How to Make Journal Stickers With Cricut: Easy Print Then Cut Guide

There is something about adding a few cute stickers to a plain journal page that makes you suddenly want to journal again.

A little daisy.

A pink bow.

A stack of books.

A tiny reminder that says something you actually needed to hear that day.

And the best part?

You can make your own journal stickers with Cricut using Print Then Cut.

Whether you're decorating a reading journal, planner, memory journal, self-care journal or one of your favorite printable journal kits, learning how to make printable journal stickers gives you an easy way to personalize every page.

Let's make some.

What Are Printable Journal Stickers?

Printable journal stickers are digital sticker designs that you print at home onto sticker paper.

Instead of purchasing a physical sheet of premade stickers, you download the digital design and print it yourself.

If you have a Cricut machine that's compatible with Print Then Cut, you can then have your Cricut cut around the individual sticker designs.

So the basic process is:

Choose → Upload → Print → Scan → Cut → Stick

Once you understand the process, you can make stickers for almost any journal theme you can imagine.

What Can You Use Journal Stickers For?

Journal stickers can be decorative, functional or a combination of both.

You might use them for:

• Reading journals

• Planners

• Memory journals

• Gratitude journals

• Self-care journals

• Travel journals

• Garden journals

• Recipe journals

• Vision journals

• Scrapbooks

• Habit trackers

• Goal journals

• Printable journal kits

And you don't have to cover the entire page.

Sometimes one cute sticker in the corner is all a page needs.

What Do You Need to Make Cricut Journal Stickers?

To make Cricut journal stickers, you'll generally need:

A Cricut machine compatible with Print Then Cut.

Cricut Design Space.

A home printer.

Printable sticker paper.

A compatible Cricut mat.

Digital sticker artwork.

And something to stick them in, obviously.

Your journal is waiting.

Step 1: Choose Your Journal Sticker Designs

Start by choosing the stickers you want to make.

This is where you can really have fun with a theme.

Book Lover Journal Stickers

Think books, bows, reading glasses, stars, flowers and cozy reading graphics.

Plant and Garden Stickers

Try houseplants, flowers, gardening tools, leaves, pots and botanical accents.

Self-Care Journal Stickers

Use hearts, affirmations, mood icons, rest reminders and little feel-good graphics.

Planner and Organization Stickers

Create labels, checkboxes, reminders, appointments and functional icons.

Travel Journal Stickers

Use suitcases, airplanes, maps, cameras, location icons and travel-inspired graphics.

Holiday Journal Stickers

Create themed sticker sheets for Christmas, Halloween, Valentine's Day, Easter and other celebrations.

Your stickers don't have to match anyone else's journal.

Make them fit yours.

Step 2: Check Your Sticker File Type

For colorful Print Then Cut stickers, you'll often use a PNG file.

PNGs are especially useful because they can contain full-color artwork and support transparent backgrounds.

That means you can upload a colorful flower, bow or book design without necessarily having a giant white rectangle surrounding it.

If your download also includes SVG files, don't panic.

The beginner shortcut is:

PNG = Think PRINT

SVG = Think CUT

It's not an absolute rule for every Cricut project, but it's an easy way to understand which file you may want to start with for colorful printable stickers.

Step 3: Upload Your PNG to Cricut Design Space

Open Cricut Design Space and create a new project.

Choose Upload.

Select the PNG file containing your journal sticker design.

Follow the Design Space prompts to add the artwork to your Canvas.

Once it's uploaded, check the image carefully.

Make sure:

The artwork looks clear.

The background appears the way you expect.

The size is appropriate.

The image isn't blurry or pixelated.

If everything looks good, you're ready to start arranging your sticker sheet.

Step 4: Size Your Journal Stickers

Journal stickers are usually smaller than stickers you might put on a water bottle or laptop.

Think about the actual journal page.

How much space do you have?

A sticker that looks tiny on your computer screen can suddenly look enormous when you put it next to a sentence in your journal.

Try creating a mix of sizes.

Maybe:

A few larger decorative stickers.

Several medium stickers.

Small hearts.

Tiny flowers.

Little labels.

Mini icons.

This gives you more flexibility when you're creating your journal pages.

Step 5: Arrange Your Sticker Sheet

Arrange your sticker designs on your Cricut Canvas.

