Learn how to make your own Vinyl Car Decals with the Cricut Explore and make your own car decals! A step by step tutorial.
Have you seen those fun vinyl stickers or decals that people put on the back window of their cars? They are so fun and a great way to share with the world what you love. Whether it is your family in stick figures, your favorite football team mascot or an exclamation of your true love. In this case, that exclamation is bass fishing!
My husband loves to go fishing for largemouth bass. He had been telling me that he wanted a cool fish decal for the back window of his truck for a while. Since Father’s day is coming, that gave me the perfect excuse to make it!
For Father’s Day, I actually gave him two gifts. This Bass Vinyl Car Window Decal Sticker and the Lucky Tackle Box subscription!
For more information visit Lucky Tackle Box – A Gift Idea for Dad or to get a Lucky Tackle Box Coupon for $5 off your own subscription click here!
Supplies Used: Some links may be too similar items when exact items couldn’t be found online.
How to Make a Vinyl Car Window Decal Sticker with Cricut Explore
If a big mouth bass isn’t your thing, you can turn any cut image into a window decal using the Premium Outdoor Glossy Vinyl. You can pick an image from Cricut Design Space if you’d like, but I’m going to show how to upload an image and create your own cut file.
How to Upload an Image into Cricut Design Space and Create a Cut File
To find that perfect image you can do a simple google search. There are loads to choose from but I have found the simpler the image the better it transfers to a cut file.
*Images found online are fine for personal use, BUT most images will have a copyright and you will be in violation if you use them in any way for personal gain.*
When you find your image, right-click to save the image to your computer.
Go into Cricut Design Space and click on New Project. Click the bottom left sidebar button that says Upload.
Click on Upload Image and drag or drop the image onto the next page.
You will be asked to select your image type. For this bass fish, I am going with simple since there aren’t multiple layers of different colors.
Now you select which areas of the image are not a part of the final cut. In this case, I click on everything white. It then turns into a blue and white checkerboard. Make sure to click on every area that is white. In the below image I still need to click on the fins and tongue.
Select the image as a cut image. This also gives you a preview of what the cut image will look like. There is a back button you can click if you need to do some more adjusting to the image before you move forward.
After you approve you are taken back to the original upload screen but this time you can see your newest cut file among the images.
Cut your Vinyl Car Decal on your Cricut Machine
Click on the image to highlight and then select Insert Image.
This adds the image to your design area where you can adjust the size or even the direction of the image. Then you are ready to cut!
Click on the green button that says Make It and follow the prompts to cut the image out of Cricut Premium Glossy Vinyl.
After the image is cut, carefully weed or remove the excess vinyl.
Apply a layer of Transfer Tape on top of the cut vinyl. The Transfer tape will help you place the vinyl without letting any of the pieces stretch or move out of place.
How to Apply a Vinyl Car Decal Sticker
Clean the window where you want to put the decal really well. Then go over the area once again with rubbing alcohol to remove an excess grease or fingerprint smudges.
Carefully peel back the paper backing of the vinyl going slowly to make all parts of the image release from the sheet.
To apply the vinyl, start at one end or corner and lay the vinyl down in a rolling motion. This will help assure even placement.
Go over the Transfer Tape with the Scraper Tool and push out any bubbles from underneath the vinyl car decal.
Peel back the Transfer Tape and you are done!
Is this not the perfect gift for any fisherperson? A Vinyl Car Window Decal Sticker and the Lucky Tackle Box Subscription. Yup, I did good!
Click here to get your Lucky Tackle Box Coupon for $5 off!
Click here to purchase the Cricut Explore Air 2!
What image would you put on your back window? Share and leave a comment below!
SAVE HOW TO MAKE A VINYL CAR DECALS FAVORITE DIY PINTEREST BOARD!
And let’s be friends on Pinterest so you can see all the DIY projects I’m pinning!
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mary says
What a great idea! How have I not thought of doing this yet?
Katie says
ha ha! Thanks, Mary!
Don says
I just bought my wife a Cricut Explore Air 2 and I’m trying to use the Design Space however I’m not getting the same pages your are. The step where you select “simple” that page does not come up neither does the step where you select the area. It comes up directly into the design space. Now with that being said I’m not using a googled image I’m using an image I converted to .svg, maybe that changes things a bit? Basically it’s the logo for our business. Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.
Katie says
Hi Don, Cricut Design Space has recently updated within the last month. so that is why the programs look different. Sorry for the confusion. I’m sorry but I’m not understanding what you are trying to do. Are you wanting to cut the logo out with vinyl, create a stencil or a printable? The steps for all of the actions are different.
Lora says
Don,
The reason yours isn’t making you do those steps is because it is a vector file already. You can do whatever you need or want to the layers without needing to alter it.
Elizabeth says
Hello Katie, What kind of Vinyl do you used for the car decal?
Katie says
I used Cricut Premium Outdoor Glossy Vinyl. Here is my affiliate link: http://shrsl.com/?hzni It works great and so far has had no peeling or bubbling!
