A die-cut sticker is a small commitment. A sheet of planner stickers gets used up a row at a time; a single vinyl sticker goes on one thing and stays there. So the question people actually have is not which sticker, it is where.
Here are twelve places that work, four that do not, and the two-minute method for getting one on straight.
What makes a die-cut sticker different
A die-cut sticker is cut to the outline of its own design, with no square of background around it. Ours are printed on vinyl, which is thicker than paper sticker stock and holds up better on things that get handled every day. If you are sorting out sticker types in general, there is a longer comparison in functional vs. decorative stickers.
Twelve places that work
1. An e-reader case. The natural spot for bookish stickers, because the case is flat, smooth and looked at daily. Go Away I'm Reading was more or less designed for it.
2. A laptop lid. Room for several. Start in a corner so you can add later without rearranging.
3. A planner cover. One sticker on the front makes an undated planner yours. Planner Girl Checklist is the obvious one.
4. The inside cover of a Bible or journal. A verse you want to see every time you open it: Jeremiah 29:11 or Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.
5. A tumbler or water bottle. Smooth, hard-sided ones work best. Wash by hand around the sticker to keep the edges down.
6. A craft bin or storage drawer. Labels the bin and claims it. Crafty Witch earns its place here.
7. A notebook cover. Especially a plain one. A round sticker like Coffee and Chapters sits nicely in the lower corner.
8. A phone case (the clear kind, with the sticker inside between the phone and the case, where nothing rubs it).
9. A planner dashboard or divider. Laminated dividers take stickers well and you see them every time you turn to that section.
10. A gift tag or the flap of an envelope. The sticker becomes part of the gift.
11. A clipboard. For the mom, teacher or coach who carries one everywhere: Over Stimulated Mom Club says it for her.
12. A sticker book, unstuck. Some people collect and never apply, and that is a legitimate use. A reusable sticker book keeps them flat until you decide.
Four places that do not work
- Textured or soft-touch surfaces. Pebbled leather, silicone and fabric give the adhesive too little to hold.
- Anything that goes in the dishwasher. Heat and detergent lift edges on almost every sticker.
- Curves tighter than the sticker. A large sticker on a narrow bottle will pucker at the edges.
- A surface you have not cleaned. Hand lotion and dust are the usual reason a sticker peels in a week.
How to apply one so it stays flat
- Wipe the surface with a dry cloth, then a slightly damp one, and let it dry completely.
- Hold the sticker in place before you peel it and check it from arm's length.
- Peel the backing from one edge only, set that edge down, and smooth outward with a fingertip as you peel the rest.
- Press the edges once more and leave it alone for a day before it goes in a bag.
Buying more than one
Stickers are better in small groups: two or three on a laptop corner look intended, one alone looks lost. Every die-cut in the Die Cuts collection is $3.25 to $3.50, any five come to 20% off at checkout and any ten to 32% off. If you would rather buy it as one item, the Build Your Own Die Cut Sticker Pack is five designs for $13 or ten for $22, and you list the ones you want in the order note.