How to Make Vinyl Lettering to Decorate a Tile

Vinyl lettering has become a huge home decor trend in the last few years. With the release of the Cricut personal cutting machine and others like it, vinyl is back. However, for those who don't have $300 lying around for a machine, there are other options for creating the custom lettering. From wall quotes to decorative tiles, they're simple and inexpensive to create.

Things You'll Need

• Sheets of vinyl
• Lettering stencils
• X-acto knife
• Tape
• Tile

Instructions

Create Your Letters

1. Select sheets of vinyl in colors of your choice. Available at most craft stores, vinyl is inexpensive and comes in many colors, with the most common being black. They are available in different sizes, but a standard 8.5-inch by 11-inch sheet is easiest to work with.

2. 

   If a stencil isn't available in the desired font, printing the alphabet on paper can create a custom stencil.

   Select lettering stencils in any font, but make sure the size will allow all of your letters and words to fit on the tile's surface. If no stencils are available in your chosen font, make your own by typing your saying/quote in the selected font and size (ideally, make the font one point larger than needed, since you will be tracing the inside, and it will decrease the size of the actual cut-outs). Print the sheet and cut out the letters with an X-acto knife.

3. 

   Craft knives like this one are razor-sharp, ensuring a clean cut every time.

   Lay the stencil over the vinyl, with the vinyl face-up, and tape down the edges, ensuring the stencil won't slide at any time. Using the X-acto knife, cut along the inside edge of the stencil, making sure to cut all the way through the vinyl and paper backing.

4. Once the letters have been cut, separate them and lay them out across the tile in the desired arrangement. Lay them out and size them before adhering them to the vinyl, otherwise it's possible to run out of space or end up with an uncentered piece.

5. Once the letters have been cut and arranged on the tile, leave all letters in place and peel the paper backing off, one by one. Adhere it to the tile, making sure it lays flat and straight. If it is adhered incorrectly, it can be peeled up in the first few seconds to correct the mistake. However, many vinyl adhesives are made to seal permanently after 30 seconds or a few minutes, so mistakes will be permanent after that time frame. Refer to the vinyl packaging for exact times.

Tips & Warnings

• For beginners, choose a font with clean-cut lines. For more advanced crafters, any font is possible, but you must trace the tiny details exactly and cut with precision.

• If you choose to remove any lettering, heating it up with a hair or blow drier will loosen the adhesive after it has completely dried. However, this cannot be used to correct mistakes since the removed vinyl will be unusable.

• Craft knives are extremely sharp and should not be used by children as a safety precaution. Always cover them with their safety guards immediately after use to prevent any hazards or accidents.

References

• Installing Vinyl Lettering