Tutorial ~ Make your own Stickers (using blank envelope labels)

BLANK ENVELOPE LABEL + BIBLE VERSE = DIY STICKERS

Blank envelope labels make excellent Bible verse stickers. Buy them from your local stationery shop and they should come with how-to instructions. Simply type (or write) your Bible verse in as if it was an address; and then print them out. How easy is that? Here are some extra tips to jazz them up…

CHOOSE YOUR LANGUAGE

The best part about making your own stickers is that you can add your child’s name and type out your Bible verses in your child’s own language.

DECORATE

Decorate your stickers by adding clip art, images, or draw your own doodles. Get your children involved. Here’s a few tips of how I do mine…

SET UP YOUR TEMPLATE

1. Choose your sticker paper

Blank envelope labels come in various sizes per sheet. Just choose the ones you want. I chose 33 labels per A4 sheet for my Bible verse stickers – 3 stickers across the page and 11 rows down. That gives our children a decent sized sticker, plus plenty of stickers to share around with family and friends. First, I set up a blank Excel document as a template document. This takes a bit of time, but once you have your template, you can just copy and paste it for next time.

2. Make sure your printer and your sticker page line up

To set up the template, I take out one blank sticker page out of the packet, measure it with a ruler, and set up an A4 Excel document to match – set up your margins; set up 3 large columns interspersed with smaller columns for the spaces between cells; and set up the row height down your page. It will look a bit like this…

Insert a rectangle shape into the first large cell. Make sure it fits snugly into the cell. This will be the edge of your sticker, whether you actually use the border or not. It’s just for placing to make sure your stickers match up to your sticker paper when it prints. When you have it exact, colour the border, so when you do a test print you can see exactly where each cell prints and whether you need to do any adjustments to your template.

Copy and paste that rectangle throughout your page if you wish, but I just do mine across the top (3 large cells) and down the first column (11 cells down)… like so. If they are correct, the others will be, too. It is worth taking the time to make sure your template is set up correctly. When you print your stickers, you do not want any part of your masterpiece to overlap into other cells.

3. Test Print

Now print a test copy. This can be done on plain A4 paper if you don’t want to waste your sticker paper. Cut out the other blank columns, so you are left with an ‘L’ shaped piece of paper. Compare it to your blank sticker page and make sure all the cells line up exactly. This may take a bit of juggling, hair pulling, and a few test prints to get it right. Once it is perfect, delete all the text boxes and save that document as your blank DIY sticker template.

NOW LET’S START MAKING STICKERS

1. Make a copy of your template document and open it up. Decide whether you would like one Bible verse or a few different Bible verses, a whole page of the same sticker or different stickers. If you are unsure, keep it simple to start with and just choose one sticker style and one Bible verse.

2. Insert a text box into the first cell [insert – text box] and type [or copy and paste] your Bible verse into it. Choose your text colours and the font you want.

3. Add clip art if you wish [insert – picture] to match your package theme. If you have no specific theme, just choose something your child will like. Try some of these: hearts, flowers, stars, animals, teddy bears, sports… whatever you want.

4. Add a border [insert – shape] if you wish.

This is what your completed first sticker should look like. We have one Bible verse in one text box; one clip art image, and one border. All fitting snugly into the first cell. If we set up our template correctly, this is exactly how it should print.

Click out of the cell, then click back into it to select the whole cell. Now copy [CTRL+C] that complete cell and paste [CTRL+V] into the other cells… OR… if you want different stickers in the other cells, repeat steps 1 to 4.

Check your masterpiece in print preview… then print. And that’s it!

MORE SAMPLES OF DIY STICKERS

Here are more samples that I did for my children using just one text box and one clip art inside each cell (no border), and changed to suit each child. These adorable teddy bears are from Grace at cutecolors.com (no longer active).

Here is a sports theme I did for my boys using four cool sports clip arts from MS Publisher, just alternating them.

Here’s another one I did for my girls using girly fonts, hearts, dragonflies and flowers. Simple but beautiful.

Here’s some fleuro stickers using just one coloured rectangle shape in each cell and one white text box sitting on top of it. And then the text was added over the top.

Here’s a closer look at the fleuro one. In this pic, I’ve pulled out one of the lime rectangles, so you can see it more clearly. The larger rectangle at the back is coloured. The text box is coloured white and set on top [set to front]. And your text box goes over both of them. If it helps, think of it just like shuffling bits of paper.

This one has a koala peeking over the rim (too cute), also from cutecolors.com, and word art with a slight shadow instead of a text box [insert – word art]. But it could also easily be done with a text box. I just like playing. :)

DECORATE

If that looks a bit scary, just make your stickers by hand. Simply print a sheet of plain Bible verses (as if they were addresses)… OR… simply write them in. Know calligraphy? Fabulous! Try that.
Get out your coloured pens or watercolours and let your imagination play. Not sure what to do? Try a watercolour background wash around your Bible verse in your child’s favourite colour. Enjoy doodling? Make up your own clip art. Try some hearts, flowers, stars, animals, teddy bears, sports… etc. Match your package theme. It can be in colour, or black and white if your child likes colouring in.
You might find it easier to draw your borders, if you want them. Will you choose a hand drawn doodle or use a ruler? Both look fabulous. Decorate your border with a few well placed tiny dots, stars, curly lines, flowers, etc. Ask your own children / grandchildren / students to help. Kids love making stickers!
Blank envelope labels are also fantastic for kids to make their own stickers. They can choose their own Bible verses and design away to their heart’s content.
Add your child’s name: I have also done personalised sticker pages for each of my sponsored children with their name on it, or alternate cells with Bible verses and their name, e.g. Jesus loves Estefany; Estefany; Loved by God; Chosen One; God loved Estefany and chose her for His own.
For something different, try making your own stickers or sticker decorations using clear contact paper. Simply draw your clip art on the shiny side, cut out and adhere.

READY MADE STICKERS FOR KIDS ~ FREE PRINTABLE

If you are running short of time and want some readymade stickers, or are looking for more inspiration as to how to design yours, here are some readymade sticker sheets for kids that are free printable. Simply download them, print on full-sheet adhesive label paper from your local stationery supplier, then cut them out. Add them to reward charts, stationery, notepaper, or wherever.

Stickersandcharts.com has 200+ different sticker sheets for children, with 30-40 stickers on each page. Check out these cute heart smiley faces, dinosaurs, butterflies, cute bugs. Other categories include nature, animals, countries, flags, weather, holidays, alphabet, numbers, sports, transport, occupation; free printable

Avery | OnlineLabels | WorldLabel (scroll down) these sites have more label design inspiration and templates for you to choose from.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN!

Have you ever made your own Bible verse stickers? How did they turn out? Love to hear your ideas…

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