My Second Attempt at Making Stickers with Cricut (This Time They Actually Worked!)
Behind the Scenes of a Sticker Comeback
Hey friends! I’m Retro Banana Designs, and today I’m spilling the tea on my second attempt at making stickers with my Cricut. The first try? A chaotic mystery. No footage, no proof—just disappointment and a lot of wasted sticker paper
This time, I recorded the whole process and finally made something that worked. So if you're wondering how to make stickers with Cricut (without pulling your hair out), here’s everything I learned!
Step 1: Organizing My Retro Art Before Printing
Before even opening Cricut Design Space, I prepped my art files. I created a custom gallery with all my 70s-inspired art assets and exported them as transparent PNGs—perfect for sticker sheets.
I also made a branded background card that included my logo and the sticker pack name. This step made the whole thing look polished and ready for potential packaging or photos.
Step 2: Kiss Cut vs. Die Cut—What’s the Difference?
If you’re new to making Cricut stickers, here’s the difference:
Die cut = cuts through the sticker and the backing paper.
Kiss cut = only cuts the sticker layer, not the backing. Perfect for sticker sheets!
This time, I went with kiss cut for more control (and fewer chances of the Cricut eating my sheet).
Step 3: Setting Up the Sticker Sheet in Cricut Design Space
I resized each design to around 4.5 inches and arranged them on the canvas. Duplicated some, rotated a few—just trying to maximize space.
Important tip: Be sure to attach your stickers and background in Cricut Design Space. If you forget this step, your Cricut will rearrange things when it cuts. Been there. Don’t do it
Step 4: Cricut Print Then Cut—The Troubleshooting Begins
After printing, I spotted a few ink splats on the sheet. Boo. I switched to the washi tape setting for a lighter cut and adjusted the pressure settings. While the first cut didn’t go all the way through, I managed to peel the stickers off without damaging the background.
Small victories, people!
Step 5: Calibrating My Cricut (Game Changer)
This made a huge difference. I ran Cricut’s calibration tool, printed the alignment page, and chose the cleanest cuts (Box 18 and Line R for me). It made my cuts way more accurate the second time around.
If your cuts are misaligned, don’t skip this!
Final Results: They Worked!
After recalibrating and reprinting, the final sticker sheet came out so much better! I had to bend the backing paper to release the stickers more easily—but they peeled! They looked good! They were real stickers!
It’s not perfect yet, but way closer to what I imagined.
Lessons I Learned Making Stickers with Cricut
Always calibrate before cutting—especially for Print Then Cut.
Attach your sticker elements in the Cricut canvas so the layout doesn’t shift.
Check your mat orientation—that little arrow matters!
Don’t give up after a bad first try. This was a huge leap from my first attempt.
Final Thoughts
Making your own stickers with Cricut can be frustrating at first—but once you figure out the workflow, it becomes so fun and satisfying. I’m already planning my next retro-themed sticker pack!
Have you tried making stickers with your Cricut? Drop your tips (or horror stories) in the comments—I’d love to hear how your journey is going.
Until next time—stay retro
xo,
Retro Banana Designs
