Not all Template Tape is created equal! You can get "Cat Scratch Tape" from Amazon, which is what we used when this method first became popular years ago, but it doesn't do well with fine details. During the cut it may lift and move around the template, your coverage could be compromised due to the poor quality of the adhesive, and micas don't apply as smoothly over that adhesive either.

Before carrying my Template Tape I worked directly with the manufacturer to choose a tape that had qualities that would benefit us, such as:

• Thicker white top layer to make fine details more resistant to moving during your cut
• Less waxy top layer so your Glitter is less likely to stick to it compared to other brands
• Stronger adhesive to help hold the top later in place during the cut and give you better coverage for both Glitter and Mica
• Longer sheets so you can fit two 30oz Templates on each sheet or three 22oz Fatty Templates, but there is a trick to the 22s! See "Getting the most out of your Template Tape"

Applying your Template Tape to vinyl before cutting your template has a few benefits.

1. If you are struggling with getting your machine to stop cutting so deep, applying your Template Tape to vinyl first will add extra thickness to your material which helps to prevent it from cutting all the way through.

2. You won't have to base paint your tumbler. The vinyl colors it for you!

3. If you happen to apply your Template Tape a little crooked, having the tape applied over vinyl makes carefully removing and repositioning your template possible, whereas with the Template Tape alone it will tear into pieces and you will have to recut the template and start over, wasting your materials.

Template Tape isn't as cheap as it's Amazon counterparts so let's use that real-estate wisely. This is how I fit three 22oz Fatty Templates on a single sheet of Template Tape. You can use these tips for other sizes too.

• Crop your Template - Because I leave the bottom of my cups exposed I resize or trim the top and bottom of the template before I cut, saving about a half inch or so of Template Tape length.
• Place at the 1 inch mark - I place my Template Tape on the cutting mat at the 1 inch mark instead of at the top. I do this so I don't have to guess where the quarter inch margin ends, wasting any material that overlaps there.

By doing this I save enough space to allow me to fit one more 22oz Fatty template on each sheet of Template Tape giving me three cups from a single sheet. You can use what's left over for pens, bookmarks, or whatever else your little crafty heart desires!

Do not underestimate the significance of using a clean blade. Using an old or gummed up blade can make or break the quality of your cut.

If you notice your cut being:

• Sloppy
• Inconsistent
• You have pieces lifting
• or you have to keep increasing your pressure...

...it's way past time to either clean or switch out your blade. Personally I clean my blade by pinching the tip between my fingers through my shirt, others prefer to use aluminum foil. Do what works for you. When cleaning no longer makes a difference it's definitely time to replace it.

If you are having trouble with your Template Tape cut settings while using a Cricut, I have made a chart to help you find which pressure to try next. If your tape is being cut too deep, try a setting with less pressure. If it's not cutting deep enough, try a setting with more pressure.

I've found that a great starting point for Cricut pressure settings is Vinyl or Washi and more pressure. I suggest cutting smaller shapes to test your settings instead of cutting a whole template and wasting the tape if it doesn't work out.

To get started, view the chart linked below and select your machine to view the cut settings for that specific machine. They do vary slightly by machine so make sure you pick the right one. All pressure setting information was gathered from Cricut.com.

Test your settings: Cricut Pressure Setting Chart

Grab a pack of Precision Tip Bottles. These guys are great because they release just the right amount of product at a time. When you have a gap at your seam, squeeze a small line of glue where you need it, and glitter it like normal. Wait for it to dry, and epoxy! No more gap!

Tip: You can also use a tacky glue like Helios Glue from BetterCallMollCraftShop.com. This glue not only dries tacky, but you can speed up the drying process with a heat gun before glittering so you don't have to wait to epoxy. You can also use it as you would a normal glue or as a sealer. It's very versatile and quickly became by go-to! Grab it here, and use code CULTGLITTERCO to save you some money!

Bonus Tip: Try her Aurora Paints too. They are very thin, have fantastic coverage, and can also be dried quickly with heat so you aren't waiting to move on to the next step. She also sells Aurora Concentrated Pigments you can use to customize the paint or the glue color to match your project better. All these products can be mixed and used together. They are wonderful and the owner, Molly, is just a great human overall. She goes live often and is a great teacher. Give her a follow on Tiktok.

If you catch my Lives you'll see a few staples that I use often that I don't carry in the shop. I have those items listed in my Amazon Store Front.