Silhouette Monogram-Third Time Is A Charm

I received my Silhouette machine for my birthday, which was back in June.  I have used it to make a few projects so far, but had yet to try it with vinyl.  I ordered some vinyl right before we left for vacation and was happy to find it in the mail pile when we arrived home.

I went to the online store and purchased an "S" monogram.  I'm sure I could have designed something, but I really just wanted some instant gratification.  Well, so much for instant.

So far, so good.  It cut easily.

I had even purchased a tool to help me remove the vinyl from the backing.

I cut it to fit the top of a plain step stool my daughter has in her bedroom closet.  On my first attempt I tried to remove the entire backing and then put it down.  It was one of those bad scenes where it kept sticking to my fingers and the more I tried to unstick the more it started to stick to itself.  

Strike One.

This time I tried to remove all the negative portions first and then carefully adhere it to the top of the step stool.  I would definitely call this Strike Two.  I ripped it all off and started to try to figure out a solution. I read the instructions on the vinyl and it talked about a purchasing a transfer sheet.  I really didn't want to purchase anything else.  The more I read about what they wanted me to do with the transfer sheet, the more it reminded me of something else...

Clear contact paper.  Maybe this would work.  I had an unopened roll in the house.

I printed out the "S" monogram for the third time (trust me, I was feeling very sick about wasting so much vinyl).  Again I removed all the negative portions.

Then I cut a piece of clear contact paper to size and adhered it to the top of the monogram.  

Then I placed it on top of the step stool taking care that it was centered and level.  I then used a plastic card and rubbed over the contact paper where the pink vinyl was.  Then I crossed my fingers and started to carefully pull away the clear contact paper...

Then I did the happy dance.  It worked like a charm and the vinyl came off perfectly!  I rubbed out those bubbles with my fingers and now it's perfect.

What a pretty addition to my daughter's room.  Now I can't wait to make more projects using vinyl.

Be sure to stop back tomorrow to see what I did with the extra "S's" I had left over from my failed attempts.

-Judy