Home » Vinyl Closet Organization Labels Tutorial & Free Cut File

Vinyl Closet Organization Labels Tutorial & Free Cut File

Vinyl is one of my favorite mediums to work with for both home decor and practical items…like labels!  When I recently tackled the mammoth project of organizing our front hall closet, I decided that my Rubbermaid Organizers needed some labels to help keep things in order…but not just any old labels, some custom vinyl labels.  My *Silhouette Cameo was up for the task!

Here’s the quick how-to, so you can see how easy this process is:

Vinyl Labels Tutorial

How to create custom vinyl labels using a Silhouette - Tutorial by The Thinking Closet

The Step-by-Step

Step 1.  Design your labels.  First, I opened up Silhouette Studio and created some labels in two different sizes to accommodate my differently sized Organizers.  Because I have the Designer Edition software, I was able to use the rhinestone function to add some dots around the ovals for some added flair (I did this by adding a second oval inside the bigger one and selected the “edge” option).  My font of choice, Marmellata Jam, was inspired by these labels by The House on Hillbrook.

Although you may not find a use for the particular label titles I used, feel free to download my complimentary cut file by signing up using the nifty form below or by clicking HERE.

You can ungroup the shape and add your own text after downloading the free font. Or maybe you, too, have a closet full of candles, school supplies, batteries, and lightbulbs that need organizing! {Fine print: This design is for personal use and is not to be used for commercial purposes. Thanks!}

Free Cut File for Silhouette Studio - Labels!

Step 2.   Cut your vinyl.  Since our closet is darker, I chose white vinyl to really stand out on the clear front doors of our Organizers.  When loading your vinyl directly from the roll, make sure the vinyl is properly centered on the rollers (you might need to readjust the rollers).  Follow the cut settings recommended in Silhouette Studio, and let your machine work its magic.

How to place your vinyl when cutting with a Silhouette Cameo.
Just imagine this with white vinyl! #forgetfulphotographer

Step 3.  Weed your vinyl.  This is usually a really easy process using the hook tool.  You just pull away the excess vinyl and leave your label on the sheet.  However, I quickly learned that weeding out all the tiny little dots I had created was going to take an eternity.  Then, I had a brief moment of genius and decided to use a scrap of transfer paper to help pick up the tiny dots, and it worked quite well!  It definitely save me some time.

Step 3! Tricks for weeding vinyl when you have hundreds of tiny dots to remove....

Step 4.  Apply transfer paper to your vinyl labels.  I cut out my transfer paper to cover each individual label, using the red grid-lines as a size-guide.  Then, I used a scissor to rub over the transfer tape to ensure a solid stick between the vinyl and the transfer paper.  Next, I peeled the blue vinyl backing away, ensuring that the vinyl was stuck to the transfer paper.

This was my first time using transfer paper (I’ve always used the inexpensive alternative…contact paper).  While contact paper works in a pinch, I learned that transfer paper is 10x easier!

Silhouette transfer paper!

 

How to apply the transfer tape to your vinyl design.

Step 5.  Apply your labels to your surface.  If you want to be really precise, you can use a strip of painter’s tape on the top of your transfer paper to ensure your label is centered correctly, but I just decided to throw caution to the wind and “eye” it.  Because vinyl sticks so well to plastic, I only needed to rub my scissor edge on the transfer paper a few times to makes sure the label had adhered to the Organizer.  Then, I peeled off the transfer tape, and voila!  The Organizer was labeled!

How to apply vinyl using transfer paper!

And here they are in action, in our newly organized hall closet:

Custom Vinyl Labels using a Silhouette | The Thinking Closet

Vinyl labels help us stay organized!

Vinyl Labels in Action! via The Thinking Closet

For the baskets that did not have a plastic surface, I cut some oval pieces of chipboard using my Silhouette, painted them black using acrylic paint, and applied my vinyl labels to the chipboard.  Then, I used hot glue to adhere the labels to the baskets.

Using chipboard and vinyl to create custom vinyl labels with a Silhouette via The Thinking Closet

I’m banking on these labels to help us maintain organization in this closet after investing the time and sweat into organizing them in the first place.

