I have more of the “fish tank” cups so I decided to make an Elmo Drink Cup since this cup is red. When Cordelia was little she had an Elmo doll that she took everywhere! This one is for her. I created this Elmo face myself using various shapes and Access images.
If you don’t have a “fish tank” drink cup you can make this design a little smaller and put it on any drinkware. There are two copies of the Elmo, one for each side. It was made with permanent vinyl so it doesn’t need sealed and is dishwasher safe.
What you will need
- various shades permanent vinyl
- something to put it on
- weeding tools
- Download File
Sizing Your Vinyl for the Elmo Drink Cup
If you want your vinyl to stick even if the drink cup sweats or gets washed, you must use permanent vinyl. I am still not going to put it in the dishwasher though, but you could.
Measure the middle width of the drink cup and that is how wide to make the design. Mine was 5 inches wide. If your not sure it is the right size, cut the red layer from cardstock and lay it on the drink cup to size it. Then you can make any adjustment before cutting the vinyl.
Cutting Vinyl for the Elmo Drink Cup
First cut the nose and weed it. Then transfer it to a transfer sheet. I mainly use clear contact paper for this size project. After transferring the nose to the transfer tape, cut the black for the eyes and mouth. Use painters tape to take it off the carrier sheet and put them in the right spot on the transfer tape with the nose.
You could also transfer the pieces one at a time starting with the red piece and working your way forward through the layers.
And your Elmo drink cup is done, unless you want to put a name on it too. Then just follow the transfer rules above and put a name down the sides if you want. The design doesn’t really have space, but the sides do.
General Weeding Tips
Once the pattern is all cut, you will need to weed it. This pattern is extremely easy to weed but here are some tips for other projects.
I have a Cricut Bright Pad. They are about $48 at amazon. You need some type of light source to put under more complex projects. Before I got the Brightpad, I used a LED lamp , a bowl and a piece of glass. It wasn’t high tech but it worked. Any light pad will work. You can find others on Amazon for under $20. But they are smaller.
Also you will need a sharp pick. I have a set from Harbor Freight that cost 2 or 3 dollars. I have just found a pinpen from 651vinyl.com that works great. While you are there look at the weeding ring. It is great! I used to stick the weeded vinyl to my hand but my skin had a reaction to the sticky. The weeding ring solved that.
Here is another trick that works well. Rub a very little bit of baby powder on the back of the vinyl. You will be able to see the lines clearly. If you do this, make sure to wipe the baby powder off with a damp rag before applying the vinyl.
Fun Facts About Elmo
- Elmo’s birthday is February 3, and he is perpetually three-and-a-half years old.
- Elmo took off in popularity when Kevin Clash took over voicing and puppeteering the character in 1984.
- Sesame Street viewers have met his mother Mae, his father Louie, his aunt Jill, his country cousin Elmer, and his uncle Furgus Fuzz.
- Elmo is the only nonhuman to testify before Congress. In 2010, Elmo appeared before the Education Appropriations subcommittee to seek support for the funding of music education programs. He said, “Please Congress, help Elmo’s friends find the music in them. I love you Congress.”