BEST Vinyl Blanks for Beginners, and Where to Find Them
Adhesive Vinyl is great for all sorts of items, but it can get a little bit overwhelming deciding what to make, especially if you are just starting out and new to owning a Cricut, a Cameo or another cutting machine.
So I thought in this post I would just go over some items that are ideal for applying vinyl to, especially if you want to start off with easy items, and then I’ll give you an example of where you can often find them.
Either watch the video…
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So this is specifically for adhesive vinyl, not iron on vinyl. I might be here all day if I included that too!
Drinkware
So one of the most common ones you probably see vinyl decals on is bottles, tumblers, cups & glasses - and there are so many different styles, colours, materials and sizes to choose from, plus so many different designs you can add to them.
And although they’re often curved, they are usually fairly easy to apply vinyl to so perfect if you are just starting out and need to practice.
If you are confident in applying them though and you want to start selling custom drinkware, then you will want to check the quality of the blanks first. Also, vinyl isn’t usually dishwasher safe so you would need to make that clear to customers. That is easy to do by adding a care card to each package though, like the ones I have below as printables in my Etsy shop:
Find them on: Amazon
Amazon is a great place to check for these as they often do good bulk buying deals, but you can also get them as singular items as well so it’s great if you’re just wanting some basics to practice on - it also helps that they usually have pretty extensive reviews as well.
Amazon is probably one of the best places to find vinyl blanks in general actually so do look for the other items i am about to mention on there too when you’re comparing prices and quality.
Storage Items
The next is Jars, Containers and Storage Boxes - vinyl is perfect for making labels to help you keep your home organised, and there are a lot of different containers that it sticks well to, so you can choose a design that best fits your aesthetic.
Plastic and glass containers are usually the best for this as it doesn’t always stick that well to fabric or more uneven surfaces.
Find them in: Homeware Stores
For storage containers I usually try local homeware shops as they tend to have the best deals. Ikea often has good prices on these type of items…
and here in the UK so do places like Wilko, The Range and Home Bargains.
Then in the US I imagine Target and Dollar Tree probably also have very similar items at low prices.
But do let me know in the comments if you have any secret spots for finding home organisation basics!
Acrylic & Wood
If you want to make signs for weddings, events or even just your home then acrylic and wood are great options!
f you want larger pieces then local stores are usually the best choice for this otherwise shipping costs can end up being quite expensive.
When it comes to application, with acrylic just try not to touch it too much as it picks up fingerprints and dust really easily. And if you’re using wood it is recommended that it is sanded so it’s as smooth as possible and then also stained, painted and/or sealed to help the vinyl stick. Out of the two acrylic is a bit easier to apply to but it really just depends what kind of style you’re looking for.
You can also get smaller acrylic and wood shapes as well of course which can be used for a variety of items such a keychains and placques…
Find them on: Acrylic & Wood Shape Seller Sites
There are a number of online retailers that specialise in this sort of thing. A few examples include Acrylic Craft and Woodform Crafts here in the UK, My Craft Source and Craft Chameleon in the US and Etsy for various countries.
Frames & Mirrors
Then similar to acrylic, frames and mirrors are also great choices for signs and you can also make great gifts out of them too. Or you can just add vinyl to mirrors you already have up as little reminders or affirmations.
Just don’t put vinyl on anything that is an heirloom as it can leave a lot of adhesive behind when you remove it and it may need quite a bit of scrubbing to remove.
Find them in: Charity, Thrift & Second Hand Stores/Online
If you want to buy larger mirrors and frames, look for second hand ones in thrift and charity stores or on places like Facebook marketplace or Ebay as they can be pricey to buy brand new. Or try the home shops that I mentioned earlier in where to find containers.
Chalkboards
If you’re writing and drawing with chalk isn’t up to scratch then chalkboards are easy to apply vinyl to and they make great wedding signs or first day of school boards.
Just make sure they are as free of chalk dust as possible before you apply!
Find them in: Craft Shops
I often see these in craft shops like Hobbycraft or The Works here in the UK and I can imagine they would be in Hobby Lobby and Michaels in the US, or perhaps look at school suppliers as well.
Cutting boards & Trays
Then cutting boards and trays can make great seasonal items and gifts, and are usually pretty easy to apply to.
Vinyl isn’t usually food safe so they’re not suitable for eating off, so they are more appropriate as a decorative item!
Find them in: Supermarkets
Cutting boards and trays are usually very easy to find in supermarkets as well as home stores for a decent price, and in all different styles, shapes and sizes.
Ceramic Tiles
Then my last idea is ceramic tiles - they are really easy to add vinyl to and make great decorative gifts and coasters. You can even get fancy shapes and make them into christmas ornaments like the below…
Find them in: Local Hardware Stores
The good news is that tiles are super easy to pick up in your local hardware store for a low price, or even sometimes for free as a sample! Perfect practice material.
…and so many more!
So those are just a few ideas of things you can start with that are pretty simple. Of course you can also use things you already have, and you can add vinyl to windows and walls as well, but hopefully, this has just given you a little bit of inspiration.
If you want to sell items…
If you do want to get into selling you probably want to look at wholesalers for items that you can bulk buy, so that you’re getting the best price per item and then you can make a good profit. There are loads out there, but when it comes to items for your business you really need to do your research to make sure the quality is good enough, that delivery isn’t going to be difficult and that you’re getting the best price possible.
I hope you found that helpful - do let me know in the comments if you have anything else to add or if you have any questions.