Also, in the event that we have guests staying at our house, labels will help them find what they need and return it to its proper place…who am I kidding, it will help us when we get forgetful!

This is Lauren, signing off.

*Full Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post; however, I received free product for review.  This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase after clicking through, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Please rest assured that as always, I only recommend products that I use and love.  And gosh darn it, I do genuinely love my Silhouette Cameo!

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188 Comments

  1. I would use it at home because my home is my work place. I would make labels for the containers in my pantry. Awesome!

  2. Thank you for the tutorial! I just bought the vinyl pack for the Silhouette Cameo and am so excited to try using vinyl! I’m a sort-of newby, and have been hesitant to use anything but paper in my silhouette. BTW, when I bought the vinyl pack, I used your 40% off code – thanks for that!!!

  3. I would use custom labels in my home office/playroom. I’ve spent the summer trying to organize and this would be the finishing touch! Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

  4. I have a bunch of those plastic storage drawers and it’d be nice to label them all so I know what is in each drawer. They are organized minus the labels!

  5. Thanks for the great giveaway!

    EVERYTHING at my work needs custom labeling! Haha. I’m a Youth Services Librarian in a very small public library and I’ve been eyeing the Cameo as a way to prep storytime crafts. I love the idea of using it to create label, which would be great for all the craft supplies I have stored in my office.

    1. Oooo! Storytime crafts sound like loads of fun. I have great respect for librarians, especially ones that invest in the lives of young people. Props to you, Amy!

  6. I love organization!!! I would go to town labeling things in the laundry area, kitchen, and my office. I have lots of photo albums/scrapbooks that could use some label magic as well. I love the photos of your work and your nifty idea to speed up the dot removal process.

    1. Thanks, Lorrie! Hopefully my method will help make the process go more speedily for others (like your sweet self). The New Yorker in me loves a good time-saver.

    1. Bah ha ha! You’re killin’ me with the thought of a dog with a purdy label slapped across its forehead!

    1. You’re already Captain Cool Pants in my book, Kirsten! 😉 But I’m excited you’re excited.

  7. My husband works from home (and I’m currently unemployed, so I’m always in there, too), and the office is a mess! I would love to organize it, and vinyl labels would come in sooo handy!

  8. This would make organizing so much easier. To paraphrase an old Libbys commercial, If it has Labels, Labels, Labels, don’t just put it on the table”, put it away.

  9. Honestly, I’d vinyl everything! 🙂 I’m making some changes in the home and moving things around. Getting more organized. I really could go for labeling and sticking everything. Mainly, I’d like to work on our family portrait wall though! 🙂

    1. I think we’re on a shared quest, my friend! Must. label. everything. 🙂 Thanks for entering, Sharon!

  10. I work out of my car mostly, and my goal is to have organized bins for all of my supplies, I would love a Silhouette to be able to make that organization pretty! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

  11. I have been wanting one of these!! I absolutely love it! I do tons of giveaways and projects and this would definitely come in handy!! Hope I win! <3

  12. My entire house could finally function with vinyl labeling. I am organized to the extent that things are in boxes, crates, etc. I promise myself I will remember what is where, but then I find myself pulling every box and everything out to find what I am looking for. Which then makes me think I am completely chaotically organized (as long as I don’t need anything, LOL) That’s exactly my life!

    1. I can understand that dilemma, Lucretia! Unless I have a label on it, I quickly forget what’s inside…even if I meticulously organized it a few weeks ago. So, you’re not alone!

  13. Any and Everything in my house could use a lable! Ha! Mostly though I would like to lable my playroom/storage area.:) Thanks for the awesome giveaway.:)

  14. We do a lot of crafts and have many totes that aren’t labeled. This would be great for all those totes.
    I also make jewelry and this would come in handy for that as well.
    What an awesome idea and thank you for the opportunity.

  15. My kids’ toy storage bins need some labels so maybe the toys would actually go back where they belong! =)

  16. My first project, should I EVER win a Silhouette (and believe me I enter on every possible opportunity) will be a WallArt gift for my brother. I owe him so much and would love to be able to help him decorate his new home in some way.

    1. How sweet of you to think of someone else first when it comes to imagining potential Silhouette projects. Your brother is a lucky guy!

  17. My family is now Vegan, so I have lots of “new” spices, beans, rice, spice blends, ect. that I keep in mason jars. So it would make it so much easier on the family to cook on their own if everything was labeled properly!!!!!!! FINGERS CROSSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    1. Sounds like you have everything so artfully arranged…yes, labels would definitely be the icing on the cake of that organizational mason jar masterpiece!

  18. Thanks for hosting the giveaway, Lauren! I’m hoping to use the Cameo in my 4th grade classroom…the vinyl would come in handy for my whiteboard!

    1. Good thinking, Kathryn! I never had a Silhouette when I was teaching in the classroom, but it’d be great for creating categories for the board (like classwork, homework, date, agenda, etc.) to avoid having to rewrite them all the time.

  19. I want to get my own organized and using this to make cute labels would be awesome as well as getting more quotes up on my walls. I like the idea of then also being able to make seasonal ones.

  20. EVERYTHING. Everything in my house/office/car/head/facebook needs labeling and with vinyl. Preferably sparkly vinyl 🙂

  21. Okay! So I did not win last time you did this . . . . So here it is again! I will send you my addy when ever you are ready!
    LOL
    I am doing the same thing! But I am painting the closets before I organize them, Your label is prefect! Now I just need the machine!!
    Fingers and toes and my dogs toes crossed!!

    Thanks!! LeAnn
    your forever fan!!

    1. LeAnn, I plan to keep offering these until everyone gets one, so hang in there, girlfriend!

      Ha ha. And you’re cracking me up with the image of your dogs’ toes crosses. 😉 Too funny.

  22. I could use it to make labels for my kitchen pantry items! I’ve been wanting to do that forever! Thanks for the giveaway!

  23. I have the perfect empty spot on my desk that it can sit on. Id love to have it to use on everything home style to crafting. It would be awesome. Thanks for the chance to win one.

  24. I have 2 kids, 3 birds, 1 rat, 1 gerbil, and possibly getting another bird or two. I need to be able to label everything! 😀

    1. Ha ha! Love the collection of animals you’ve acquired! I can just imagine all the items you’re itching to label.

  25. Omg I LOVE vinyl decals and lettering…. just thinking of all the things I could make with this makes my head spin!!!

  26. I would love to make labels for my kitchen. I love the large glass containers that I have seen on Pinterest that has Flour, Sugar, etc on them. Or even in the laundry room that have detergent, fabric softener. So many ideas!

  27. There are so very many ways I could use this CAMEO (fabulous giveaway, btw). We moved to Michigan less than a year ago and I’m trying to organize seasonal decorations, our pantry, and establish a sewing/crafting/office space so I could use it so many ways in these places. I also have a handful of projects I haven’t even started because I need the perfect craft machine to complete them (the wall art / canvas I’m making for my niece). I’m also getting married in less than a year and there are quite a few DIY projects that I would like to complete and I think the CAMEO would be ideal. Finally, I’m a teacher so there are literally endless possibilities for how to use this in the classroom. Keeping my fingers crossed!! Thank you. Xo

    1. Leslie, what an awesome list! I can tell a Cameo would get such great use in your hands! Best of luck to you.

  28. I have drawers and boxes of kids craft and school supplies, right now it’s impossible to remember where everything is so I just have to get new supplies even though I know that I already have some somewhere!

  29. How great you have another give-away of a Cameo and also the labels you made–so kind to give them for free!
    I also was mesmerized by your little video (a gif?) of you putting on a label. You’ll have to teach us/me sometime how to upload that. Great tutorial and all the best to whomever wins the give-away. Also, looking forward to your post(s) about the Haven Conference whenever you have time to do that (after shark week?). Love, love!!

    1. It’ SUPER easy to make your own gif! Just use this free site: http://gickr.com/ And it works best if you use a tripod, so your camera stays in the same place for all the photos, but it’s not necessary!

  30. A better question might be what would not be labeled? Tons of things at home and in my classroom. I’d be the envy of every teacher in the building.

    1. Yes you would, Sylvia! The possibilities for using a Silhouette in the school setting are endless….

  31. Ooohh – I would love to get my sewing room organized. The Cameo sounds amazing. Thanks for the opportunity to win one!!

