Halloween is fast approaching, and we’re bringing you another *huge* batch of 3D-look stickers! In this quick tutorial, I will show you how to create die-cut stickers with or without a cool holographic overlay – perfect for trick or treaters!
I will be using the Design Space Create Sticker feature, which is only available to Access subscribers, but you can easily create your own easy-peel stickers using Offset for free. I’ll also show you how to use our overlay template to avoid covering the registration marks when you cut your stickers.
These sticker designs are exclusively for our e-mail subscribers, so if you’d like the image files delivered straight to your inbox, join our list:
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Materials and tools:
- Cricut machine compatible with Print Then Cut (Joy Xtra, Explore, Maker, or Venture machines)
- Inkjet printer – any inkjet printer will do, I’m using an Epson ET 2800, which has a rear feed tray
- Sticker image files (+ optional overlay template) – get the files free when you subscribe to our e-mail list
- Cutting mat – I’m using a green Standard Grip mat
- Brayer or felted squeegee/scraper – felted squeegees are superior for smoothing the overlay across the printed vinyl without scratching the surface
- weeding tool – I’m using Tweezerman pointed tweezers, you’ve probably got your own fave
- sticker paper or printable vinyl – I’m using white matte Cricut Printable vinyl, the kind with the green printing on the backer sheet that they sell in bulk
- overlay sheets (optional) – I’m using these holographic vinyl overlay sheets from Amazon, but there are tons of other options, including clear vinyl
Printable vinyl/sticker paper selection
I strongly recommend using white printable vinyl/sticker paper for this project. Home inkjets do not print white, so any white in images relies on printing to a white/light background. Our 3D sticker designs look much better when printed on white (rather than transparent), because they rely on highlighting to make them look puffy.
I like to print stickers on matte white vinyl, but sometimes you want a sticker that is glossy or more durable. You can use clear vinyl as an overlay, but I prefer the big packs of holographic overlays from Amazon. All of the popular overlays are A4 size (210mm x 297mm, or 8.3″ x 11.7″), so our overlay template is designed for that size.
Get your free sticker designs + overlay template
When you sign up for our free newsletter, you will be sent a link to confirm your subscription and download the sticker designs and overlay template.
Click the link and a download window will pop up. Click Save and you will get a zipped folder with all 76 sticker designs and the overlay template.
To access the design files, unzip the folder:
- Windows: go to your Downloads and right click on the zip file, select “Extract All”
- Mac OS: double click on the zip file, it will automatically unzip the folder
These are the sticker designs and template you’ll be getting:
Calibrate your Cricut for Print Then Cut (if necessary)
If you haven’t calibrated your machine for Print Then Cut, you’ll have to do it before you begin. It’s super simple, you just print and cut a test sheet following all the prompts in Design Space.
You can check out our guide to Print Then Cut calibration if you need help!
Upload the designs to Design Space
If you haven’t uploaded images before, please read our detailed tutorial on uploading images to Design Space, paying particular attention to the section on uploading PNG files.
The images will have to be uploaded one at a time:
- click Upload in the left sidebar of the Canvas
- click the Upload Image button and either drag and drop the file from your Downloads folder, or click Browse to find the file
- the next screen is a preview of the image; click Continue
- you will be taken to the background remover screen; all of the image backgrounds are already transparent so click Apply & Continue
- the next screen is the “Convert Upload to” screen; select Flat Graphic > Continue
- the final upload screen where gives you the option to change the file name, add tags and add to a collection
- click Upload and the image will be added to the Canvas
The overlay template is an SVG, so it’s a 1-step upload:
- click Upload
- click the Upload Image button – drag and drop or choose your file from Browse > click Continue
- you will be taken to the final Upload screen with options to change the file name/add to folder/etc. > click Upload and the template will be added to the Canvas
Resize the designs
The sticker designs will be large when they are added to the canvas. Select and resize the images to whatever dimensions you’d like for your stickers. I sized all the images to ~1.75″ wide. Just repeat the upload and resizing steps for every sticker you want to make.
DO NOT RESIZE THE OVERLAY TEMPLATE if you are using it. It is the exact size required to cover a full sticker sheet.
Optional: using the overlay template
The overlay template includes 2 layers: a cut file for the overlay (blue) and an inner guide for arranging your stickers (red).
When you upload the SVG to the Canvas, it appears as a group with an outer blue shape and an inner red shape. The red shape must be converted to a Guide:
- with the template selected, go to the righthand Layers panel and click on the arrow (>) to open the group
- select the top (red) layer of the group and open the Operation pulldown in the top menu bar
- click Guide
Now you will have just the blue area as a cut shape, and you can use the inner guide to arrange your stickers so they will fit within the print & cut area.
Create your stickers
There are 3 types of stickers:
- Kiss cut: cuts only the vinyl, not all the way through the backer
- no adjustments to images necessary
- Die cut: cuts all the way through the vinyl + backing sheet
- no adjustments to images necessary
- Easy Peel: kiss cuts around the image, then die cuts around a border you can remove
- an offset border must be added to each image, either manually or using Create Sticker
I’m going to use the Create Sticker function to make easy peel stickers:
- select your image
- click on Create Sticker in the top menu bar
- choose Kiss Cut
- set Border to None, choose Die-Cut Edge (toggle to the ON position)
- click Apply
If you want a border added to the sticker, you can choose from the Border pulldown menu (Thin/Standard/Wide/Custom).
Optional: add your offset(s) for easy peel stickers
Create Sticker allows for different cut settings for the kiss and die cuts. To create easy peel stickers without Create Sticker, you will have to use the same cut pressure for your kiss and die cuts, so the solution is to cut at a lower pressure and add multiple offsets around the sticker so the die cut is done in multiple passes.
- select the image
- click on Offset in the top menu bar and set the size of the offset (Create Sticker adds a 4mm/0.16″ offset, which works well for easy peel) > Apply
- duplicate the offset (click the Duplicate icon in the Layers panel or use Ctrl+D)
- select both offsets, go to the Operation pulldown in the top menu bar > set to Basic Cut
- select all 3 layers, click Align in the top menu and Center > click Attach (bottom of the layers panel)
The number of offsets you will need depends entirely on your materials. More passes are needed the thicker your printable/overlay/backing sheet is. You will have to test your cut settings.
Arrange your sticker sheet(s)
Now that you’ve added your offset or used Create Sticker (or you just want to kiss cut or die cut – no modification necessary!), it’s time to get the stickers ready to print and cut. Design Space will arrange the images in sheets for you, but if you’re using our overlay template you should arrange them yourself.
Our overlay template is designed for the full Print then Cut area. You must place your sticker images (with their offsets, if applicable) to the edges of the guide we provide, otherwise the registration marks may be placed closer together and the laminate sheet may cover the marks.
On the Canvas, arrange the stickers within the maximum area of the Guide part of the overlay template, then select all the sticker images and Attach (do not include the template).
Arrange the stickers in as many sheets as necessary and then click Make.
Cut the sticker overlay
After you send the project to the make screen, Design Space will set the mat order with all of the print and cut mats first.
But you don’t have to cut your mats in the order Design Space presents to you. In the Mat Preview screen, select the blue mat that has the overlay template and click Continue to cut the overlay.
I cut my sheet using the Premium Vinyl – Permanent Glossy setting on my Maker 3, but I use Premium Vinyl – Holographic (pressure of 179) on my Explore Air 2. You will have to determine the cut settings for your own machine.
Cut and weed the overlay template and set aside while you print & cut your sticker sheet.
Print your sticker sheet
(note: if you have the option, I recommend using a USB connection to your printer rather than wireless)
- The stickers will be arranged in sheets in the Mat Preview window. Click Continue
- Click Send to Printer
- Add Bleed is pre-checked, I am going to turn this off
- You can either click Print directly, or click Use System Dialog, which will open your printer’s dialog box
- I use the system dialog option and set my media to “Matte Photo paper” and print quality to “Best“
The printer dialog box may open behind other windows, so if you don’t see it, check behind everything else on your screen.
Optional: place the overlay on your sticker sheet
After you print your sticker sheet, load it on your mat at the top left hand corner and smooth it with a brayer or squeegee. Now add the overlay!
Don’t remove the overlay completely from its backer, just expose enough of the top of the overlay to align with the sticker sheet:
Next, smooth the overlay on top of the sticker sheet while slowly removing the backer as you go, pushing out any bubbles with your squeegee or scraper:
Finish smoothing out the overlay. I ended up placing my overlay a little too close to the top, but as long as the registration marks aren’t covered, it’s OK:
Cut your sticker sheet
(I recommend test cutting before you begin your project, especially if you add an overlay)
I’m using a Maker 3 to cut Cricut Matte White Printable Vinyl with the green liner printing + a holographic overlay and doing both kiss and die cut. If you make your stickers with the Create Sticker tool, you will have to choose from a list of compatible materials when you go to cut. I used the higher pressure settings designed for the older, thicker Cricut vinyl (gray liner printing) because of the overlay:
Sticker sheet + overlay:
- Create Sticker settings for Printable Vinyl, White (Gray Liner Printing) – selected More pressure for Kiss cut
Follow the prompts to cut the sticker sheet, and you’re all done. Just remove the ring of sticker material from around each die cut sticker and they’re ready to go!
It’s so easy to create such cute little stickers that are easy for kids to peel!
Before you go, you might like to check out our other fun Halloween projects: