DIY Temporary Tattoos: How to Make a Temporary Tattoo
Updated on October 17, 2020
When it comes to nostalgic things that we remember from when we were kids and used to useall the time, temporary tattoos definitely take one of the top spots for us.
We used to spend all of our summers completely covered in transfer tattoos in all different colours, themes, characters, and designs and we couldn’t get enough of them! The moment one wore off, we’d fill that spot again with something new, getting tan lines around them and, in some spots, ending up covered in funny shapes. We also loved temporary tattoos when we were older because they were a great, simple way to show our support for sports teams and the like very easily but in a really fun, noticeable way.
15 Awesome Crafts Made with Temporary Tattoos
What’s even better than putting on transfer tattoos that you bought at the store, though? Well, the answer isof course making transfer tattoos of your very own from scratch! You’d be surprised how many DIY temporary tattoo options and crafts there are out there.
Just in case you’re interested in trying all of them, just like we were, here are 15 of the coolest methods, techniques, and crafts we’ve found or tried so far!
1.Simple DIY temporary tattoos
Are you actually quite new to the world of crating and, while you’re certainly not afraid of a challenge, you’d prefer to start out with the simplest technique you could possibly find for making transfer tattoos for your kid’s birthday party? Then we think we’ve gotjust the tutorial for you!Crafts Unleashed guides you through the process of makingvery simple “super hero” tattoos that are quick and satisfying and transfer well.
2.Mini cartoon tattoos
Have you long been intrigued by the images you’ve seen on the Internet of models and rock stars with a whole slough of tiny shapes and images tattooed all up and down their arms like sleeves, collaging together lots of little pictures for an edgy style?
Well, we imagine those are very expensive to have done and we doubt it’s easy choosing which little images you’d want etched into your skin forever, so why not build yourself atemporary sleeve instead? We love the wayA Beautiful Mess teaches you how to create a whole collection of tiny cartoons so that you can recreate as many as you please on your skin like an adorable cartoon tattoo sleeve.
3.Metallic temporary tattoo Easter eggs
Do you actually already have the tattoos already but you’d rather make something cool out of them rather than just putting them on your skin like usual? Well, it might not be Easter timequite yet right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep this awesome egg decorating idea fromHobby Craft in your crafting ideas arsenal for later in the year! We love the way they used those trendy gold leaf transfer tattoos to give the painted eggs some special shine.
4.Vinyl cutter temporary tattoo
Are you the kind of crafting enthusiast who already has a whole arsenal of awesome, helpful tools in your crafting room and it’s mostly just a matter of exploringall the different ways that those contraptions can be used? Well, if you have a laser vinyl cutter, like a Cricut, then you’ve got one of the best toolsever for making temporary tattoos come to life!Cut Out and Keep shows you how to make them in any shape or design you please.
5.DIY temporary tattoo party cups
Were you obsessed with the idea of using metallic transfer tattoos that you haven’t used on your body yet on objects around your house because you love the way they add some pizzazz to simple things, but you just don’t want to have to wait until Easter to try the technique out? In that case, wedefinitely think you should take a look at the wayChasing Saturdays transferred metallic temporary tattoos onto plastic cups to make something special and customized for their next dinner party!
6.Sharpie and Skin Shield tattoo
If you’re a parent and you’ve never seen how to make these completely customizable hand written tattoos that, beyond creativity, can actually be used as a safety measure for your kids, then this technique fromWeight Down, Weight Loss is about to blow your mind!
They show you how to write a message, like a contact number for your child on a school field trip, right onto the skin with a Sharpie and seal it with Skin Shield so it lasts all day. You could also just use this technique for fun if you don’t feel like your kids need to take such measures when you send them out into the world.
7.Printable flower tattoos
Have you come across a pretty design online that you absolutelyadore but you’re not capable of drawing it to your satisfaction and you’re simply not ready to have it done as a real tattoo? Then we’re pleased to direct your attention to this DIY transfer tattoo idea fromDesign, Create, Cultivate!