  32. I could really use this! My fiancé and I were supposed to get married this October and we lost our home in the May 20th Tornado that effected Oklahoma. We lost all of our wedding stuff so we are getting to start over. We can’t afford to pay for it all over again so now I am trying to make everything I can for our wedding. I have watched so many tutorials on the Silhouette and I know that if I had one I could make almost all of my wedding stuff. Thanks for the giveaway!

    1. So sorry to hear about all of the losses you have suffered, Amber. Makes me all the more excited that you were one of my MOO Giveaway winners!

  33. I would love to win the cameo and everything in my home needs vinyl labels. I love what you have done and I really need to get organized and being able to make these labels myself would really help.

  34. I could use some labels on ME!! Announcing that I am the winner – wish wish wish. I would do that and take a picture just so you would know I am true to my word!! I would just love to win – JUST ONCE!!!

    1. Hang in there, Karen! I NEVER win stuff, and then last fall, I won an epically huge giveaway at Lil Blue Boo that rocked my world for several months. Here’s to hoping the same will be for you! (And you cracked me up with the idea of labels on yourself. I feel like I need that, too, sometimes!)

  35. I would love to use some labels to better organize everything around the house. Post-it note labels only hold up so well, ya know? 🙂 Vinyl labels seem a lot more kid-friendly!

    1. It’s true. I love a good post-it, but they’re not the best for the long-haul…or for kids with grabby hands. Ha ha.

  36. I think everything needs labeled in my house. This would make it really easy. I am 70 years old and I can never remember where thing are. Bless you

  37. I have some large Rubbermaid tote boxes that hold lots of stuff in my sewing/craft room. I need some clever labels so I can find my supplies!

  38. Lauren,
    I can’t wait to see your recap of the conference. I am really planning on going next year. I did find a conference in Orlando in September for Florida bloggers I am going to attend. Are you attending?
    Anyhoo I have never used one of these but I really want to! I am thinking I could organize my food panty!
    Hope your day is great!
    Sandra
    The Adored Home

    1. Glad that we already established that we’re BOTH going to be at FL Blog Con! Watch out, world! (It’s going to be simply grand to meet you, face to face, Sandra.)

    1. What a fun blog title you have, Elise! (I heart pears, too. Who doesn’t?!) And congrats on your upcoming bundle of joy!

  39. I would lable everything! Including my kids, I have been eyeing the printable tattoo paper Silhouette makes and it would be perfect for disneyland trips!

    1. I want to try the tattoos, too! And what a great idea to use the on your kids at Disneyland! Brilliant.

  40. How cute are those labels! 🙂 I desperately need to cut those puppies out and slap on some tubs around here. Yay! For another awesome giveaway Lauren! Hope you are having a great week!

  41. Home! I’m doing a ton of new organizing things that could definitely use some pretty vinyl lettering 🙂

  42. I have the Ikea Expedit shelves in my craft room (love them) and would love to make vinyl labels for the little cubbies so I remember what items are stowed away there. I have boxes and baskets in the cubbies so I always have to pull them out to remember what’s in there.

    1. Love those IKEA Expedits! And good idea to add some labels to those cubbies to keep everything organized and under control.

  43. I can’t wait to hear all about the Haven Conference! I followed everyone’s pictures on Instagram and it looked like a blast!
    My pantry could definitely use some of the cute labels you made. 🙂

    1. It was incredible, Teresa (not sure if you saw my recap post on it or not). If you can make it there next year, I highly recommend it! Would love to meet you if you do!

  44. I would use the labels to organize all my baby stuff – bottles, nipples, clothing, bibs, etc.. Long list. Really, really really hope I win.. There is so much I would do with a Silhouette!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    1. What a great long list, Marni! And so specific, too. I can tell you have big plans for a new Silhouette!

  45. Thank you for the great giveaway. I have wanted to try one of these out for a long time. I currently have a Cricut but am wondering if the Silhouette is a better machine. Can you use your own designs and fonts with the Silhouette? With the Cricut you have to purchase their cartridges.

