How to Make Valentine Gnome Stickers

So sometimes a trend comes along that I just love. And I will hop on that bandwagon like nobody’s business. My M.O. is to get on fairly early in the ride, but I’ll hop off early too. It’s not so much boredom, more of a magpie tendency to like the bright and new. So in November, when I had my truly epic Gnome Craft Party Takeover, I was all in on the Gnomes. In December, my Gnomies and I were still pretty tight. But I thought that by mid- January I’d be ready to pack them away with the Christmas tree. Then I started to see THE CUTEST Valentine’s Gnomes. If you’re still with me on this Gnome ride, you’ll want to read the tutorial below on how to print then cut Valentine Gnome Stickers with a Cricut.

Just a Sweet Tip

Let Me Count the Reasons Procreate + a Cricut= THE New Crafty Power Couple!

Call them Cricreate or Proricut, here are five reasons I LOVE them together.

1. You don’t have to know how to draw. Each Procreate canvas has layers so that you can add a photo to one layer and trace it onto another.
2. With the Apple Pencil or another stylus, you feel as if you’re holding a pencil, pen, or paintbrush. I added a paper-like screen protector so that when my stylus glides across the surface of the iPad it has the same feel as my sketchbook
3. It’s easy to undo. This has totally spoiled me. The gesture to undo in procreate is a two-finger tap. I find myself doing this unconsciously all the time now. Switching between the mark-making tool and the eraser tool is just a tap on the pencil.
4. Procreate will export your canvas in multiple formats. Including .PNG and .JPEG so pulling my hand lettering design from Procreate to Cricut is pretty simple.
5. I can create my own designs for my craft projects that are unique to me and my work. This is a total game-changer as far as setting my products apart from others. This is especially valuable when I’m trying to sell my work in a saturated market.

True confession- For over a year, I would go hang out occasionally at the Apple Store- JUST so that I could play with the Apple Pencil and Procreate. It’s one of Apple’s demo apps installed on the iPads in their stores. So if you want to go check out the app before you purchase you can. And I believe that the Apple Pencil now works with all the newer iPads, not just the spendier iPad Pro’s.

How to Print then Cut Valentine Gnome Stickers

Supplies and Materials

• Valentine Gnome Stickers*– .PNG file from my Creative Resource Library
• Sticker Paper: I use this matte sticker paper and this glossy sticker paper for inkjet printers. I have a comparison of a couple of different types of glossy sticker paper on my Resource page.
• A home printer ( I use the Canon Pixma Crafter’s Printer)
• Computer, smartphone, or tablet
• Small paper trimmer or scissors
• Cricut Design Space – I’m demonstrating using the desktop version, but the app is extremely similar
• Cutting machine like a Cricut Maker or the Cricut Explore Air 2
• Cricut Light Grip Cutting Mat (it’s better for stickers than the Standard)

Directions

Step One- Download the Valentine Gnome Sticker File and Upload into Cricut Design Space

I won’t get into this too much. You can see how to do it in the video above or in the post, How to Print then Cut Stickers with a Cricut.

Step Two- Upload the Valentine Gnome Stickers into Cricut Design Space

When you upload the Vday Gnomes .PNG file, you’ll be prompted to process it as an Image Upload. Choose Complex. Then “Save as a Print then Cut” image. Back to your Uploaded Images, where you can select the file and “Insert Image” into your canvas.

Step Three- Size the Image

So this is where you have some choices to make. Cricut will not let you use an image bigger than 6.75″ w. x 9.25″ h. as a Print then Cut image. So you can do one of two things. Either make one full-sized sticker sheet or you can two smaller sheets.

To make one full-size the Gnome sticker sheet by changing the height of the image. Select the design, then in the top toolbar change the height of the design to 9.25″. Because the constraints are locked, changing the height will automagically change the width in proper proportion.

OR you can make the image smaller and print two of it on the same piece of paper. To start, make the image smaller so you can more easily work with it. Then, with the image selected, duplicate it once.

