Today we’ve got a tutorial for a simple solution to kitchen conversion and recipe recall woes. Sometimes all you need is a simple reminder to keep your kitchen tasks moving along efficiently. Spoonflower friend Gina Sekelsky stops by the blog to explain how to design your own recipe stickers and conversion chart stickers (in your own handwriting!), get them digitally printed with Spoonflower, and installed in your kitchen cabinets in no time!
I love to cook and bake, but I seem to always forget a few simple conversions: Is it 3 teaspoons to a tablespoon or 3 tablespoons to a quarter cup? I decided to put some things I’m forever looking up inside of my kitchen cupboards: a few beloved recipes, a list of our favorite meals, and this conversion chart. Originally I was going to paint them all right on the cabinet door, but stickers will let me change my mind more often. And since they’re reusable, I could even give the conversion chart to a friend if I ever start remembering without it!
Since I work as a hand-lettering artist, I go through a lot of paper and pens. My favorite paper to write on is Hammermill Laser Print—it’s bright white, super-smooth, and opaque. I have many different pens for writing and drawing, but for most simple projects I use the Uniball Vision Exact in the micro size (black ink is my favorite). Find a pen that feels comfortable to you, even if you have to try a dozen different brands, styles, or sizes to get just the right one. Once you’ve got your basic supplies, you can get started creating your design.
PART ONE: DESIGN THE STICKER
Materials & Tools
- Original artwork
- Scanner
- Your favorite graphics program: You should be able to use almost any image editing software to do this project. It uses basic tools (paint bucket, paint brush) that are available in many different photo editing programs, like Photoshop Elements for instance.
Directions
1. Create and scan artwork
For this project there are two options for scanning, depending on what size works best in your kitchen. For example, if you create artwork on a 4 by 4-inch square, you can print the sticker at exact size. To do that, scan it at 150 dpi, and it will print it at a 1:1 ratio.
You can also scale your artwork up to make a larger size sticker. Use this formula to determine what setting you need for the scanner. Here’s the algorithm to help figure it out:
finished size/starting size in inches x 150 dpi = scanner resolution
To make a 12 inch sticker from your 4-inch original drawing:
12″ (finished size)
X 150 dpi = 450 dpi
Set the scanner to scan the design at 450 dpi, which gives you enough pixels to scale up from 4 inches to 12 inches. If you need more detail for setting up your file for successful printing, see this tutorial for setting up a file on Photoshop Elements.
2. Touch up
Open the scanned image. Touch up any stray marks or flaws using the Paintbrush or Eraser tool in your photo editing program.
Use the Paint Bucket Tool to add any background color you’d like—that way you can make it match any color scheme or style you’re going for in your kitchen space already!
You can also use the Paint Bucket Tool to fill in an element of the design, like the leaves in the example above. To select a different color, simply use the color picker by clicking on the color chips below your toolbar on the left hand side. When you click on the top color swatch, a new window opens allowing you to change fill colors by using the palette or inputing a code. The Spoonflower color map uses HEX codes which can be used in the # box for matching a particular color (like the paint on your kitchen walls!).
3. Upload to Spoonflower
After cleaning up your design and adding color, save your file as a JPEG or PNG file and log into your Spoonflower account. Once you log in, click on “Create” in the navigation, then select the type of product you are creating (fabric, wallpaper, gift wrap).
This will take you to the image upload page for that substrate. The amount you order will depend on the size of your image. My files ended up being 24″ by 24″ so I chose to order a custom roll length of 2 feet by 2 feet of Woven Wallpaper (peel and stick).
Need help uploading? Check out this Help Center article on uploading your design.
PART TWO: INSTALLING THE STICKER
Materials & Tools
- Peel and Stick wallpaper
- Pencil
- Craft knife
- Cutting mat
- Ruler
Directions
1. Prepare decal and cabinet door
Cut out the Woven wallpaper swatch on a cutting mat using a ruler and craft knife. Wash and dry the inside of your cabinet door to remove any dust. Measure up from the bottom of the door and make two tiny pencil marks to help place the bottom edge of the Woven wallpaper swatch. Measure and make pencil marks to help place the sides as well.
2. Peel and stick
Peel off the backing paper, align the decal with the placement marks and starting with one corner, carefully stick it to the door, smoothing out any wrinkles or bubbles.
For riffs on the same process, try making “favorite recipes” sticker for your kids to follow, a your favorite drink recipe near your bar, or a “my go-to snacks” chart for your pantry. Have fun with it!
Looking for more projects similar to this? Pick up a copy of The Spoonflower Handbook or check out the blog’s DIY tutorials!
