Vinyl lettering

[dixiechicken]

So, I've seen a lot of mention about vinyl lettering lately. And since I'm looking into a Cricut machine--or something of the sort--I'm wondering how the vinyl lasts. Won't the letters and such peel up? I saw a post about the Cookies for Santa plate. Do you have to put anything over the lettering to get it to stay? I would hate to give a gift or sell something just to have the letters come off easily. Thanks for clueing me in!

[Sweet Baby Creations]

I am still learning myself. But i do know there are different types of vinyl. Vinyl for the walls and vinyl for the cars. I use the vinyl for the cars on items like the santa plate. If you scrub it hard, it would maybe peel off but for the use that it is going to get, I wouldn't worry. The card vinyl is garanteed to last 6 years and can withstand weather. Obviously the wall vinyl will peel off easily and will not ruin your finish on the wall. I have done a few car monograms for myself and a sticker for my dad's truck but that is it. I did not have time to make up any of the Santa plates for my show I had on Saturday! Was too busy working on the 75 keychains and 40 travel mugs!!!!
I will say the machine is fun. I can't wait till I am doen with my Christmas orders so I can play around with it.

Misty

[Lisaa]

Misty, where do you buy the vinyl? And do you buy cartridges for the Cricut to cut the vinyl? I'm intrigued but know nothing about the Cricut!!

[dixiechicken]

Thanks for the response! Good to know about the vinyl. Do you have a cricut or a different cutting machine. I've been talking about this for a few days, and am really wanting one now!!! Maybe Santa will surprise me!:D

[Sweet Baby Creations]

I have a quickutz silhouette. You do not need cartridges for it. YOu can use any true type font on your computer. I think you can only use designs purchased from quickutz or on the cd's you can by from them.

I am using the quickutz vinyl for the walls and i am buying my car monogram vinyl from sign warehouse. It's pretty expensive to get the vinyl in all the colors you want. Around $15.00-$19.00 a color. Although it will last you quite a while.

But you can make your money back. I charged a lady $15.00 for a car monogram (I normally use someone else to do them for so I have to make a little money too) but now I have my machine and got my hot pink vinyl in and just finished her monograms $60.00 for 4 and my vinyl cost me $23.00 including shipping so I more than paid for that roll. I am thinking of giving her some money backon them though, I feel like since I did them myself that $15.00 is too much, but that is the going rate for them.

I will post a few pictures of my car monograms in a little bit.

Misty

[dixiechicken]

Can't wait to see pictures!!! My mom had been "researching" for me as well, and I *think* she mentioned something about the quickutz today. Is it REALLY sharp??? She said something about a lady cutting her hand on it, but I can't remember which machine she said it was. Can you cut fabric with it?

ETA: I just looked it up, and the software is not compatible with a MAC!!!! I could download a plug in or something though! I'm not very computer literate! However, I do like the fact that I don't have to buy cartridges and can use any fonts on the computer.

[mythreesons92]

I have heard a lot of buzz around car monograms, good luck. Don't feel bad charging the going rate.

[Sweet Baby Creations]

Havn't forgot about the pictures, I am just swamped trying to get Christmas Orders done from my website!!!

Misty

[dixiechicken]

I'm *patiently* waiting!;) I keep coming back here to see if you've posted yet!!!

[Sweet Baby Creations]

I am so sorry it has taken me this long. I finallyhave a chance to breathe!!! I am almost done with orders from my website. I just quickly ran out and took picks of the decals on my car. Sorry it is dirty, not sure why I just had it cleaned on Thursday. Anyway, the decals I did in about 5 minutes they were super easy. The plaque you see id not finished. This was my gift for my Bunco Christmas Gift exchange last night. I only had 1 of hte metal plaques so did not want to have to peel the vinyl back off for the lucky winner so I left the backing on the decal I did for myself and just taped it to the sign. IU will also use brown vinyl just did not want to waste the little bit I have. I had tons of black and plus I wanted mine to be black to put somewhere else.
I will say the hardest part of the vinyl letters is the weeding. (getting all of the excess vinyl off) I had to redo the H in established b/c the vinyl stuck to it and pulled it off. But bo worries quickly printed up a new one and transferred it over! Oh and my gift was the first one to be taken out of play, everyone wanted it and I will probably get some orders from it!

Misty

[danamom4]

Thanks for the response! Good to know about the vinyl. Do you have a cricut or a different cutting machine. I've been talking about this for a few days, and am really wanting one now!!! Maybe Santa will surprise me!:D

I want one too, but I want one that connects to the computer and cuts fabric. I'm going to keep adding to my embroidery this year, and watch the cutting machines evolve for a year or two I think.

[danamom4]

Very neat stuff. Thanks for showing us the pictures. Do you have a cricut?
I would love to see your website.

[dixiechicken]

Thanks for posting the pictures! Now I *REALLY* want a cutting machine! So many ideas!!!!!

[chrissyw]

I must be crazy---I bought this machine the silhouette---and I have had it in the box for ummmmm lets see a year!!! Can't wait to get me some vinyl!!!!!

[stitchedandstamped]

I have a Roland GX-24 that I have used for t-shirts and just now have feel in love with the wall art, etc. Have the vinyl, but can someone give me a good source for other blanks. I am going to be doing a show in a few weeks and just can't find some of the wood signs and stuff that I would like to use. I live in the boonies, so online stores would be helpful.
Thanks,
R

[mythreesons92]

Super cute. I have seen a few car monograms around where I live, they are very cute. Don't feel bad charging the going rate.

[Just Initials]

I wish I could find a source. Hobby Lobby has a few things you could use there (the Metal Plaques, already cut wood smaller sizes though, and some blank canisters.) The problem with them is they almost always NEVER go on sale. I guess it depends on what you want to do. My dad routed me several boards about a year ago and they worked perfectly for spraypainting and putting the family names on. They sold well (at least to my Bunco group, that is the only place that I advertiesed them) NOw I live in Hawaii and it is a little difficult to get the wood from my dad now.

You can check the dollar stores. A lot of times they have the glass canisters that are percect for teacher gifts, wine glasses that are large enough to decorate with the vinyl and a lot of the plastic totes.

Hope this helps a little!

Misty