Want to make your own DIY vinyl decals? This one is really easy and takes maybe ten minutes. Plus, Mystery Science Theater 3000.
First off, we love MST3K. Here’s a picture of me at Comic Con 2008 (during the big MST3K all-cast reunion), holding the REAL Tom Servo! Exciting stuff. Yes, I am gasping from the awesomeness. And because Kevin Murphy was standing right next to me, and somehow this is me trying to play it cool. Dork.
Last week we dug out a ton of clear contact paper that we had in our garage, leftover from covering some of our windows (it works perfectly as privacy film, since “clear” is actually frosted). It made us remember being kids and making contact paper stickers, by just drawing shapes with Sharpies and cutting them out. Last week we were also watching a lot of the amazing 80’s BMX film “RAD“, which had us in an MST3K kind of mood. If you don’t know Rad, watch this scene, and it will sum it up.
Now that we all have “Send me an Angel” stuck in our heads: Find a picture that you like (Google Image can help you with this), print it out on regular paper, put contact paper over it (vinyl side up), and trace the image.
Color it in with Sharpie. It took us two coats, plus some touch ups, so make sure you have an extra Sharpie or two lying around.
Cut it out. You don’t have to be SUPER precise, since the part you didn’t color is pretty clear. Peel the back off, and stick your brand new DIY decal onto a mirror/window/picture frame, being careful to smooth out bubbles as you go.
You could also do this with black contact paper, instead of coloring it in with Sharpie. But the clear was fine for us, and we already had it handy. 🙂
We ended up doing a second one for the bathroom mirror. Which means that if we’re ever inclined to take a bathroom-selfie, we’ll find ourselves being pointed and laughed at by the Satellite of Love crew. Which we would totally deserve.
The DIY decal is removable and reposition-able (not too many times, or it might lose stick), and it shouldn’t damage walls or anything like that.
What thinks you? Any other MSTies in the house?
JudyR says
January 29, 2014 at 6:50 pmI think it’s wonderful! Love MST!
ournerdhome says
January 31, 2014 at 12:51 pmThank you, Judy!
Abra says
January 30, 2014 at 10:02 amI love MST3K and their incarnations Cinematic Titanic and Rifftrax!
ournerdhome says
January 31, 2014 at 12:53 pmI have so much Cinematic Titanic to catch up on! So sad that it’s gone now. 🙁
Abra says
January 31, 2014 at 1:58 pmThey still do the occasional live show. I follow TV’s Frank on Twitter and he tweets about the times. Michael J Nelson tweets a lot as well and his are very funny.
hotmess says
January 30, 2014 at 1:53 pm*ded*
ournerdhome says
January 31, 2014 at 12:53 pm🙂
Trish says
January 30, 2014 at 5:41 pmWhat a coincidence, I’m reading this post as I watch an episode of MST3K! I will be making some of these soon!
ournerdhome says
January 31, 2014 at 12:57 pmYay! Which episode? We tend to rewatch Horrors of Spider Island a lot – one of our favorites.
Joie Fatale says
January 31, 2014 at 11:23 amThis is brilliant! I am glad that there are a few MST3K flicks on Netflix!
Also, have you heard of Rifftrax? They’re similar, but they do current films, not just old B-Movies (which are a lot of fun too!), and they sell their MP3’s of their audio shenanigans on iTunes and stuff.
ournerdhome says
January 31, 2014 at 1:00 pmLOVE Rifftrax! That’s the only way we ever want to watch blockbuster style movies. I just heard that they have a couple of episodes of Doctor Who, so I’ll have to check those out. 🙂
Abra says
January 31, 2014 at 2:01 pmHave you listened to their skits? There are several. The last few they’ve done are about The Wizard of Oz. The real ending one is really funny.
ournerdhome says
February 1, 2014 at 12:42 pmJust listened to those yesterday! Loved them. Thanks for the tip. 🙂
Lori says
February 3, 2014 at 8:53 pmI love MST3K!! I showed my boyfriend this and he wants me to try this for our place, haha. I enjoy all your DIY tutorials 🙂
ournerdhome says
February 5, 2014 at 9:58 amThank you so much, Lori! We love your site. 🙂
stephanie, sandpaper & glue says
February 18, 2014 at 6:40 pmLOVE this. my husband loves that show & has a few autographed cinematic titanic posters too. 🙂 glad I found your blog on the homies list!
ournerdhome says
February 19, 2014 at 12:53 pmSo funny – we bookmarked your blog from the Homies list as well! Such a good way to find great new things to read. I love your projects. And I’m jealous of your husbands autographed posters! 🙂
Amy Baranoski says
February 19, 2014 at 5:44 pmOh yes… huge MSTie. Even went to the second convention back in 1997. (Conventio-con-expo-fest-a-rama 2 – Electric Boogaloo) I’m sad Cinematic Titanic is over. Long live Riff Trax… it’s all we got left!
Just found this site. Love it. Want to do pretty much all the projects I’ve seen so far. 🙂
ournerdhome says
March 1, 2014 at 8:16 pmThank you! And I’m jealous you got to go to the convention!
YerkesDodsonCurve says
February 27, 2014 at 7:29 amI love this so much. I just stumbled here and think this is FABULOUS. Am sending this link to my friends. LOVE IT.
ournerdhome says
March 1, 2014 at 8:17 pmAww, thank you very much! We’re just happy to meet so many other awesome/geeky people.
Nikki says
August 25, 2014 at 1:40 pmI love this project! I’ve now begun to see MSTK3 and I love it! Going to try this!
Helen says
October 27, 2014 at 12:03 amWhy don’t you try acrylics or other paints? It wouldn’t cost much!
ournerdhome says
October 27, 2014 at 12:40 pmGood idea!