DIY vinyl holiday wall decals are perfect for adding some festive touches to existing decor during the holidays. Great for making new decor too! Last year I added gold vinyl lettering to a large mirror (Glory to God in the Highest).

Christmas Dining Room 2012

I also love using vinyl lettering to create signs or to place directly on the wall.

Reindeer Games Sign Tutorial

But this year, I have a large world map in the family room. I tested the vinyl on the canvas and it didn’t cause any damage so this project got the ‘green light’ for me! Yay! (Please do your own test before applying vinyl directly to canvas or art work.) If it didn’t work, plan B was to use vinyl lettering on a wood plank sign for above my canvas. or to add vinyl lettering to a laminated map poster. 

before {family room makeover}

MaterialsI used:

• Green Vinyl (Happy Crafters)
• Transfer Paper
• World Canvas Art is from Overstock

Tools: 

• Silhouette Cameo

What I did:

I created my lettering for “Joy to the World” using my Silhouette Studio software.

*Incidentally, there is a nearly identical ‘world shape’ as shown on my canvas, so you could also cut out vinyl continents in any color and apply directly to the wall or onto a large piece of plyboard to create your own overall “Joy to the World” wall decals. 

Load the vinyl into the Silhouette Cameo color side up. 

Adjust the blades as needed and send design to “cut”. 

Remove vinyl from machine and weed away negative space around lettering and centers from the letters o and e.

Place transfer paper over the design and rub with a credit card. 

Peel away waxpaper backing from lettering. If letters are sticking to the wax paper, replace transfer paper and rub again. Sometimes I have to use my thumbnail to help the vinyl transfer.

Place vinyl design with transfer paper onto the canvas.

Tricky! Rub the design without stretching the canvas. I supported the back side of the canvas with a book before rubbing. 

Peel away transfer paper. 

All done!

The best part is that I can remove the vinyl letters after the holidays without damaging my printed canvas (remember to test your art before attempting this – or create a specifically designated piece for the holidays). 

I also added “peace on earth” to my globe to help camouflage the area where numerous price tag stickers removed the map paper…

How are you adding vinyl to your holiday decor this year? 

*This post is sponsored by Happy Crafters. Tutorial, experience and opinion is my own.