Yetis and Ozark Tumblers are all the rage these days! Ozark Tumblers from Amazon or Walmart are a third of the price and work just as well. They keep ice and water cold for up to 30 hours! They are amazing, it is the only cup I use anymore, for hot and cold drinks! So along with being amazing tumblers, they are very fun to decorate. You can do almost anything and jazz them up to suit your personality. So today I thought I’d share how to go about applying vinyl to a tumbler.
Applying Vinyl to a Tumbler Tutorial
This process will work for either Ozark Stainless Steel mugs or Yetis.
You can purchase Ozark tumblers by clicking here!! Or for 20 oz click here and for 30 oz tumblers click here!
First thing you need is a vinyl decal. I cut mine out with my favorite tool, my Cricut Explore Air™. Weed the vinyl and apply transfer paper over it. (For more detailed information on this part see my post here.)
Next clean the mug with a alcohol. I just use a cotton pad and wipe it around the whole thing to get all oils off so vinyl can seal better.
Then with the paper backing still on position the decal on the tumbler where you want it. Then use the Hinge method. Place a strip of blue painter’s tape down the center to secure it in place.
Peel off one half of the transfer paper and cut off the backing while holding the sticky transfer paper.
Pull the transfer paper so it’s straight and lay it gently down on the mug. Rub on the decal so it adheres. Then remove blue tape.
Now that it is secure in it’s position, peel off the other side of the paper backing. Pull a little bit so it’s taught and gently lay it down while smoothly it out with your fingers.
After rubbing down the vinyl you can slowly start peeling off the transfer tape.
There you have it! Easy peasy! Let the vinyl cure on the mug for 48 hours to make sure it sticks really well. I also will run an embossing heat gun back and forth hovering my vinyl and then press down really hard with my finger to make sure it adheres really well. Just be careful, not to touch it when it’s too hot! Also, anything with vinyl should be hand washed. No dishwashers!
Here are a few of the other ones I have made. Easy and fun! These make great gifts, especially for those hard to buy for people! A Cricut machine can make so many personalized presents. If you want to check out my ultimate guide for Cricut ideas (think gifts, home decor, easy projects, etc) click here!
If you’d like to learn how to seal your tumblers with epoxy, check out my tutorial here!
There are even more ways to decorate stainless steel mugs! Click on each image below to check out my tutorial for painting them different ways!
Thanks for stopping by!! What would you decorate a mug with??
Hi all!
I just recently placed an order with a friend who does custom designs with vinyl, and got her to put scripture on my stainless steel water bottle, so there is a lot of delicate lettering.
I’ve had the vinyl on for about 2 months now and it’s starting to peel ????
Has anyone encountered this issue, and does anyone have any solutions?
Also if it needs to be redone what type of vinyl should we use?
p.s. I only hand wash my water bottle.
Kimberley.
Small intricate lettering is tough to keep on sometimes. You can apply heat to it with a hair dryer or embossing heat gun and push it back down. I always go over the small vinyl with a heat gun and push down right after I put it on. Make sure you’re using oracal 651. Cricut vinyl isn’t always that great. Hope that helps!
Your site is awesome I loved your tutorials. Thank you so much for Sharing. I just got a cameo for Xmas from my girls & trying to learn about it.
Hi Dianne!! Thanks so much!! I’m sure you will have so much fun once you figure out how much it can do!! Have fun!
Definitely Oracal 651 (it’s an indoor/outdoor permanent vinyl). Even though it is permanent it can still come off with heat. I always make a little note and stick inside that says “Handmade with love, hand wash with care” or something like that. I also run an embossing heat gun or hair dryer over the vinyl after I attach it and press down so it really sticks (don’t press when it’s too hot though!). Great gift idea!! They will love them! Thanks for stopping by!
I enjoyed your blog. I am creating a gift for the staff at my daughters school this year and want to gift the staff purple RTIC cups with a black paw print and their name on the bottom. What is the best vinyl to use for this?
Im trying to see how you did this did you not reverse the cross before cutting?
Hi Valerie, no, no need to reverse the cut. You apply the transfer tape right on top and that literally picks the cut image up as it looks. Then apply it to the cup. If the hinge method is confusing you can just take the transfer tape off the backing before you apply it and center it best you can before you place it down. Then just push the whole thing down and peel off the transfer tape. Hope that makes sense!
This helps so much. I did my fist vinyl/foil project. The last layer want stay down in spots. Will the heat gun do the trick? Wasn’t sure bc of foul under it. Thanks
Made some quite large glass mugs with vinyl decals on them for our wedding. They’d be great for beer mugs frosty from the freezer. Do you thing putting them in the freezer will harm the vinyl?
Hi Joy! That is a good question! I actually don’t know that answer. It’s usually heat that is problem but I’m not sure if it would freeze …hmmm…let me know if you find out!!
Brilliant! So glad I found your blog! You have a new subscriber!
Thank you so much! Glad it was helpful to you!! Vinyl is so fun to apply to almost anything!
What type of vinyl do you use on the tumblers. I have tried outdoors vinyl but it doesnt give me a smooth feel.
Hi Shelia, I used Oracal 651. There is both glossy and matte. I hope that helps!
Thank you for this!!! Also, you’re so right about the Ozark trails! My boyfriend did a side-by-side comparison with Yeti, RTIC, and Ozark in an ice water challenge and the Ozark held ice just as long as the yeti!
Hi Crystal! Your welcome and thank you for stopping by! Glad to know the Ozark holds up in a challenge against both the Yeti and RTIC! I love mine!!
I wash my 30 oz steel mug (bought at Costco for $10) and decorated with Oracal 651 in the top rack of my dishwasher all the time with no problem. And it has a skinny font on it too. I figured I can always redo the decal if I have to, so why not give it a shot. I have been using it for months now with no issues.
Wow! Good to know, I scared to try!
Did you curve your text? I cannot figure out how to get text on without it curving up or down.
Hi Tera, no I’ve never curved my text. Smaller text is easier to get straight. Sometimes it’s necessary to cut little slits in the transfer tape to get it to lay straight on curved surfaces. Good luck!
I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong, but my Oracle 651 keeps peeling off of my tumbler. I’m cleaning it first and letting it sit. Please help
Oh no! Is your design really thin? The only time I had a part come up was when it was a long thin loop. Or is it exposed to heat or sitting in water??
What transfer paper are you using to transfer the vinyl. I am having problems transferring mine to the cup
Hi Shumaila, Thanks for checking out my post! I have tried quite a few transfer paper and the ones I like the best are Angel Crafts vinyl transfer paper tape or Expressions Vinyl tape. Some people use contact paper but that’s hit or miss for me even though it’s much cheaper. Hope that helps! Good luck!
Hmmmm…. I clearly don’t have my blade settings correct or something b/c I have a hard time getting my vinyl to the transfer paper when it is NOT on a cup 🙁 I have an Expressions 2… using Oracle 631. I have my blade on 5 and pressure and speed both on medium. THANKS!!!
Oracle 651** sorry for the typo
I have the Expression (not 2). What is Oracle 651? Thank You
Sorry, I found my answer below, after i posted my question.
Hi Kimberly, oh no! Finding correct settings is sometimes trial and error…ugh…. The explore has preset blade settings (it’s amazing!!) so I’m trying to remember what I did with my expression. You don’t want the blade to cut through the back piece of paper. I’d try the blade depth on 2 or 3 and see if that helps. Good luck!!
Hmmm I have a Silhouette cutting machine and I mostly use it for making stencils. I am always worried about the longevity of a vinyl decal on something that’s going to be washed on a regular basis. I worry about dish cloths catching corners etc. Do you ever have an issue with that?
Hi Erin, yes that was always my concern too. Luckily I have not had too many issues. There are different kinds of vinyl and I always use Oracal 651 for permanent use. The only times I’m had a few ends curl up are if they are really thin like on some of the long curly-ques of a letter. I have learned to try and use a thick font. Make sure to let it cure for 72 hours and I also use a heat gun over it and press it down again to adhere it better. When I have had to remove them I really have to scrape it off hard so it is stuck pretty good!
Where do I buy Oracle 651, and is it permanent, can I wash the Tumbers?
Hi Norma, Oracal 651 is an outdoor/waterproof/permanent vinyl. That being said you can always remove it if you scrape it hard enough. Oracal 631 is branded as removable vinyl and is better used on walls or places you’ll want to remove it at some point. You can definitely wash 651 by hand, but not machine wash. The high heat will melt the vinyl. You can buy oracal 651 from Expressions Vinyl, Amazon, and Ebay. Hope that helps!! Thanks!
I never have had trouble with mine. Don’t wash in dish washer and I also let mine sit without using for a while to make sure it sticks. My husband’s initials started peeling after 2years of rough use and being in the sun. I just peeled them off. (I think he was glad)?
what does a 30oz tumbler normally would sell for with it ombre and decale?
HI Lisa, I don’t sell them but from what I’ve seen, $25-30. Hope that helps!
Thanks for the tutorial. I love the cross! Where did you get the file?
Hi Terri, your welcome! I bought it from a Facebook group but I don’t believe she has a shop anymore. I’ve seen a few kind of close at lovesvg.com. Thanks for checking out my tutorial!
This tutorial helped me so much. Thanks for sharing!!
I just received a mug like this with my name, it has very thin designs and looks as if it’s starting to peel already…,,anything I can do to seal the design?
Hi! Yes, thin designs sometimes don’t stick real well. Depending on the design, you can cut the very thin part off or I use a heat gun (one for embossing) or you can use a hair dryer and put heat on the vinyl and then push it down real hard. The heat will reactivate the adhesive and stick it back down if it hasn’t gotten to wet yet. I usually pass a heat gun over all my mugs and let sit for 72 hours before I use them. Hope that helps!
Thank you for this!
What kind of vinyl do you use for your cups?
Hi Christy! I use Oracal 651. Let it sit for 48-72 hours before it gets out so it cures. It’s an outdoor permanent vinyl.
Do you cleary coat your cups to prevent the vinyl from ever peeling?
Hi Lisa, Thanks so much for checking out my post!! No, I don’t clear coat the vinyl. I hear conflicting ideas on that. Most people say the vinyl needs room to breathe so it’s not good to coat it. Usually you have to scrape pretty hard to get the vinyl off unless it’s a really thin piece. Sometimes I’ll run a hot gun or hair dryer over it as the heat makes the vinyl stick a bit better. As long as you hand wash, I don’t usually have a problem!
Love your decals! Question: How do I use a decal with a double handle on my 30oz Yeti?
I guess I don’t know what a double handle on a yeti is?? Do you have a pic?