ELIZABETH says
Katie, Thank you very much .
Audra says
Do you know if this would hold up during a cold Minnesota winter?
Katie says
It’s hard to say exactly, I can’t find exact temperature specifications but it is rated to last 6 years on an outdoor surface.
Becca says
Katie –
If I am doing one with lettering, will I need to mirror the image before cutting? Making window decals for our farm and I don’t want to waste vinyl with a mistake. Thanks!
Katie says
Great question Becca! You do not need to mirror the cut for regular vinyl. You only mirror the cut when using iron-on or heat transfer vinyl.
Kelly says
Katie – Is there a way to make vinyls with the cricut explore air 2 that you can stick to interior windows that will read correctly from the outside? I have a boutique and am needing vinyls for our storefront windows. Thank you!
Katie says
Yes there is Kelly. When cutting there is an option to mirror the cut. This will cut it backward. You would then be able to place the vinyl to an inside window and have it readable from the outside. Thanks for the great question!
Donna says
Hi sweetie I’m new to the Cricut I have an Impressions or Expressions that I haven’t used yet. What vinyl do you recommend that is not permanent but I can use for window decals on vehicles? I want it to stay on but I can’t use permanent! I have tons of oracal 651 and I was told do not use that unless I’m making signs for outside LOL! Thanks Donna
Katie says
Hi Donna, No Vinyl is permanent and can all be removed. Cricut actually has an outdoor vinyl that is perfect for outdoor signs and car window decals. It is more sticky then regular vinyl but can still be removed. http://shrsl.com/hzni (affiliate)
Wesley says
Can you make car vinyl stickers with the cricut explorer one
Katie says
Yes, you can Wesley, just make sure that you use the outdoor vinyl.
Jessica Borron says
Hi, I’m having issues when I use the premium glossy outdoor vinyl as I cannot get it to stick to my transfer tape. I have tried several different brands including the cricket brand and I cannot get the vinyl to lift. I made sure that the settings on my cricket we’re set to premium outdoor glossy vinyl And I am still having issues. Any ideas or recommendations for me? Thank you
Katie says
Jessica, do you have a Scraper Tool? (http://shrsl.com/11ybw) Remove the backing paper from the transfer tape and when you lay the transfer tape over the vinyl, press it down really good with the sticky side of the transfer tape to the top of the vinyl. When you pull the transfer tape up, the vinyl should stick to the transfer tape and life off of the original paper backing of the vinyl. Just like a big a sticker.
Jessica says
Yes, I use that tool and have literally spent hours trying to get it to stick. I made a bunch of decals for my aunt for her son who passed away and just couldn’t get the stinking vinyl to stick. Some letter would after tons and tons of rubbing but it was so time consuming!
Katie says
That is so strange, I am so sorry Jessica. You should contact Cricut because you have gotten a faulty roll of transfer tape. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help.
Teresa says
Have you tried using window cling vinyl? Would that work for a car sticker?
Katie says
Great question Teresa! I have never used the window cling vinyl myself but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work as a car sticker! Good thinking!
Kristi says
Hi katie, i am trying to understand your post, seems like there is a step missing. You go from designing it on the computer, to cutting it out. So my question is, how do you print it? How does it get off the computer and onto the vinyl?
Katie says
Hi Kristi, I am so sorry I confused you. The design isn’t printed at all. Instead, the Cricut cuts image out of vinyl. Then it is just a big sticker. Please let me know if you have further questions. I am happy to help.
Amber says
Hello,
I noticed you used permanent vinyl. I am curious how it’s held up over the past couple years and if you removed it was it difficult
Katie says
Hi Amber! This decal has been on our truck since May of 2017 and it is still looking great!
Kristina Smith says
Hey, I know this isn’t a big deal in this particular case, but please be careful when suggesting taking images from Google. It’s fine for one-off, personal things like this obviously. But images on Google can be copyrighted, which can lead into trouble if anyone tries to monetize the image they swiped by turning it into decals, stickers, etc.
Katie says
Thank you for that great reminder, Kristina. I have added a little disclaimer. *Images found online are fine for personal use, BUT most images will have a copyright and you will be in violation if you use them in any way for personal gain.*
Gail walraed says
Hi
I want to make decals for patio door so people know they are there and don’t try to walk thru Them
Can I make the decals for the patio door the same way
If not how would I make ones for the patio doors and what material would I use
Thanks
Katie says
That is such a great idea Gail! Yes, you can make them in the exact same way.
John Smith says
Thanks for sharing such information, you simplified the whole process in very informative steps.
BETTY STROHBEHN says
I have a great granddaughter who likes to stick items and re arranging them. What kind of material would cling, not permanent and would hold up to multiple times of removing and re applied.?
Katie says
I would recommend using Cricut Window Cling Material. You can find it here via my affiliate link (http://shrsl.com/22mpg). It can be used over and over again and stick to glass,
Teri says
Do you have a tutorial where I can make a decal that has more than 1 color in it?
Katie says
I do not currently but I will add it to the list. Thanks for the great idea, Teri!