Bling Your Band

We have been working with metallic vinyls for a little while and we are ready to start shipping designs.

Silver frost vinyl with teal printing

Not every design will work with metallics.  Our traditional vinyl feels pliable.  The metallic vinyl feels harder.  This means that larger elements like goggles are not a good choice for metallic vinyl.

Our traditional vinyl is bright white, and colors print on it as you would expect.  Our metallic vinyls are silver or gold or copper, not pure white, so colors appear a little different, like this teal oval on the crown.

This however is half the advantage to the metallic vinyl.  The printing ink is transparent, so light reflected from the band gives depth to designs.  The other half of the benefit is unprinted (white areas) or lightly colored areas of vinyl is shiny and really catches eyes.

Our metallic vinyls are still new for us, and there are still probably things to be learned about working with them.  If you have issues, please let us know what they were, if you solved them, how, and if not, what can we change up?

We will support you if you need a reprint.  In exchange, we ask for picture pictures pictures!

Order metallic vinyl direct from some product pages

There are two ways to order decals with the metallic vinyl.  Some designs can be printed on both white or metallic silver, in which case we will start adding a checkbox.

Other designs might have a lot of dark ink, and we will instead offer a separate design that takes better advantage of what metallic vinyl can do.

In this case, look for a design that has "METALLIC" in the name.

Don't see what you want in metallic?  Email us!  It takes time to make all the changes and if you want a particular design, that work will get done now!

Other designs will be a new product

This decal set is a little different from out typical offering.  The resulting band will look like a complete wrap!  However the process is a little more complicated and this guide will walk you through it.

Step 1.  Start at the lowest points of the helmet.  Scales should overhang the band and band structures.  The extra that overlaps should be trimmed off with a sharp knife (I use a x-acto) to make a clean edge.

Try to keep the scales even around as you go around the band so that when the pattern joins at some point, everything looks even.  However the scales are forgiving.

Speaking of forgiving, we started with painting the helmet black because the band curvature might cause a small gap between two scales and you can't see it with a black base coat.

Step 1 & 2 - start at the lowest points of the helmet

Step 2.  I worked my way up and around the band.  I tend to trim as I go, as the overlapping scales are sticky on the back side and want to stick to everything.

Step 2 - work your way around and up the band

Step 3.  All the scales are on and I just have some trim work left.  The white on the band is are foam covers and I have just left them alone.

Step 3 - most of the scales are on now

Step 4.  Apply the eyes and the text.  This helmet has many holes drilled in the top, and I used my fingers to find them and my knife to cut the vinyl covering the hole.

Step 4 - apply the eyes and text

Step 5.  Apply protection.  Normally we recommend modge podge only on our regular decals, but as a 'wrap' this design suffers from wrap issues.  LOL did you expect that wraps were perfect and no issues?  The weakness of wraps is the edges where the wrap comes to the edge.

Kid movement and wear wants to lift those edges and peal back the wrap.  Wraps need a lot of maintenance at these points.  We recommend a layer of permanent varnish and then the five coats of mod podge as per our application instructions.

If there is peeling at the edge, catch it quickly and trim the lifted up edge off and back to the flat portion of the vinyl, and treat the edge with more varnish and mod podge.

This page is a special subset of our full decal application instructions.  Getting glasses and goggles to lay flat on a helmet isn't hard - if you apply the decals with the correct process.  This is a step by step application guide for goggles and glasses.

Step 1 - cut around the goggles as closely as possible

Step 1 - Separate out and cut around the goggles or glasses as closely as you can.  The transfer tape is not as flexible as the vinyl, so excess transfer tape just hinders the goggles laying flat around the edges.

Step 2 - Stick the goggles down in the center

Step 2 - stick the goggles down in the center.  You can check if the goggles are centered as you want them on the band, and lift the goggles off and stick it down again if it is off center.

Then use a squeegee, credit card or large coin to start sticking the decal down in the center.

3 - Keep working out from the center

Step 3 - keep working out from the center, tacking down the goggles.  Work in small, firm strokes.  You can apply a lot of pressure to the vinyl.