Step Four: Rotate, Align, Arrange and Attach

Rotate the sheets 90 degrees in the top toolbar. and then, with both selected, choose the “Align” function in the top toolbar. From the drop-down menu, chose “Align left.” This will move your sheets up against the ruler on the left-hand side of your screen. Then in the top toolbar change the width to 6.16″ and then move the bottom sheet down just a bit until its’ bottom edge is even with the 9″ line on the left side ruler. Select both and “Attach”. Then click “Make it” in the upper right corner of your screen.

*Optional- you can save your project before you click “make it.”

Step Five: Print your Image

On the next screen, you’ll be prompted to print your image. When you say you want to, Cricut will bring up a box with your printer selected. Choose the number you want to print, and then toggle off the “add bleed” suggestion. If we did not have the white border then having the bleed turned on is a great idea. But because we have our white border on white paper we don’t need the bleed. Make SURE you have your sticker paper in your printer (most printers have you load it upside down into the paper cassettes) and then click Print. This will send it to your printer.

A word of warning- the glossy sticker papers don’t always dry immediately. I’ve had them smear on me when I handled them too soon. So as a glossy sheet finishes printing I will carefully set it aside and then let it dry just a bit before I gather the sheets up and stack them.

Step Six: Cut Your Stickers

Once you’ve printed, you’ll want to click continue and progress to the next image. This will show you how to position your printed sticker sheet on a mat. I like to use the light blue (less sticky) mats.

Once it’s positioned correctly you can go back to your screen and ‘select your materials.” I usually like to do a kiss-cut with my stickers so that the stickers are cut but still on the backing paper. This is opposed to die-cut where each sticker with it’s backing is completely cut out of the sheet. To get a nice and clean kiss-cut I use the “Vinyl” setting and then changing the default pressure to “Less”. I’ve found this works really well with the papers I use (see supplies links above).

Place your printed sticker paper on the mat so that it aligns with your image on the screen. Then, upload your mat and when prompted, press the blinking “Go.” Your Cricut will find the printed black registration box around your images, and then it will cut your sticker images. Once it’s done, unload the mat, flip it over, and then pull the mat away from the sticker paper. This little trick helps keep the sheet from rolling up as you pull it off the mat. If that happened anyways you can place the sheets under some books for a little while and they will flatten out.

Step Seven: Trim the Sticker Sheets

I use my small tonic paper trimmer to cut off the black lines. But any paper trimmer will work. If you made the single larger images then you’re done! If you’ve made the two smaller size sheets you’ll want to cut the sheet again in half. That is usually at 4.75″. This creates two sheets that will fit neatly into a standard-sized card envelope. Perfect for gifting. Pretty sweet, right?

Matte or Glossy?

I’ve also made stickers with both matte and glossy. And even though I know that’s the only difference, to me, the glossy stickers seem richer and more detailed. But I’ve had friends say they like the matte better- especially for their planners. So if you don’t know what you like- try both!

For MORE Gnome Inspirations

If you’re already yelling “MORE GNOMES” then you’ll want to sign up for my email list. Not only will you get the sweet Gnome stickers above but you’ll also get notified when I have more fun Gnome projects. You’ll also get instant access to my Creative Resource Library where I have some Holiday Gnome Stickers hanging out.

AND if you’d like to know more about Gnomes here’s a great article with everything we THINK we know about them. Because of their reclusive habits, I don’t know that we’ll ever know the true history and culture of these fantastical “little people”. And personally, I love this article about the difference between Nisse and Tomte.

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If you found this tutorial for Print then Cut Valentine Gnome Stickers helpful, please share it either on social media or by pinning the image below to Pinterest. I really appreciate your help with this!

Also, if you have any questions about this tutorial, please let me know. You can reach me by leaving a comment here, on my Instagram, or on any of the videos on my YouTube channel! Thanks for reading!

Want to Remember Where You Found Those CUTE Stickers? Pin this Pic of these Valentine Gnome Stickers to Pinterest!