R2D2 Trashcan Tutorial

I saw the cutest R2D2 trashcans on Pinterest and really wanted one for my son’s Star Wars party, but I totally stink at freehand painting stuff like that. So I decided to create a Silhouette file to do all the grunt work for me. It took forever to do the design, but now that I have done the hard part, my R2D2 Trashcan Tutorial makes it super easy for you!

R2D2 Trashcan Tutorial

Step 1: Buy the trashcan

I made this one with the the trashcan below, but you can also get a bigger size if you want to make a laundry hamper. You could even buy one of those plastic cup tumblers and use the decals to make your own R2D2 cup!

Step 2: Get the vinyl

Since this was going in a little boy’s room, I wanted the vinyl to be able to stand up to some abuse. So I bought permanent outdoor vinyl. I liked this pack from Amazon because it had all the colors I needed.

Step 3: Paint the head silver

The only painting you have to do is the head and it took me all of ten minutes to spray it silver. Just be sure to get a quality silver spray paint that works well on plastic. And I find that it helps to sand the head a little so that the paint adheres better.

Step 4: Cut the vinyl

Below is the zip file with the Silhouette files. I separated them into colors to make it easier to cut. You will want to review the files though to make sure they are the right dimensions for what you are working on. These files are free to use, but you are responsible for making sure they will work well with your project before cutting them.

Download Free Silhouette Files for R2D2 Trashcan

I also have included a pdf version if you want to use another program or if you want to cut them out by hand. If you want to convert it to SVG, there are some online converters you can use or you can download Inkscape. If the PDF is showing lines through the design, just save it to your computer and open it up with Acrobat Reader.

R2D2 Black Cut File (PDF)
R2D2 Blue Cut File (PDF)
R2D2 Blue Head Cut File (PDF)
R2D2 Red Cut File (PDF)

Step 5: Apply the vinyl

The vinyl stickers are pretty easy to stick on, but as with any round surface, it can get a little tricky. The hardest part was the top of the head. You may have to mess with the spacing a little. Also, you have to be careful not to pull up any of the silver paint if you have to remove and reapply any of the stickers. Be patient and take your time. The result is well worth the effort!

Let me know if you have any questions about this R2D2 Trashcan Tutorial or if you have made your own little R2D2. I would love to see him!