The 4th of July is coming up in the United States and my kids love dressing up in their red white and blue for the holiday. They are both currently obsessed with temporary tattoos so I decided to try making my own DIY temporary tattoos.
{Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post}
This post is for the June “Patriotic” Silhouette challenge but you do not need a Silhouette machine to make temporary tattoos. You do need the Silhouette Printable Temporary Tattoo Paper. The package comes with supplies to create two 8.5 x 11 inch sheets of temporary tattoos.
Supplies:
- Silhouette Printable Temporary Tattoo Paper
- Inkjet Printer
- Silhouette machine or scissors
You can download my free set of patriotic temporary tattoos in Silhouette Studio format here or PDF here. These files are only for your PERSONAL USE. Please note that that since I made these temporary tattoos for my kids, they are sized smaller for kids.
I also have USA Soccer themed designs just in time for the World Cup in this post.
Below are instructions for how to create your own temporary tattoos with a Silhouette machine and without a Silhouette Machine.
Non-Silhouette Instructions:
1. Use the image creating software of your choice to create the graphics for your temporary tattoos on an 8.5 x 11 inch document (or use the free file above). Tip: Printers do not print “white” so any white portions of your graphics will be clear.
2. Flip the images horizontally so they are mirrored from how the final temporary tattoo will look.
3. Print the document out onto the glossy side of the white temporary tattoo paper.
4. Skip down to Apply Adhesive And Tattoo.
Silhouette Instructions:
1. Create an 8.5×11 sized document, go to Page window and select Letter Size under Use Printer Setting.
2. Turn on registration marks by going to the Registration Marks window and select Show Reg Marks at the top of the window.
The registration marks are key for the Print and Cut feature that will be used later.
3. Create the graphics for the tattoos. I created my images in Photoshop and imported them into the Silhouette Studio document. Be careful not to place any designs in the registration mark areas.
4. Next, you have to flip your images horizontally so that they are the mirrored images of the final images that you want. Just select image(s) you want to flip, right click and select Flip Horizontally. You can select one image to flip or all your images at the same time to flip.
5. Next, trace the images you create to add cut lines to each individual shape. The cut lines below are the red outlines. Also notice the mirrored images.
6. Load the inkjet printer so it will print on the glossy side of the white temporary tattoo paper. Go to File->Print in the menu to send the file to the printer.
7. Skip down to Apply Adhesive And Tattoo.
Apply Adhesive And Tattoo
1. Remove the small green strip on one end of the adhesive sheet. Line up the exposed adhesive with the corner of the printed temporary tattoo paper and smooth it down.
2. Carefully pull back the green backing a little bit at a time and smooth the adhesive sheet as you go. I used my bone folder from my Martha Stewart Crafts Scoring Board to smooth out the sheet. Make sure there are no air bubbles.
3. If not using the Silhouette, use scissors to cut out the temporary tattoos with a thin border around each image. If using Silhouette, Go to File->Cut Settings in the Silhouette Studio menu. Then select Temporary Tattoo Paper in the Silhouette Cut Settings Window. Next, Select File->Send to Silhouette in the menu. Select Click here to skip printing. Follow the directions to load the cutting mat and then press Continue. Select Detect automatically for the registration marks. Once the machine detects the registration marks, select Cut. Tip: The tattoo paper is expensive so before I use the cut feature on it, I printed the design out on regular paper first. Then I used the cut feature to make sure my machine was correctly calibrated. If the designs are not cut like they are in the document, calibrate your machine. You can find out how here.
4. The temporary tattoos application is the same as for any temporary tattoo. Peel the clear adhesive off the tattoo and place it with the image face down on the skin. Place a damp washcloth on the tattoo for 20 seconds. Peel off the white backing and that’s it!
I just love my fun kids!
More Silhouette Patriotic Projects
My Silhouette Challenge friends and I are all sharing projects on our blogs today, so check out the projects below for more inspiration! The collage is clickable so click on any project you want to see and you will be taken there.
1. Our Rosey Life // 2. My Mom Made That // 3. The Kim Six Fix // 4. Create & Babble // 5. The Frill of Life // 6. My Paper Craze // 7. Kate’s Paper Creations // 8. Simply Kelly Designs // 9. Dragonfly & Lily Pads // 10. Mama Sonshine // 11. Lil Mrs. Tori // 12. Tried & True // 13. It Happens in a Blink // 14. McCall Manor // 15. The Thinking Closet // 16. unOriginal Mom // 17. Sowdering About // 18. Weekend Craft // 19. The Outlandish Momma // 20. Adventures in All Things Food // 21. Practically Functional // 22. Silhouette School // 23. Please Excuse My Craftermath… // 24. Ginger Snap Craft // 25. Pineapples And Pinecones // 26. Black and White Obsession // 27. TitiCrafty // 28. Architecture of a Mom //
Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post. If you make a purchase through one of those links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you.
