Turning watercolor paintings into transparent stickers was a simple yet rewarding DIY project. In this post, I’ll walk you through the process I used to create these stickers featuring my mom’s artwork, but I’m excited to create my own designs in the future!
This method works for any artwork and can be done using a home inkjet printer and basic cutting tools. If you’re looking for a way to transform your illustrations into stickers, this guide will help you get started. Let’s dive in!
Materials I Used to Turn Watercolors Into Transparent Vinyl Stickers
Before we begin, here’s everything I used for this project:
Transparent adhesive vinyl (150g/m², A4 size)
Inkjet printer – Any inkjet printer that prints on specialty paper.
Scissors & paper trimmer – For precise cutting.
Offset paper (150g) – Used for backing cards. (This is similar to pollen paper.)
8x8 cm self-adhesive bags – To protect and package the stickers.
Corner rounder punch – To give the backing cards a more professional look.
Canva Pro or free alternatives – To remove the watercolor backgrounds.
If you have a cutting machine like a Cricut or Silhouette, it can speed up the process. However, this project is completely doable with just scissors.
Step 1: Removing the Background from the Watercolor Paintings
Because these watercolor paintings were scanned, they retained a white paper background. To make the stickers transparent, I needed to remove it.
Using Canva Pro (Paid Option)
I used Canva’s Background Remover (available in Canva Pro) to quickly extract the artwork. This tool does an excellent job of preserving soft watercolor edges.
Free Alternatives for Background Removal
If you don’t have Canva Pro, here are some free alternatives:
Remove.bg – Automatic background removal (limited free use).
Adobe Express Background Remover – Free with an Adobe account.
Photopea – A free, browser-based Photoshop alternative with a Magic Wand Tool for manual selection.
GIMP – A free software alternative with the Select by Color tool for manual background removal.
These free tools require more manual adjustments than Canva’s automatic remover but are still effective.
After removing the background, I resized each floral element to match the dimensions of similar stickers I had purchased from AliExpress. My target sizes were around 3.5 to 4 cm wide and 5.5 to 6 cm tall.
Step 2: Printing on Transparent Vinyl
Next, I printed the designs on transparent adhesive vinyl using my inkjet printer. To get the best results, I adjusted my printer settings for high-quality printing to preserve the vibrant colors and details of the watercolor paintings.
Since this material takes longer to dry, I let the sheets sit for a while before handling them to prevent smudging.
💡 Tip: If you want your stickers to be waterproof, consider sealing them with spray varnish or a laminating sheet.
Step 3: Cutting Each Sticker by Hand
Since I don’t own a cutting machine (yet—it’s on my wish list!), I cut each sticker manually using scissors. While this method isn’t practical for large-scale production, it worked well for this small batch.
I decided not to invest in a Cricut or Silhouette at this stage because I wasn’t sure how often I’d use it. Outsourcing the cutting to a professional print shop would also have been too expensive.
For clean, precise cuts:
Use small scissors for intricate details.
Move the paper, not the scissors, while cutting.
If you plan to make a lot of stickers, consider investing in a cutting machine like a Cricut Maker or Silhouette Cameo.
Step 4: Creating the Backing Cards
To make the sticker packaging look more professional, I designed 8x8 cm backing cards in Canva. These cards included my mom’s brand name and a brief description of what’s inside.
I printed them on 150g offset paper and cut them using a paper trimmer for consistency.
To improve the presentation, I used a small corner rounder punch to round the edges. This small detail made a noticeable difference, giving the packaging a more polished and professional look. If you don’t have a corner puncher, scissors can be used to round the corners manually.
Step 5: Assembling the Sticker Packs
I placed the stickers inside 8x8 cm self-adhesive bags, along with the backing cards.
Each bag was sealed to keep the stickers protected and presentable.
This simple packaging method gives the stickers a neat, finished look, making them suitable for display in the art gallery.
Looking Forward
These stickers will be available at the art gallery where my mom’s artwork is featured. If demand grows, I might consider selling them online as well.
Although this project focused on my mom’s artwork, I’m already looking forward to creating stickers featuring my own designs. Right now, I’m embracing the process of experimentation and learning—building confidence one drawing at a time.
If you’re interested in making your own stickers, I’d love to hear about it! Have you tried transforming watercolors into transparent vinyl stickers before? Let me know in the comments.
📌 Watch the full process in my YouTube video:
If you enjoyed this project, consider subscribing for more DIY and creative content. Thanks for following along!
Yorumlar