How to Make Puffy Stickers: Complete DIY Guide

If you love making stickers and already have a little DIY experience, the next project you should try is making puffy stickers at home. A puffy sticker does not lie flat like a normal sticker. It has a little dome to it, almost like a tiny pillow. That small and squishy bump is what makes puffy stickers special.

The good news is that you do not need any fancy equipment to make them. You probably already have most of the materials lying somewhere in your house. This guide walks you through exactly how to make puffy stickers at home, step by step. You will also find a couple of other methods you can try, especially if you're looking for a different finish.

What Is a Puffy Sticker?

A puffy sticker is a regular sticker but with a raised 3D surface. Instead of lying flat, the top layer sits up slightly, giving it a soft, bubble-like feel when you press it, and it's extremely satisfying.

The raised look comes from a layer hidden underneath the sticker, usually a thin sheet of foam or a similar material.

Puffy stickers are very popular, and you can see them all over planners, phone cases, water bottles, and gift wrapping.

They are small, cute, and really easy to make. So, let's dive straight into the process.

Materials You'll Need

Grab these materials before you get started.

Sticker paper or regular paper: Both work, but sticker paper already has an adhesive backing, so it makes everything easier. If you only have regular paper, you can still make this work by adding some kind of adhesive to the back.

A printer (optional): Any printer works, or you can also draw your design directly on the paper.

Thin double-sided foam tape: The secret ingredient for this project. You can also use craft foam, but once again, you have to figure out how to add adhesive to it. Go with thin double-sided foam tape if you want an easier time.

Clear packing tape (optional): This is a cheap way to protect your sticker.

Scissors or a craft knife: Choose whichever you're comfortable with. If using a craft knife, also grab a cutting mat.

Pencil: To trace the sticker's shape onto the foam.

How to Make Puffy Stickers (Step-by-Step Guide)

Try this before you try the other two methods mentioned in this article. Making puffy stickers with foam tape is the easiest and safest way for beginners. Here is how to do it.

Step 1: Design Your Artwork

Start with a design you want to turn into a sticker. As mentioned, you can either print it on the paper or draw it by hand. The key is to keep the design simple, or rather the shapes. We will be tracing the shape onto the foam later, so it helps to keep the shape of your sticker as simple as possible.

Step 2: Draw or Print Your Design

Draw or print your design on your sticker paper. If printing, create a canvas the size of your sticker sheet on your favorite design software, and add as many designs as possible. Make sure to leave some gap between designs.

Step 3: Cut Your Design

Using your scissors or a craft knife, carefully cut around the design. Go slowly around curves so the edges stay clean and make tracing easier later on.

Step 4: Trace and Cut Your Foam

If you're using regular paper and craft foam, trace the sticker's design onto the foam using a pencil. If you went with sticker paper or a double-sided foam sheet or both, you can simply peel the backing of any material and stick it before cutting.

Then trim the foam to match the exact shape of your design, following the edges you already cut. This foam is what gives that puffy shape, and it is also what sticks to things. This is why using double-sided foam tape is important.

Step 5: Seal the Front

The simplest way is to cover the front of your sticker with a layer of clear packing tape. This step will protect the print from smudging and other things. Make sure the print or your artwork is completely dry before you seal it.

This step is optional if you're using sticker paper. Regular paper has no defense against liquids, but most sticker papers do.

Step 6: Peel and Apply

Peel the backing off the foam tape; this exposes the sticky surface. What's left is to stick your puffy sticker to a notebook, water bottle, phone case, or wherever you like. If you used craft foam, use any kind of craft glue to stick your sticker.

That is it; that's the whole process of making puffy stickers at home. Once you get the hang of it, you can make a whole batch in no time.

Other Ways to Make Puffy Stickers

The foam tape method is what you can try first. It's easy, extremely cheap, and a perfect DIY project for beginners. But it is not the only way; here are two popular methods you could try.

UV Resin Method

Some crafters like to pour multiple layers of UV resin on their printed design and then cure it under a UV lamp. This creates a glass-like dome that looks glossy and makes the sticker 3D. Depending on the type of resin used, the final product looks puffy, but it's hard or soft after curing and doesn't give the exact puffy sticker kind of feel.

Limitations: UV resin is hard and messy to work with, especially for newcomers. You must also take a lot of safety precautions while working with resin, like wearing proper gear, working in a well-ventilated area, etc.

Hot Glue Method

Another option is to use a hot glue gun to trace the outline and create the shape you want directly onto a sheet of parchment paper or a silicone mat. Once the glue cools down and hardens, you can draw or color the design however you want. This creates a 3D sticker, and whatever you draw on top has a raised effect. Once again, it looks like a puffy sticker but does not have the feel of it.

Limitations: Getting the shape right is the hardest part, because working with hot glue can sometimes become messy. The other limitation is you cannot exactly print and make a puffy sticker you want; rather, you make the shape first and then draw the design you want.

Skip DIY and Make Puffy Stickers With Vograce

If you want to make these stickers without spending time making them yourself, you can explore puffy stickers by Vograce. You just have to upload your artwork, and our production team will take care of making your stickers. The finished stickers will have a raised 3D surface that is soft and puffy.

This is a better option if you want cleaner results, need a larger batch of stickers, or are just not in the mood for DIY, because not everyone wants to deal with cutting foam and sticking layers, right?

This way, you can use your own artwork and turn it into cute custom 3D puffy stickers while skipping the entire DIY process!