Why won't my vinyl stay flat stuck to my balloon?

by Claire
(Scotland)

After adding vinyl to my balloon, about 10 mins later it had all shriveled up, any tips? Or what am I doing wrong?

ANSWER

Hi Claire,

Sorry to hear about your problems when personalizing balloons with vinyl.

Which balloons did you use? Vinyl works best on foil or bubble balloons.

You can also apply it on latex balloons. However, this is a bit trickier because latex balloons are "rounder" (i.e. have a stronger curve). And latex balloons will loose air (or helium) faster and therefore shrink faster than bubble or foil balloons.

It takes a lot of practice to get the vinyl properly onto the latex balloon.

The video below is a great tutorial. The instructor shares an excellent tip at around 6:50 minutes into the video: she repeatedly cuts the transfer paper up to the vinyl letters so that it curves easier around the balloon.

How to Put Vinyl on Balloons: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best vinyl for balloons?

Two good types of vinyl to use for balloons are Cricut Premium Adhesive Vinyl Permanent and Oracal 651 Permanent Vinyl.

How do you transfer vinyl to balloons?

To transfer the vinyl decal to the balloon, you need to use a transfer tape. Cut a piece of transfer tape in the same size as your vinyl sticker. Place it with the sticky side down onto the printed vinyl design.

Use a squeegee to apply the transfer paper evenly and to avoid creating any bubbles or wrinkles.

Choose a transfer tape that's labeled as low or medium (standard) grip, like these two products below:

Can you put stickers on balloons?

Yes! Vinyl stickers are a fantastic way to personalize balloons. You can put stickers on foil, latex or bubble balloons.

Bubble and latex balloons have to be inflated before applying the stickers. With mylar balloons, the vinyl can be applied before or after inflating the balloon.

Why is my vinyl coming off my balloon?

Applying vinyl to a balloon takes practice. Even the pros tend to struggle with it from time to time!

Here are some tips to make sure that the decal sticks to the balloon:

* Use permanent high quality vinyl from reputable brands like Cricut.

* Use transfer paper that's not too "sticky." These are labeled as low or medium tack or grip.

* Apply the decal only to fully inflated balloons when working with bubble or latex balloons.

* Remove the transfer tape very very slowly, especially when you're a beginner. If you go too fast, the balloon might pop or you tear off not just the transfer paper but the vinyl as well.

* Put the vinyl on the balloon shortly before the party or balloon delivery, if at all possible. Balloons (especially latex balloons) shrink over time as they lose air. Helium escapes even faster. When the balloon shrinks, your pretty vinyl sticker will start to shrivel or develop bubbles.