You can duplicate designs you know you'll use often.

Love the tiny pink bow?

Make five.

Need lots of little hearts?

Fill in your empty spaces with them.

Try to use the printable area efficiently while leaving enough space for the cuts you're planning.

Cricut's Print Then Cut requirements and printable area can change as Design Space is updated, so check the current guidance inside Design Space when preparing your project.

Step 6: Add a Border Around Your Stickers

This step is optional, but I love the look.

Many traditional stickers have a small white border around the artwork.

You may hear this called an offset.

For example, instead of Cricut cutting directly against the petals of a daisy, you can create a smooth white outline around the entire flower.

That little border can make your homemade stickers look more polished.

Depending on your design, the border may already be part of the artwork.

If not, you may be able to use Cricut Design Space's Offset tool to create one.

Keep it relatively small and even.

You want a cute sticker border—not a giant white cloud around your design.

Step 7: Prepare Your Stickers for Print Then Cut

Now you need to make sure Cricut understands what you're trying to do.

You're not asking Cricut to cut every colored shape inside the artwork.

You're asking your printer to print the finished colorful design and your Cricut to cut around the sticker.

Depending on how your project is constructed, you may need to use Cricut Design Space tools such as Flatten to prepare your artwork for Print Then Cut.

Always check the project preview before printing.

Look at where Cricut plans to cut.

If the preview doesn't look right, fix it before wasting your sticker paper.

Step 8: Choose Your Printable Sticker Paper

There are several types of sticker paper you can use for journal stickers.

Matte Sticker Paper

This is a great option for journals because it has a softer, non-shiny finish.

Depending on the specific paper, you may also be able to write on portions of it.

Glossy Sticker Paper

Glossy paper gives your stickers a shiny finish and can make colors pop.

Keep in mind that highly reflective materials can sometimes require extra consideration when using Print Then Cut sensors.

Printable Vinyl

Printable vinyl is another option for certain sticker projects and can have a different feel from traditional paper sticker sheets.

Whatever you choose, make sure it's compatible with your printer.

Step 9: Test Print Before Using Your Sticker Paper

Sticker paper is not where we practice.

Use regular printer paper first.

Print your sheet.

Look at the designs.

Are they the right size?

Are the colors good?

Is everything fitting correctly?

Does anything look blurry?

If your test looks good, load your sticker paper.

This tiny step can save you a surprising amount of money.

Step 10: Print Your Journal Stickers

Choose Make in Cricut Design Space and follow the prompts for Print Then Cut.

Design Space will prepare your project and add the sensor markings Cricut needs.

Send the sheet to your printer.

Make sure your sticker paper is loaded correctly so you're printing on the intended side.

And remember:

Don't remove or alter the Print Then Cut sensor markings.

Your Cricut needs them.

Step 11: Put the Sticker Sheet on Your Cricut Mat

Place the printed sticker sheet onto the appropriate Cricut mat.

Line the sheet up carefully.

Make sure it's straight.

Smooth it down.

You don't want the paper shifting while your Cricut is working.

Then load the mat into your machine.

Step 12: Choose Your Cut Setting

Sticker papers vary in thickness, so there isn't one perfect setting for every material.

Choose an appropriate setting based on the sticker paper you're using and your Cricut model.

If you're unsure, check the sticker-paper manufacturer's recommendations and perform a test cut.

The goal depends on the type of sticker you're making.

Which brings us to...

Kiss Cut vs. Die Cut Journal Stickers

You'll probably hear both of these terms when making stickers.

Kiss Cut

A kiss cut cuts through the sticker layer while leaving the backing sheet intact.

This is what you typically see with a traditional sheet of planner or journal stickers.

You peel each sticker from the sheet when you're ready to use it.

Die Cut

A die cut goes through the material so each sticker becomes its own individual piece.

Both are useful.

For journal stickers, a kiss-cut sheet can be especially convenient because all of your little stickers stay together until you need them.

Step 13: Let Cricut Scan and Cut

Now the fun part.

Load your mat and start the project.

Your Cricut will scan the Print Then Cut markings to determine where your printed designs are located.

Then it will begin cutting around your stickers.

When the cut is finished, unload your mat.

And there they are.

Your own journal stickers.

Step 14: Peel and Start Journaling

Now you get to use them.

Peel off a sticker and add it to your journal.

