first vinyl on tile

[sambobbitt]

Here is my first attempt at making a tile- I had some trouble getting stuff straight- any tips on how to keep it all straight on the tile?
I have a booth at a flea market and thought I would sell some- Any advice about price? It cost me about $5 to make.

lifemoments2.jpg (59.34 KiB) Viewed 2961 times

[kelsie94]

Nice job! As for selling them I would charge $10.00 each. If, at the end of the day you still have some leftover (or for some insane reason they just aren't selling), you can mark them down a couple bucks and still make some money!

[btails]

I use transfer tape that came with my cricut and after cutting stick it to the good side of the cut and them turn over and pick out the part you don't want and then stick it to the tile and remove transfer tape...there are lots of good things out there to use besides transfer tape....maybe someone here knows the names of them..
very nice !!

[btails]

Here you go..finally found one of the sites....

youtube.com/?v=3CzSF0f8JJ4

video of the drywall mesh and tranfering your letters or words or sentences...hope this link works for you ..will try it out and change it if it doesn't !!! Judy

[JDahlie]

any tips on how to keep it all straight on the tile?

I use clear contact paper instead of transfer tape. It works great for most surfaces, including tile.

[firstcut]

Yep, Clear contact paper is the way to go. The video referenced above is mine, and I appreciate the plug, but mesh is for paper, not vinyl. What size tile is it? $5 worth of materials sounds high. I get my tiles for under a dollar at Home Depot and buy vinyl from sign warehouse about .50 per square foot shipped. I think you can get your costs down and with the transfer tape, that design will look awesome. Transfer tape can be reused, so it only adds a little more to the cost.

[sambobbitt]

I think it is higher cost because it is a marble tile- about 3.50 at Lowe's. Thanks for the advice. I did use the mesh tape and it moved because it wasn't one solid piece like the patch. When I put it down some of the lines were uneven and I couldn't eyeball it and get it straight. I don't know if I should try to sell this one or get it right first. I am intimidated by the selling thing!

[firstcut]

The real marble tiles, in addition to being so much more expensive, do not have a smooth enough finish for best results. In my experience, they were a little too "gritty" for a good stick, as well as having nooks and crannies that the vinyl couldn't conform in to. Try a faux marble with a smooth surface and use contact paper instead of mesh. Another rule of thumb is to keep text at 1/2 inch high or above so it will cut cleanly. When it works right, people will think it is painted on, but wonder how in the world you painted so neatly.

Your designs are always so wonderful, sam, I know people will want to buy your tiles once you get the technique down.