• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partner
  • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Create and Babble

  • DIY
    • Home Improvement
    • Upcycle
    • Furniture Makeovers
    • Build It
  • Craft
    • Silhouette
    • Sewing
    • Wedding DIYs
    • Seasonal
    • Gifts
  • Lifestyle
    • Bicyling
    • Travel
    • shopping

STAY UP TO DATE

Get the latest crafting and DIY tips, tricks and tutorials delivered straight to your inbox!

How and Why to Use Cricut® Stencil Vinyl

July 25, 2017

If you like it, please share it!Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on stumbleupon
Stumbleupon
Share on google
Google
Share on linkedin
Linkedin
Share on reddit
Reddit

Cricut® Stencil Vinyl is my new favorite product to use to make a stencil. Here’s why:

  • it’s affordable
  • readily available
  • clear
  • self-adhesive
  • grid lines
  • durable
  • repositionable
  • adheres to wood, canvas, plastic, paper, and more

How and Why to Use Cricut® Stencil Vinyl
 

How and Why to Use Cricut® Stencil Vinyl


Cricut® Stencil Vinyl

In this tutorial, I’m going to show you How and Why to Use Cricut® Stencil Vinyl and how easy it is to make a custom pillow cover. Whether you have a Cricut® or a Silhouette® machine, you can use the Cricut® Stencil Vinyl in either machine. I used my Cricut Explore Air2 for this project.

How and Why to Use Cricut® Stencil Vinyl

Step One

Choose or make a design for your stencil. I chose to use a design that I found in the Cricut library. I clicked on the image to choose the file and clicked on “customize” so that I could enlarge it. Once it was the size I wanted, I clicked on “Make it”.

Step Two

Change the dial to “custom” and choose Stencil Vinyl under Vinyl

Step Three

Place the stencil vinyl on the cutting mat, grid side up. Insert mat and cut!

Step Four

After the Cricut® is finished cutting, remove the mat then remove the stencil vinyl from the mat. Now you are going to weed in reverse. Instead of removing the vinyl around the letters, you’ll be removing the vinyl letters themselves.

I used the Cricut® Bright Pad for the first time. It was so easy to see the cut lines using the Bright Pad!

How and Why to Use Cricut® Stencil Vinyl

Step 5

Carefully apply Cricut® Transfer Tape over the stencil using the grid lines to help you keep everything straight.

Step Six

Pull up transfer tape making sure that the “insides” of the letter loops transfer to the tape too. Take your time with this step.

Step Seven

Place stencil on a plain pre-made pillow cover or fabric that you’re using to sew your own pillow cover. That’s what I did. I have so many pillow forms so I cut two squares of white duck cloth fabric slightly larger than my pillow form. I applied the stencil to one of those squares.

Step Eight

It’s time to paint!

So grab your favorite paint and get stencilin’. I love the Dazzling Metallics paint by DecoArt. I love the gold shimmer of this Champagne Gold color.

How and Why to Use Cricut® Stencil Vinyl

Since the stencil vinyl is adhesive, there is less chance of the paint seeping under the stencil but it’s still a good idea to apply a few light coats of paint in a straight up and down daubing motion.

Carefully remove the stencil while the paint is still wet.

Step Nine

Once the paint is dry, go over lightly with an iron to set the paint and then insert pillow form into pre-made pillow cover OR sew your pillow cover together and then insert your pillow form.

How and Why to Use Cricut® Stencil Vinyl

Step Ten

Stand back and admire your new pillow!

How and Why to Use Cricut® Stencil Vinyl

How and Why to Use Cricut® Stencil Vinyl

Click here for more Cricut tutorials.

Click here for more Silhouette tutorials.

How to Stencil Fabric

How to make stencils and then use them to stencil paint plain curtain panels

How to Stencil Curtain Panels
Stenciled Drawer Fronts
How to Stencil Furniture
The lightweight, low-profile BrightPad makes crafting easier while reducing eye strain.
Here is Where I Party!

If you like it, please share it!Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on stumbleupon
Stumbleupon
Share on google
Google
Share on linkedin
Linkedin
Share on reddit
Reddit

Filed Under: Crafts, Cricut, Gifts, Home Decor, Sewing, Silhouette

« Cricut Bags and Totes
A Pretty Printable for You »

Comments

  1. Jaimee C says

    August 14, 2017 at 1:17 pm

    Awesome idea! I’m getting into the crafty world and was looking for some type of stencil material to use. Is this one reusable? I’d like to try doing personalized bags for my students for field trips.

    Thanks!

    Reply
  2. Sarah says

    March 25, 2018 at 6:44 pm

    Help! I am doing something wrong. I use all the same steps except when I am weeding out my letters, as careful as I am, the vinyl will tear or rip and I can’t use it. Thoughts or suggestions?

