Trick to Picking Up Vinyl When It Won't Stick to the Transfer Tape

If you're transfer tape won't pick up the vinyl off the backing sheet - you're in luck.

I have a little trick that will help you get that vinyl off the backing sheet when it doesn't want to seem to stick to the transfer paper.
There can be a few reasons for why your vinyl isn't sticking to the transfer tape:

• The vinyl is 'old' 
• Poor quality vinyl (Oracal vinyl is recommended)
• Poor quality or low tack transfer tape (here's the transfer tape I recommend)
• Too much pressure/thickness when cutting the vinyl which pushes it into the backing
• Glitter vinyl seems to have more problems being picked up than regular adhesive vinyl

Sometimes no matter how much your burnish the vinyl through the transfer tape, it just won't seem to leave the backing.

This is exactly what was happening when I was trying to pick up the glitter vinyl circle that I quickly cut for my pop socket. If you're not familiar with Pop Sockets...prepare to have your mind blown. (More on that and a free cut file in a minute.)

Fortunately no matter what the reasoning is for your vinyl not sticking to the transfer tape, you can get around that.

The trick is to flip the piece of vinyl with the transfer tape on it over.

Peel off the vinyl backing - removing it from the transfer tape and vinyl as opposed to trying to peel the transfer tape and vinyl away from the backing.

You still may need to encourage it a bit, but by pulling the backing off rather than the other way around, you should have no more problems getting the vinyl to stick to the transfer tape.

And now you're all ready to place that vinyl on the surface. Like I said...mine was going on my new pop socket to make it match the rest of my glitter gold phone case.

Now for this goodness that is Pop Socket...these things are little handles you can put on your phone case so help you grip your phone more easily or prop it up.

My iPhone 6s+ is huge which makes it awkward to use one-handed...but the pop socket helps by letting it rest between my fingers! I can also prop it up...and when I need it to be flat again...just pop it in!

Amazing, I know..and even more so when you have it covered in glitter vinyl!  And because I think you'll all agree every pop socket needs some bling, here's a free pop socket template for you to download.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links, I receive a small commission. That's what helps fund Silhouette School so I can keep buying new Silhouette-related products to show you how to get the most out of your machine!

Get Silhouette School lessons delivered to your email inbox! Select Once Daily or Weekly.

Subscribe Here!