As you get more and more of the decal down, the more you will see excess vinyl building up at the edges.

4 - Get the goggles nearly all down

Step 4 - you have slowly worked from the center of the goggles to the edges, so where all but the edges is down and smooth.  You worked in small strokes, a little at a time.

As you get to this point, you will see the edges looking wavy, with vinyl lifted up at the red arrows.

Take your squeegee/credit card/coin, and start at the inside and push these mountains (tip of the red arrows) down, a little at a time.

Don't try to push one mountain flat and then move to the next one.

Instead, push a little on a mountain, and then move to the next mountain and push a little on it.

5 - Nearly all the mountains are gone

Step 5 - I have worked the left side top here to where almost all the little mountains are down.  The red arrow is pointing to what could turn into a crease if I don't address it right.

To fix the crease, use the sharp corner of the squeegee to apply a lot of pressure to the start of the crease (tip of the red arrow).  Apply a lot of pressure, and slowly slide from the start of the crease, to the edge of the goggles.

6 - All of the decal is down

Step 6 - I worked all the mountains.  By being aggressive at the start of a crease, I eliminated it.

This example shows why I don't make decals beyond a certain size.  Applying a flat decal to a rounded helmet works up to a 2-3 inches, but it takes more and more experience and technique to get large decals down flat.

You can go back to our full application instruction guide here.

A great customer photo example of a goggles applied flat!

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Decorating soft seizure foam helmets

Some folks have soft foam helmets for seizures or epilepsy and they question if the decals and mod podge can be used on them.  I have tested this and they work well, but I thought the pictures and report from Ashley would be good for everyone!

"Good Morning,

I am so happy with your product! My son has drop seizures and so he has to wear a foam helmet. I wanted you to have these pictures so you may be able to show parents who's children have to wear foam helmets that your stickers work for them too! I tried to take pictures of my son wearing it but him being 15 months old I couldn't get him to be still. Anyway, epilepsy is tough and being able to decorate my babies helmet really put a smile on everyone's face. Please keep up the good work! You are making a difference in people's lives! ❤

P.S I did use Mod Podge and the blue applicator purchased through you guys, works like a charm!

Thanks so much,

Ashley P."

Decorating soft seizure foam helmets

Decorating soft seizure foam helmets

Please know that my official point of contact is email only, info@blingyourband.com.  That way all conversations are in one place, easily searchable, and email is the place that I look for communication each work day.

Please do not send messages that need a timely response any other way.

We hold ourselves responsible for seeing email messages in a timely manor.  We are responsible for seeing messages sent through social media in a timely manor.

There are some countries that the international postal system is not reliable enough for me to have confidence in the system.  ComGateway.com is a good solution for you and frankly even for countries where shipping is reliable but slow.

Register with ComGateway.com and receive a shipping address, and then use that shipping address when you check out.

When they receive it at their USA facility, you will get an email notification and for about $13 you can have it forwarded to you.  The process can result in you receiving the package in about a week after you approve printing and that is much faster than the postal system!

It is almost summer camp time! And it is past time to create your personalized summer camp trunk with one of our many decal designs! This step-by-step decal application guide will show you how to go from bland to awesome in just a few steps! The truck below was decorated in a few hours and was a very fun experience for mom and daughter working together.

Plain Jane summer camp trunk

Personalized summer camp trunk

The vinyl decals are shipped to you in a roll, with transfer tape on the top. Transfer tape looks like masking tape, but is not as sticky. The usefulness of this tape feature will become apparent later.

Step 1 - use scissors and cut the decals into separate pieces. You can cut close to the edges of the decals, but on at least one side leave some space between the decal and the cut edge. This helps get the tape separated from the backing.

Cut the decals into parts

Step 2 - We recommend you start with a small decal for which you have extras. The decals are easy to apply, and if you mess one up, it is likely to be the first one you start with.

To apply the decal, peal the transfer tape from the backing. Make sure the decal sticks to the transfer tape, and not the backing. If the decal is sticking to the backing as you lift the transfer tape, stick the transfer tape back down and rub it firmly. The decal should want to stick to the transfer tape more than to the backing.

