should hold up rather well in wet weather.

[shinynewmachine]

How long does it usually take to dry?

[SirBrittanicvs]

I don't remember exactly, haven't made 'em in a while. Probably around an hour depending on how thick you put on each layer.

[kranman]

You can just use a hairdryer, worked fine for me. only took about 5-10 minutes for a light coat.

[KwartzKitten]

Thanks for this instructable! I've been scouring the internet looking for a way to add my logo to things; this is perfect!

[supperducky]

ok so after they fully dry they wont stick to anything until you spray them with water right water is the key

[SirBrittanicvs]

Correct. I've heard of some people using saliva (works for smaller stickers), however it'll leave a funky taste in your mouth.

[Multi-artist]

If I put a teaspoon of sugar in the adhesive will it make it stronger, and stickier?

[SirBrittanicvs]

I doubt it. I'm no chemist by there's a chance it could mess with the vinegar.

[Mimotearose]

Am new so can u tell me about this place pls

[rockgod57]

I luv this thing so far my stickers have lasted a year n won't come off my binders I've also been makin a fortune off of these at skool

[SirBrittanicvs]

Haha, glad you like 'em. I haven't made them in over a year, thinking about getting back into it.

[sethmaxwell malice]

Hey! SirBrittanicvs! Thanks! I've been making home-made sstickers for YEARS, and now i'm experimenting with different ways to make them, without buying any pre-made materials (i.e ritrama/duramark removable adhesive poly-vinyl 2mm clear-or white-27"x24" sheets)**

I've experimented with Super 77 or 45, spray tac (spray adhesive/glue), on the back of the sticker sheets, then wax-paper over that. cut them out and peel and stick at will...it's hit or miss...

-malice
[e-mail]

**i.e sticker paper-bumper sticker stock avail at any screen printing supply (Midwestern screen supply is one)

[zephryfunk]

is it okay to stick it on guitar? will it ruin the finishing?

[SirBrittanicvs]

I don't know if it will ruin the finish but I doubt it. Test it out on a guitar you don't care about as much just to see.

[poissondemer]

I made mine today! I used some old sketches/art I had lying around. It was really fun, and now my new sketchbook is decorated perfectly. I plan on making a LOT more stickers! By the way, I used a wet paint brush to wet the adhesive. It worked great as a spray bottle alternative. I used regular tape this time because I ran out of packing tape, but I'm going to get some at the store to make more (glossier) stickers. Thanks so much for the instructable! Here's some pics with a couple of my stickers.