The Sticker Backing Struggle (and the Tools That Saved Me)
One of my biggest pet peeves in the world of stickers?
Getting a gorgeous sticker—perfect design, perfect finish—and then spending five minutes struggling to peel the backing. You know that moment when you’re scratching the corner, bending the edge, and praying it doesn’t crease or tear?
Yep. Been there too many times.
So I made it my mission to find something—anything—that could make peeling those stubborn backings easier.
Enter: the wonderful world of Japanese stationery.
If you’ve ever fallen down that rabbit hole, you know how clever and beautifully designed their tools are. I tried two products that came highly recommended:
Here’s what I found:
The TEPRA cutter feels great in the hand—light, compact, and ergonomic. But I found it a little tricky to gauge how hard to press when cutting the backing. It works, but the “miss rate” (when you either don’t cut through or accidentally slice too deep) was higher than I liked. And, well… let’s just say my kiddo, Oli, got curious one day and may or may not have broken it from some overenthusiastic testing.
The OLFA Top Sheet Cutter, on the other hand, has been my hero. You can actually control the depth of the cut, so it slices cleanly through the sticker backing without touching the sticker itself. I use it to cut all my single die-cut stickers now, and it’s been a total game changer.
If you’re into sticker making (or just love using stickers that actually peel easily), I can’t recommend this little cutter enough. It’s one of those small tools that makes a big difference—and saves you from the eternal sticker-peeling struggle.
➡️p.s.: Just to be completely transparent—if you purchase through those Amazon links, I earn a small percentage (at no extra cost to you!). It helps support my little shop and keeps me creating.
Until next time!