Use stickers to:

Decorate headings.

Highlight important memories.

Mark dates.

Create little page dividers.

Decorate photos.

Add encouraging reminders.

Fill awkward empty spaces.

Make boring trackers cuter.

Or simply add something that makes you smile.

There doesn't have to be a deeper reason.

Cute is allowed.

How to Use Stickers With Printable Journal Kits

This is where things get really fun.

If you're using a printable journal kit, coordinate your stickers with the other pieces in the kit.

For example, imagine a book-lover journal kit with:

Reading tracker pages.

A TBR list.

Bookmarks.

Printable pockets.

Journal cards.

Book-themed stickers.

Planner tabs.

Decorative papers.

Instead of using each piece separately, layer them together.

Add a sticker to a journaling card.

Use tiny decorative stickers around a pocket.

Add a bow to your reading tracker.

Put little book stickers beside your favorite reads.

Suddenly the entire journal feels coordinated.

Make Functional Journal Stickers Too

Not every sticker has to be decorative.

Create functional stickers for things you actually track.

Try:

TO DO

IMPORTANT

REMEMBER

APPOINTMENT

PAYDAY

SELF-CARE

READ

GOAL

DONE

THIS WEEK

Or use icons instead of words.

A tiny book can mean reading.

A heart can mean self-care.

A flower can mean something that brought you joy.

A little dollar sign can mark payday.

You decide what your stickers mean.

Create Stickers Around Your Hobbies

One of my favorite ways to use printable stickers is to create them around things you already love.

If you love gardening, make plant stickers.

If you love books, make bookish stickers.

If you love baking, make cupcakes, cookies and baking-tool stickers.

If you love crafting, create scissors, paper, paintbrushes and Cricut-themed stickers.

If you love travel, create little suitcases and destination graphics.

Your journal should look like you.

Why Is Cricut Cutting My Journal Stickers Incorrectly?

If the cut around your stickers is noticeably uneven, your Cricut may need Print Then Cut calibration.

Look at the white border around your stickers.

If the border is even, your Cricut is probably cutting where intended.

If it's very thick on one side and almost nonexistent on another, you may have an alignment problem.

Check:

Your Print Then Cut calibration.

Paper placement on the mat.

Printer scaling settings.

The Print Then Cut sensor markings.

Your material.

Your Design Space project setup.

If you're troubleshooting, switch to regular printer paper until everything is cutting correctly.

Save the good sticker paper for when you've fixed the problem.

Can You Make Journal Stickers Without a Cricut?

Absolutely.

Print your sticker sheet and grab some scissors.

You don't need a cutting machine to enjoy printable journal stickers.

Cricut simply makes it easier to cut more detailed designs and larger sticker sheets.

So don't let not owning a Cricut stop you from creating.

Can You Reprint Printable Journal Stickers?

If you've purchased digital sticker files, check the seller's license and usage terms.

Digital products may allow you to print copies for your own personal use, but that doesn't automatically mean you can share, redistribute or resell the digital files.

Always follow the terms included with the product.

Easy Journal Sticker Ideas to Try

Not sure what to make first?

Try a sheet containing:

Daisies.

Hearts.

Bows.

Books.

Rainbows.

Stars.

Labels.

Mini affirmations.

Tiny habit icons.

Decorative borders.

Seasonal graphics.

Hobby icons.

You don't need 50 different designs.

Even six or eight coordinating stickers can completely change a journal page.

Your Journal Doesn't Have to Be Perfect

This is your reminder that journaling isn't a competition.

Your stickers don't have to be perfectly straight.

Your handwriting doesn't need to look like a font.

Your pages don't need a color palette approved by the internet.

Use the stickers you love.

Write something.

Save a memory.

Track something that matters.

Make a page just because making it feels good.

That's the entire point.

Printable stickers give you another little way to turn a blank page into something that feels like yours.

So grab your journal.

Print the stickers.

Let Cricut do the cutting.

And make something that makes you happy.

At Maker Beautiful, we believe printables should be more than files sitting in a download folder.

They're meant to be printed.

Cut.

Used.

Created with.

And enjoyed.

Print • Cut • Create • Be Happy.

Maker Beautiful is an independent brand and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Cricut®. Cricut® and Cricut Design Space® are trademarks of their respective owner.