    Reply
    • Mazy G says

      October 4, 2019 at 1:10 pm

      Your blade isn’t cutting deep enough, or you need to change to a new blade, or you need to slow down the cutting speed. Lastly and more complicated in my opinion, if you made your own design and if you have done or checked all the first three, there are too many nodes especially if your design has lots of curves or delicate areas, ( nodes are places the cutter has to change direction – kinda ) I use a large format cutter with SCAL5 and it allows me to how to simplify or clean up the nodes….I’m sure most or all cutting programs have a way to do this as well. Stencil vinyl is tougher / slightly thicker so the blade setting is usually just slightly deeper than sign vinyl. Remember to test cut a small pattern every time you change brands or types of vinyl to help avoid this frustration. You should find plenty of videos online explaining each of the steps I mentioned for every brand of cutter imaginable. Vinyl cutting is fun until things go wrong then it’s just Ugh! Until you figure out why it happened and how to prevent it.

      Reply
  3. Courtney says

    April 16, 2018 at 9:01 pm

    I love this design, project and your detailed instructions with step by step photos! I’m curious about the paint you used… I noticed it doesn’t specifically say fabric paint, maybe the bottle says it can be used on fabric, but can you wash this without damaging the paint? Obviously I would line dry rather than put in dryer but is the paint ok to put in the machine wash? Btw, last night I used the same vinyl stencil material for painting a stencil on a wood block for a wedding present and I have to say that stencil material is awesome and fool proof! I love that I can make my own stencils and it seals the edges preventing any bleeding. I have the ScanNcut 2 by Brother but I love using Cricut vinyl!

    Reply
  4. Deb Crater says

    June 13, 2018 at 6:09 pm

    It seems there’s a step missing and it’s where my project was an epic fail. I got to step 7 where you apply the transfer tape then put the stencil in the fabric. I assume at this point you remove the transfer tape. I used cricket brand but wow that stuff sticks. It sticks so bad I could t pull it off the stencil vinyl. I read and reread instructions. It’s how I do it for walls. But this would not work. Thoughts?

    Reply
    • patty says

      July 28, 2018 at 5:23 pm

      there are different grades of transfer tape….maybe the one you used was to sticky…they make it with less tackiness….maybe that will help

      Reply
    • Connie says

      July 1, 2020 at 9:50 am

      I have had better luck with laying the transfer tape on the FABRIC first (BEFORE putting it on the stencil). Doing so picks up the loose fibers on the fabric and makes the tape a little less sticky. Then peel off the transfer tape and apply it to the stencil. Proceed as directed.

      Reply
  5. Sheri says

    July 31, 2018 at 2:39 pm

    Great project! Thanks for sharing at To Grandma’s House We Go DIY, Crafts, Recipes and More Wednesday Link party! Pinned! Hope to see you next time!

    Reply
  6. Bright says

    August 8, 2018 at 8:54 am

    What a nice message to put on a pillow. Wouldn’t that be soothing to see after a bad day!

    Reply
  7. creativejewishmom/sara says

    September 1, 2018 at 4:40 pm

    Okay, now I really really really want a cricut! this pillow idea is adorable! thanks so much for sharing on craft schooling sunday back in July, the party is now back on and hope to see you there!

    Reply
  8. Pam Schisler says

    November 26, 2018 at 10:37 am

    Do I remove backing from stencil vinyl before cutting?

    Reply
  9. Flicker says

    May 5, 2025 at 1:34 am

    Wow! Such a nice and informative blog!

    Reply
    • Galline says

      May 5, 2025 at 1:36 am

      Absolutely!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Top Ten Projects of 2017 - Create and Babble says:
    December 28, 2017 at 9:54 am

    […] #2 How and Why to Use Cricut Stencil Vinyl […]

    Reply
  2. Dollar Store Beach Bag Makeover - Create and Babble says:
    June 1, 2018 at 6:00 am

    […] stencil(s) (pre-made or make your own with Cricut Stencil Vinyl – here’s a good article about Cricut Stencil Vinyl) […]

    Reply
  3. Decoart Dazzling Metallics Champagne Gold – Art Coronium says:
    October 1, 2018 at 8:04 pm

    […] How and Why to Use Cricut® Stencil Vinyl – Follow this tutorial on how to make a stenciled and pillow and find out How and Why to Use Cricut® Stencil Vinyl for your stenciling projects. […]

    Reply
  4. Home Decor Vinyl Wall Art Cricut – Art Coronium says:
    October 19, 2018 at 4:01 am

    […] How and Why to Use Cricut® Stencil Vinyl – Create and Babble – Follow this tutorial on how to make a stenciled and pillow and find out How and Why to Use Cricut® Stencil Vinyl for your stenciling projects. […]

    Reply
  5. Welcome Back To Craft Schooling Sunday! - Creative Jewish Mom says:
    September 30, 2021 at 1:24 pm

    […] Two cut vinyl projects: a vinyl scrapbook cover from the scrap shoppe blog, and a vinyl stencil pillow cover from create and babble. […]

    Reply
  6. 1shrewdness says:
    January 12, 2022 at 6:59 pm

    3appendage

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About Jeanie

About Jeanie

Welcome to Create & Babble. This is where I share my loves: crafting, hiking and camping

Read more about me here

Categories

Archives

AntiqueFarmHouse
Zots Craft Adhesive Dots

Amazon Associates Disclosure

Jeanie Hevener Emmert is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.


hobby lobby

Copyright © 2025 · Site by Pretty Pink Studio

Copyright © 2025 · Glam Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT