Creating your own label with vinyl is a fun way to personalize an otherwise plain container. You might  create one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your gift list by adding text and/or graphics to many different objects. The container used in this project is from the 99 cent store. I peeled off the labels, and used Goo Gone to remove the remaining residue. The surface where the vinyl will be applied must be clean and free of residue from the Goo Gone, so I washed the surface with hot soapy water and dried with a lint free cloth.

Supplies and equipment:
Silhouette Cameo cutter and software
Orcal 631 vinyl (3 year, low tack adhesive)
Application tape
Container

Summary of the process:

1. Use your Silhouette software to create your design.
2. Load vinyl into Silhouette Cameo and send your design to the cutter.
3. Trim the vinyl and backing slightly larger than the design.
4. Carefully remove the small areas that are completely surrounded by a continuous cut. This process is known as ‘weeding.’
5. Remove the background vinyl, leaving only the design pieces. Pay attention to any parts of the design that must remain on the backing sheet, but are lifting off because a separation cut is not deep enough for complete separation. 
6. Cover the design with application tape.
7. Using a squeegee, rub the application tape to remove air bubbles and to adhere the design to the tape.

8. Carefully remove application tape making sure all parts of your design are securely attached.

9. If you are putting your design on a curved surface, the design will be easier to position if you trim excess application tape.
10. Place design on the container.
11. Rub the design with the squeegee. If this step is done poorly, parts of the design will remain stuck to the application tape rather than sticking to the destination object.
12. Slowly peel the application tape away. Check the design for missing parts. Attempt to get any missing parts properly positioned and stuck to the object. When the design is complete, place the slick side of the vinyl backing sheet down on the design and burnish the design parts with the squeegee. The design parts need to be firmly adhered to the object.
13. There is an experience factor that cannot be taught – it must be experienced. Start with flat surfaces and avoid objects made with ‘slippery’ types of materials until you have developed some skill with the process and know when your project choice will fall into the harder-to-complete-successfully items category.

What will your message be?