What Is Removable Vinyl Used For? The Complete Guide

Whether you’re an artisan or have a love for crafts, you can’t deny that vinyl has many uses for your project ideas. But what is removable vinyl used for?

Removable vinyl has many uses, and the only limit is your creativity. You can use it as a stencil when painting a wall or over painted wood, stencil for glass etching, wall decals used for labeling, seasonal or temporary projects, and many more. 

In short, removable vinyl or temporary vinyl is great for indoor wall signs, decals, or any project that may need temporary application. With temporary vinyl, you won’t have to worry about the wall’s paint getting damaged upon removal. In fact, in the arts and crafts world, removable vinyl is what they call the renter’s best friend. 

So pull out your notebook, prepare your cutter plotter, shop online for removable vinyl, expand your imagination for the designs you want, and take note of these removable vinyl uses. Happy crafting!

Before anything else, let’s get things clear. There are two types of vinyl — adhesive vinyl and heat transfer vinyl. Adhesive vinyl or sticky vinyl is mainly used for arts and crafts like wall decals and labeling. Adhesive vinyl sticks to any smooth and hard surface (e.g., wood, glass, metal, plastic, etc.). In other words, removable vinyl is a type of adhesive vinyl.

On the contrary, heat transfer vinyl sticks to fabrics using heat and pressure. Heat transfer vinyl is for printing t-shirts, canvas bags, or any fabric. With a heat transfer vinyl, you’re going to need a heat press machine, iron, or EasyPress to transfer the vinyl to the fabric. 

Both adhesive and heat transfer vinyl come in different designs like matte, glossy, glitter, glow in the dark, and many more. In this article, we’ll focus on removable vinyl and its uses. 

Regardless of the cutter plotter you have, you can use it to cut temporary vinyl. Whether it’s Cricut Maker, Silhouette, Graphtec, or any other cutter plotter brand, change the settings of your cutter plotter when cutting removable vinyl.

Removable vinyl is an adhesive vinyl that easily peels when stuck to any type of surface. If you use removable vinyl, you won’t have to worry about leaving behind sticky marks or damaged wall paint. This is the most significant difference between permanent and removable vinyl. 

Where can you use removable vinyl? Believe it or not, to almost anything that has a smooth and flat surface, such as glass, ceramics, wall, wood, and many more. Typically, removable vinyl is great for indoor use. 

Most removable vinyl cannot withstand various weather conditions. It can stick to an outdoor surface such as widows of restaurants, but the question is how long it will last. Removable vinyl may not withstand prolonged exposure to the sun even though it’s waterproof. 

The main differences between removable vinyl and permanent vinyl are their durability, stickiness, and how long it will stick to the surface. So when deciding if you use removable vinyl and permanent vinyl, here are some things you should consider: 

• Removable vinyl for indoor use may last between 1-3 years. Temporary vinyl, when used outdoors, may only last for a month or so. In comparison, permanent vinyl may last between 3-8 years, both for indoor and outdoor use. 
• Permanent vinyl is waterproof, dishwasher-safe, and microwave-safe. In contrast, some removable vinyl is waterproof, not dishwasher-safe, and microwave-safe. 
• Usually, but not all, temporary vinyl has a matte finish while permanent vinyl is glossy. 
• Permanent vinyl is an excellent choice for outdoor use like signages, car decals, mugs, tumblers, or anything exposed to various weather conditions, and even the dishwasher. 
• For washable merchandise like tumblers, glass, or mugs, you may use temporary vinyl, but there is a risk that it can get removed after several washes. It’s best to use permanent vinyl for glass, mugs, tumblers, or any merchandise that needs to get washed from time to time.
• Removable vinyl is great for indoor and temporary use. If you don’t want any residue from the vinyl markings, you should use temporary vinyl.
• When painting, you can’t use permanent vinyl as a stencil as the sticky marks will leave a residue. 
• Removable vinyl is a great option for birthdays, events, or festivals. 
• If you think you want to change a sticker in your home or a wall decal, choose removable vinyl. So in case you change your mind about updating your home’s design, it won’t leave any residue.

You should use removable vinyl if the purpose of your project is temporary and for indoor use. Also, you can use removable vinyl if you want to have a trial test on a project. In that way, you can test out what the project looks like before using the temporary vinyl.

For instance, you’re not sure if the design is too intricate for your cutter plotter. Before using a temporary vinyl and sticking it to the wall, you can try it out with the removable vinyl at first. That way, you’ll know if the design works out well. Even when you remove the temporary vinyl, it won’t leave any mark. 

Removable vinyl is usually available in different colors, styles, and patterns. There are the basic colors with a matte finish, glitter vinyl, texture metallic, and many more. You can do a lot of projects using temporary vinyl, to mention a few:

• Wall decals
• Nail stickers
• Party backdrops or greetings for special events
• Mug art
• Window graphics
• Restaurant signages
• Book cover artwork or scrapbooks 
• Stickers for laptop or phone case
• Wood signage 
• Furniture decals
• Many more…

You’ll love removable vinyl for different reasons — probably the main reason is you can change the decals anytime without worrying about any sticker leaving the surface. For instance, you own a restaurant and tend to change the decals from time to time. 