How can I make metallic jewelry flash tattoos like this?
I can’t help you. I don’t know if that’s possible.
Hello I really want to try this but I was wondering if I could use a laser printer as I don’t have an inkjet or will that not work. Also was wondering how many sheets come in one packet of the tattoo paper and do you know where I could buy it in Australia. Thanks!!
Hi Amali. I don’t believe that the temporary tattoo paper will work with laser jet printers because the instructions say to use inkject printers specifically. There are two sheets of printable tattoo paper in each package. You might be able to order from Amazon.com and have it shipped to Australia (the link is in the supplies section). Or you could check your local crafts stores. It would be near the Silhouette die cutting materials. Good luck.
Thanks for this tutorial! I’m doing a princess party and I really wanted to do some tattoos! This was so helpful 🙂
You are welcome Brittany! I love to make temporary tattoos and my kids love them too. 🙂
I bought some tattoo paper to use with my son’s Halloween costume last year but I ended up going with another idea. This makes me want to give it a go now! Thanks for the great tutorial and the free files!
You are welcome Christine! My kids are always requesting temporary tattoos so I make them for all the holidays. This year I even brought some into the class parties at school. They were a hit!
These are so cute Kelly! I’m going to have to order some of this paper and make some for the grandkids. Sorry I’m so slow commenting but I have the grandkids now since school is out and it’s total chaos. Have a great week.
Thanks Glenna! I certainly understand about having kids at home for the summer! I can hardly get a thing done but we are having a lot of fun! I hope you are too!
Oh my goodness, these are soooo cute (and so are your kidlets too).
I just bought a Silhouette a month or so ago. I’d love to use these, but I’m in the UK so would need to make my own flag (which is simple since it’s just a red cross, lol).
I’ll have to see if I can find the tattoo paper either online or locally.
I hope you can find the paper in the UK. I was sad to see England eliminated from the World Cup.
Oh these are great! I want to play with the tattoo paper eventually but it just hasn’t been a need yet! You did such a great job on these ones!!
Thanks Randi! It is oh so easy and I am sure once you make it your kids will keep asking for more!
Kelly, I absolutely Love the, All American Princess. Just filled with pride and fun this project is great.
SC Love,
Karen Marie
Dragonfly & Lily Pads
Thank you Karen. The all American princess was inspired by my princess… I think you may have noticed the red tiara she was wearing in the picture. Thanks for dropping by!
These would be perfect to pass out at a parade or grill-out! So fun!
Thank you Emily. I have a lot left over for the 4th and any other holiday things we go to as well.
I have some of this paper but have not tried it. Cool!
If you already have the paper there is no excuse not to try it Melanie! Just do it! 🙂
I’ve never tried tattoos.. you make it look so easy! I love the motifs your chose too.
Thank you Kim! My kids have already asked for more designs. LOL!
Thanks for the great cut file. I haven’t tried the temporary tattoos yet, but I know my kiddos would love them!
I was surprised how easy they were to make. Hope you try them Emily!
thanks for the file and for these awesome directions – cant wait to give it a try! I have a few ideas brewing now
There are so many possibilities with this printable tattoo paper! I would love to see what you create!
So cute! I need to try this. 🙂
Thanks Ginger!
Hooray! I just bought some tattoo paper and this is EXACTLY what I’ll do with it! The kids will have some tattoos for their bodies and us ladies can have some to decorate our faces. Thanks for the cut file!
Yay Heather! I am glad to hear that someone will use my designs. I am sure your kids will have fun with the tattoos. My kids keep asking for more! Have fun!
Love these cute tattoos! My kids would love them too…gotta get some tattoo paper!
Thanks Rachel. I got the tattoo paper at Joann and was able to use my coupon. They just added Silhouette products at my Joann recently and I am thrilled!
Temporary tattoos are always a hit, and your designs are absolutely adorable! Thanks so much for sharing the free cut file!
Thank you Kristy! I’m glad you liked the designs. I tried to keep them simple and let my kids choose the final ones.
Looks like your kids liked them. 🙂 Thanks for linking up to Creative Spark this week Kelly!
Great tutorial! I haven’t tried their tattoo paper yet, but it looks pretty simple! Pinning!
I was a little intimidated by the tattoo paper at first but it truly was a breeze! Give it a try Jessi!