They show you how to print the design you’ve had your eye on onto transfer paper and transfer it right onto your skin from there.
8.Custom bowling party tattoos
Are youvery into the idea of making your own simple DIY tattoos from transfer paper but you’d rather customize them for a specific event instead of just printing a random design that you like? Then perhaps you can take some inspiration from the wayDukes & Duchesses made these cute little tattoos for their bowling party!
Try making a printable design that features a small, simple logo, the name of your event or special occasion, and the date so people can remember it in pictures!
9.Hand drawn lotus tattoo
Are you or a friend actually quite talented with drawing and, even though you’re not ready to etch the art permanently into your skin in the form of a real tattoo, you’d still absolutely love to feature a hand drawn piece on your wrist or somewhere similar at least for a little while? In that case, we have a feeling you’re going to love this traced and transferred method of DIY tattoo making fromKaylee and The Satellite!
This idea issuper customizable because you’re creating the entire design by hand, so you can really draw whatever you want.
10.Hand drawn tattoo cups
Are you completely obsessed with the idea of hand drawn tattoos because you love the idea of your own sketches coming to life as transfers but you’d actually just never really liked putting them on your skin because you don’t like how it feels, nor how it looks when the design starts to wear off? In that case, maybe you’d prefer this sketched transfer cup idea fromEtsy Journal!
They show you how to transfer your designs onto paper glasses for a party or get together that you feel could use your personal touch.
11.Traced nylon tattoo sleeve
Are you very into the idea oftemporarytattoos but that simply doesn’t mean that you want to puttransfer tattoos all over your skin because your skin is actually very sensitive an you’ve had bad experiences in the past? Perhaps the design you’ve picture for your forearm is simply a little too big to be realistically turned out on transfer paper.
In that case, we think perhaps you’d prefer this traced tattoo sleeve idea from Katokula! They show you how to trace or sketch a design carefully onto a section of nude colours nylon so that, when you slip it on, the material matches your skin almost seamlessly so it looks like the ink of the drawing is ink on your skin.
12.Sharpie and hairspray tattoo
Are you hoping for just a small, simple design that only has to last you very briefly and doesn’t need to be very intricate? Then we have a feeling you’ll get along well with this simple Sharpie and hairspray idea fromTattoo ideas, Top Picks!
They show you how to sketch a design of your choice on your own or your friend’s skin and seal the design very carefully with a bit of maximum hold hairspray. This is a great option for little doodles that you only want to wear for the day out to the beach or with your friends to the amusement park on a warm summer’s day.
13.Gel ink pen transfer tattoos
Do you love the idea of drawing little doodles of your choosing by hand in black ink because you love the way it makes them look like actual detailed tattoos, but you don’t find sketching shapes out in Sharpie very easy because the ink is so wet and the tips are usually so thick?
In that case, we wonder if perhaps you’d prefer this gel pen ink transfer tattoo idea fromStyeko! Trying out all of the alternatives so you really know your options never hurts, right?
14.Temporary tattoo candles
We’ve shown you how to transfer temporary tattoos onto several household objects by now, but most of them were disposable things that you’ll only have out for one night.
Just in case you’d rather use that same technique but create something that lasts a little longer, here’s an awesome transfer tattoo idea fromDream Home Ideaz that helps you customize a candle with any design you please!
15.Tattooed eyeball mini pumpkins
Are you the kind of crafter who loves using your art skills on 3D objects and you don’t really pay a lot of attention to seasonal things because you’ll decorate however you please all year round? Itisyour house, after all! In that case, we definitely think you should take a look at this adorable transfer tattoo miniature pumpkin idea fromThe Proper Blog.
They show you how to make your own transfer tattoos in any design and stick them to the outside surface of mini pumpkins for a really neat contrasting pattern effect. If you’re not ready to start actually making tattoos of your own yet, this method might also work with store bought transfer tattoos as long as you pick ones with colours dark enough to show up against the natural colour of the pumpkin!
Parting Words
Do you know someone who’s always loved temporary tattoos, no matter their design or placement?
Share this post with them for a little bit of inspiration!