    1. With the Silhouette, you purchase designs from the Studio store. If you want to tour it, you can window shop before you buy! After finding the Silhouette, I would NEVER move to Cricut. Cartridges are so limiting! With the Designer Edition you can even design your own cuts, print and cuts, and rhinestone designs! Also, ANY (well, almost any, we’ve run into hiccups with a few) font you download to your computer, will load up into Studio, and you can use it!! I’ve got close to 300 fonts…

  46. girl, so glad to have met you at haven and SO in love with this giveaway! 🙂 my office needs labels…my kitchen needs labels…my classroom needs labels. are there things that don’t need to be labeled?

  47. I am SO THRILLED about this giveaway!! I’ve been meaning to email you in more detail from last time. I want to hear about Haven!!! Hope you’re doing well girl! xoxo

  48. Love your labels. I like that you made them into an oval. So you like the transfer paper, huh? I knew you would be hooked. Since it’s on sale, I’d better get some. Man, this isn’t a cheap hobby. I better get to crocheting to pay for my habit.

    1. Yes, I’m a huge fan now! (You warned me…ha ha.) And it’s true, I can’t resist all the fun Silhouette supplies. But I figure it’s an investment in our creativity, right?

  49. The kitchen would be labeled for my very first project then its onward and upward with this grand Silhouette Cameo!

  50. Phew, I am finally finished screaming! Wow, a Cameo Giveaway, miracles do happen! (keep believing, keep believing, keep believing..hee hee).

    I hope you had a wonderful venture to Haven! I bet you are still trying to organize all your new ideas and skills…what a great sounding conference! I am looking forward to reading all your shared stories!

    1. Love that chant, Kristine! And your willingness to believe!

      And it’s true, even a week later, I’m still sorting out my list of TO DOs and coming up with new ideas every day for what I want to do on the blog. It definitely pumped me up for all that lies ahead!

  51. Okay, I’m jealous now! 🙂 not only did you get to go to HAVEN, you have a Silhouette, but you can also get to make your own cute labels 🙂 Yep, very jealous now! 🙂
    I’m so happy that you got to HAVEN and meet bloggers, too bad I live so far away! will you be posting about it, I would love to read about your HAVEN experience?
    hope you are having a great week Lauren!

    1. There’s a blog conference coming up in Canada, I hear! Blog Podium, I believe. I know Thalita and Alex are going. Any chance you’ll be there? And you betcha I had to post about my time at Haven. How could I not share all of the exciting things I learned and people I met with my dear readers? Hope you had a great weekend, Ingrid.

    1. Hoping Silhouette broadens its reach to Canada soon. I have so many Canadian blogger buddies like yourself who would be all over it.

  52. Another Silhouette giveaway so quickly, and this one a Cameo! Thank you for the great tutorial and the opportunity. 🙂

  53. Hi Lauren,

    Welcome back! Can’t wait to see the tips you’ll bring back from the Haven conference. I hope to be able to attend next year. I’m back to blogging again and want to begin doing paper crafts this fall and winter. Back in 2010, I purchased the Cricut Expression and soon became disillioned because I refused to spend tons of money on all the cartridges (when only one or two images interested me). So, I’ve barely used the machine. I’m considering selling it on ebaby for a son! What machine do you recommend in the Silloutte category? It’s inspiring that I can come here for tutorials on how to use. Your suggestions?

    1. So glad you’re back in the blogging races again, Sandy! And it’s true, the major downside to the Cricut and major upside to the Silhouette is the cartridges issue. The deal on the Portrait is pretty sweet considering the value you’re getting, but in general, people say that if you can swing the price of a Cameo, do it. It really is nice having the capability of cutting 12 x 12 pieces, especially when it comes to paper crafting. But truth be told, there aren’t many other downsides to the Portrait than the smaller cutting area. And of course, if you got a Silhouette, I’d HAVE to add you to my Silhouette FB group, so we could hang out together there. You’d be flooded with inspiration and ideas from all the gals in the group, let me tell ya!

    1. Glad you put yourself in the mix, Christine! (And by the by, I heard from your bloggy buddy who emailed me that you refer to me as “The Silhouette Whisperer.” Not sure if those were your exact words, but if they were, they cracked me up. I literally laughed out loud when I read that. And sat a little taller in my chair. Ha ha.)

  54. I have office supplies and soon to be baby things to organize and would love to use the machine for that!

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