Practice with a small decal before starting with a big one

Apply the decal by starting from one edge and laying it down without allowing a crease or bubble to get in it. After the decal is down, and before you remove the transfer tape, use a credit card or squeegee to firmly tack down the decals. A credit card does work, but the blue 3M squeegee is easier to hold and slides better. Credit cards can have a sharp edge that wants to dig in, and do not slide or bend as well.

Should you get a bubble or crease, work it out from the vinyl center to the edge.

Use a credit card or squeegee to tack down the decal firmly

One the decal is down firmly, remove the transfer tape by starting with an edge, and pulling the tape straight back. Don't pull it up, or it may lift the decal back up.

Step 3 - Once you feel confident with applying a couple of smaller decals, we recommend placing the biggest decals, and then fit the smaller decals around the bigger ones. The biggest decal you have is likely the personalization. Getting the decal and transfer tape separated from the backing may be a two person job as shown below. Pull the two sides apart slowly, making sure the decals stay with the transfer tape.

Getting the biggest decals separated from the backing can be a two person job

Sticking it down works just like the smaller decals you started with. Start with the edge of the name, and slowly stick it down without allowing a bubble or crease to get in. On trunks like this one, the power coated paint might have small high points that look like little bubbles - they don't rub out and you won't notice them on the finished product.

After patting it down by hand, don't forget to squeegee or credit card it down tight.

Place the biggest decals first. Apply them from one edge and carefully stick it down without allowing a crease or bubble.

Just like the small decals, remove the transfer tape by pulling it straight back as demonstrated here. Be careful as the transfer tape pulls back from the leading edge of each letter, as that is the time a decal might want to lift up.

Peel the transfer tape off by pulling it straight back - don't pull it up!

With the personalized name in place, lay out the smaller elements around the big element to make an attractive design. It is just fine to lay vinyl on top of vinyl, so keep that option open.

With the personalized name placed, now lay out the smaller elements as you like

Most of our designs have lots of elements, more than you could really use. But keep in mind as you place elements on the top to not forget the front and sides need love too.

Don't forget to leave elements for the trunk front

This trunk end is ready to go!

This trunk end is ready to go!

These trunks belong to cousins. Cousin Berkeley added soccer balls to her design to reflect her passion for the game and it looks great mixed in.

Make matching personalized summer camp trunk sets!

Landry lovers her personalized camp trunk, and had a great time decorating it with her mom and aunt, and cousin!

This happy camper is all ready for camp!

I generally print and ship Monday - Friday.  Typically first thing each workday morning I look for printing approvals and start printing.  I process and ship the vinyl and respond to emails through the afternoon.  I generally send proofs in the late afternoon or evening.

Please know that info@blingyourband.com is my official communication method.  There are many social media platforms and I do not regularly check them or reliability get notified that there is a message waiting for me on them.  I only hold myself responsible to read and react to email messages.

I generally do not work Friday afternoon, but pick back up at some point on Sunday to be prepared for printing first thing Monday morning.

Please keep in mind that I am one person.  So while I generally always send a proof of your order within one business day, and print and ship within one business day of your approval, it may take one business day to respond to emails.  Please do not post a negative review just because I don't respond inside of a day or over a weekend.

It may take slightly longer to respond to custom artwork questions.  Often I have to spend time researching possibilities before responding.

I generally do not work postal holidays, or work when schools are closed (and my kids are thus home), and occasionally take vacations.

Our basic shipping rates:

USA and Canada
Almost all items (including ALL decals) ship for $6.75 flat rate.

Inside the USA (lower 48 states) Express Shipping
We offer USPS Express shipping.  This typically cuts shipping times down to 1-2 days, but they don't guarantee this, and so neither can we.  This option is only valid inside the lower 48 states.

All other countries and locations:
Most items (including ALL decals) ship for $9.99 flat rate.  Heavy items may be more. If the shipping charge is significantly more, we will give you the option to pay the exact amount, or cancel the order.   If you don't like the amount, you are free to cancel your order and walk away.

We only charge exact postage in these extra-postage situations.