From Valentine’s Day, Halloween to Christmas, you can change your vinyl decals anytime without worrying about messing up your restaurant’s wall or glass windows. Sounds exciting? 

There are a lot of removable and permanent vinyl projects you can make. 

1. Cricut machines or any kind of cutter plotter
2. Weeding tool
3. Cutting mat
4. Adhesive vinyl or weeding vinyl of your choice
5. Transfer tape or transfer paper
6. And other materials that you need for that certain project. 

So are you thinking of the vinyl crafts you can make out of removable vinyl? Whether you’re doing it for your business or your love for arts and crafts, here are some projects you can make with temporary vinyl.

How to Apply a Wall Decal - Detailed Instructions - 2 Methods by 8 Versus 8

Do you want to organize your kitchen and pantry? Perhaps label your mason jars for an aesthetically pleasing and well-organized pantry. You can place a label for spices, nuts, cooking condiments, and many more to keep your pantry organized. Don’t worry because you’ll find many free printable labels online. 

Photo of a removable vinyl on a mason jar

If you want to add a bit more art to your kitchen labels, you can use decorative adhesive vinyl like patterned or color-changing vinyl. Because why not? For this kind of project, since you won’t need to wash the containers all the time, you can either use a removable or permanent adhesive for this project. Both types of vinyl are water-resistant. 

Have you seen decorations in shopping malls of snowflakes during the holiday or big promotional signs like 50% off and all that? And they seem to change monthly? That’s the power of removable vinyl. And yes, you can do that at home as well. 

Halloween? Buy orange vinyl and cut out pumpkin decorations. Christmas? Buy matte white vinyl and cut-out snowflakes. Valentines? Buy red vinyl and cut-out hearts. Birthday? 

Buy color-changing vinyl and cut-out balloons or birthday cake with your cutter plotter. With a cutter plotter and any adhesive vinyl, there’s so much you can do. 

If you want to spice things up a bit, you can also place decorations on wine glasses or bowls using temporary vinyl. After the occasion is done, you can rip the vinyl right off. Aside from the windows, you can also place these decals on your front door, walls, or any smooth surfaces. 

YouTube: How to make a reusable wall stencil with your Cricut by NeliDesign

Since vinyl can stick into wood surfaces, you can use removable vinyl on wood signages. This is a perfect idea for rustic-themed weddings as welcome signage or backdrop. Or to wooden wall decorations like key plate holders, picture frames, or even wooden furniture.

So if you need a furniture facelift or want a personalized wooden sign, go grab that wood decoration and think of the design you want to place in it. This is also a great gift idea for friends having a house-warming party. 

Go get a raw wood, cut out their family name and give it as a house-warming gift. Sounds exciting? There’s so much you can do with a removable vinyl!

• Decorative details on a lampshade
• Bathroom signages (e.g., Male and Female Bathroom signs)
• Mailbox label (as long as it’s not fully exposed outdoors)
• Labels for plastic drawers
• Wall decor growth chart for the kids
• Wall clock numbers (just buy a wall clock mechanism)
• Kitchen backsplash
• Bike or motorcycle decals
• Christmas ornaments 
• Foil balloon sayings 

See full instructional video on making Christmas Ornaments using Glitterized Vinyl

TeckWrapCraft Instagram Page

Removable vinyl is used as a stencil for painting, temporary decals, and many other projects mentioned above. TeckWrapCraft's, removable vinyl has similar uses, specifically as a temporary option for permanent adhesive.

Yes, you can use removable vinyl on cups, mugs, or tumblers; however, it is recommended to use permanent adhesive on glassware that needs frequent washing. You can use temporary vinyl on cups or mugs for a temporary application, like for special occasions like Halloween or Christmas. But if you want the decal to last longer after many washes, permanent adhesive is recommended.

The main differences between removably vinyl and permanent vinyl are its durability, stickiness, how long it will last, and the recommended surface where to stick it. Permanent vinyl is mostly used outdoors, car decals, outdoor signs, or glasswares washed all the time. At the same time, removable vinyl is a better option for temporary projects and for indoor use.

Yes, you can use removable vinyl on shirts as a sticker, the best time for one-time events only. But take note that it won’t last long. Adhesive vinyl sticks best on smooth and hard surfaces, not fabrics. If you want to print on T-shirts, it’s best to use Heat Transfer Vinyl.

Most adhesive vinyls are waterproof. But it’s always best to check on the supplier if the product is waterproof or water-resistant.

If you’re looking to add more life to your home, perhaps a hobby you want to monetize, there are a lot of things you can do with vinyl. Whether removable or permanent, there are so many vinyl projects out there that the possibilities are limitless! 

Whether you’re decorating your rented home dorm room, removable vinyl is your friend. If you’re looking for a reliable vinyl supplier TeckWrapCraft is here for you. With over 100 designs of craft vinyl you can choose from, with multiple colors, and patterns available, there are many vinyl projects you can do. 

Just remember to match the style of your project to the correct type of adhesive and the project that you’re aiming for. Together with TeckWrapCraft, you can make each art project stand out. You can choose from our selections of specialty vinyl like Rainbow Stripes, Christmas Plaid, Glow in the Dark, Glittered, and many more.