Adhesive vinyl and heat transfer vinyl are expensive but you can use leftover vinyl scraps for these creative craft project ideas!
I know, I know, saving scraps can be a slippery slope, I know I have to hold myself back from hanging on to every crafty scrap I end up with. But particularly with craft projects using my Silhouette or Cricut vinyl, the material is expensive! I don’t want to toss vinyl scraps if I don’t have to!
So today, we’re going to chat about creative craft project ideas to use those leftover vinyl scraps. All you really have to do is think outside of the box a little bit and you’ll find some great uses for that adhesive and heat transfer vinyl scrap you have sitting around!
How do you decide which vinyl scraps to keep?
I recommend setting yourself a minimum size of vinyl scraps to keep. If you know working with teeny tiny pieces drive you crazy, tell yourself you won’t keep any thing smaller than 3 inches square.
Similarly, decide about vinyl material and color ahead of time. If you use a ton of heat transfer vinyl but very little adhesive vinyl, maybe you will decide to only keep HTV scraps. Or maybe you will decide to only keep scraps of glitter vinyl (for example) because those are the most valuable and useful to you.
The key idea here is that if you make these decisions ahead of time, you won’t have to agonize over every single piece of scrap vinyl.
How Do You Store Leftover Vinyl Scraps?
Personally, if I can store any of my vinyl flat, I prefer that, it makes it easier to work with. But most people also like to keep their vinyl rolled and there are all kinds of rolled vinyl storage rack that you can use. If you vinyl is large enough to roll, consider that option.
If you have smaller scraps that are too small to roll, consider flat storage in a flat box or container. You should definitely sort your craft vinyl scraps by type (for example, removable adhesive vinyl vs. permanent adhesive vinyl vs. heat transfer vinyl) especially since the markings on the back side might not be visible on scraps.
Then, consider sort by color as an easy way to separate your scraps. There is nothing more frustrating than just having to dig through a giant pile of scraps looking for what you need. A little bit of sorting will be 100% worth it.
Leftover Vinyl Scrap Craft Project Ideas
Vinyl Scraps: Think Small
The most obvious project idea for your vinyl scraps are small tiny projects. But there are lots of small-scale projects and things you can put vinyl on that maybe you didn’t even think about. Should we brainstorm, here are some creative project ideas!
- Phone chargers – label those babies so no one steals yours!
- Labels – label anything from shelves in the closet to storage containers in your office. You don’t need large pieces of vinyl for those.
- Light switches (why not?)
- Window decals – add your address, name or make pet decals for emergency personnel
- Color coded hangers, or cords – just cut a strip of colored vinyl with scissors and wrap it around, easy peasy!
- Address numbers on your mailbox
- Label for your recycling bin – our garbage and recycling bins look the same so I cut a small recycle symbol from vinyl and boom, now they’re different!
- Name labels for pet bowls
- Name labels for key hooks or coat hooks
- Gift tags
- Decorate a pair of sunglasses
- Jazz up your water bottle
- Label snack containers for school
- Label school supplies
- Label your craft supplies and scraps – ha!
- Make buttons
- Make magnets
- Decorate chip clips
- Add labels to spice jars
- Add inspirational words to your bathroom mirror
- Decorate a drinks bucket for a party
- Make stencils for small painting projects
- Make some decals for your manicure
- Decorate a picture frame
- Add some pizzazz or a name to a piggy bank
- Add a label to a cute soap dispenser – is it hand soap or dish soap? Now you’ll know!
- Add the date or names to an ornament
- Decorate furniture knobs
- Decorate some shoes
- Add some color to a clear umbrella
- Make bumper stickers or decals
- Label your electric toothbrushes – helpful if your family all have the same kind!
- Label or mongram your hairbrushes
- Add letters to baby blocks for a cute nursery decoration – don’t let them play with it!
- Add color or pattern to old earrings or cuff bracelet
- Revamp old keychains
- Decorate or put your name on a pen or pencil so no one steals it
- Make your glasses case more fun
- Make a luggage tag so you can find your suitcase at the airport
- Label your fabric scissors so no one uses them for paper (if you know, you know)
- Make your chapstick cuter
- Upgrade your phone case with cute shapes or your initials
- Use paper punches to make stickers or decals
Vinyl Scraps: Think Bigger
- Projects with sprinkles- making a craft project look like it’s covered in candy sprinkles really only takes small scraps but you can use a ton of colors to turn that into a big project.
- Wall decals – You can make cute wall decals from vinyl, but you can cut them from scraps just as well as from larger sheets, use what you have!
- Use scraps cut into geometric shapes to make a mosaic
Heat Transfer Vinyl Scraps
- Baby onesies
- Mugs, travel mugs and tumblers
- Label your kids’ belongings for school (ex. inside of winter coats or hats)
- Iron on labels for fabric storage bins in your linen closet
- Add designs or words to ribbon
- Use to make sewing project labels
- Decorate a tote bag
- Decorate a zippered pouch or laundry bag
- Napkins
- Monogram handkerchiefs
- Tea Towels
- Add patterns or letters to banners or garlands
- Make a face for a stuffed animal or doll
- Monogram anything
- Add a name or design to a backpack or belt bag
- Customize oven mitts
So tell me, what fun craft projects ideas for leftover scrap vinyl didn’t I think of? Do you have any more great and creative ideas? Share them in the comments, I’d love to hear them!
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