Create semicolon butterfly stickers for Mental Health Month with these free images.
May is Mental Health Month.
I’ve previously posted about the semicolon meaning, when I created a butterfly from window cling. (Read this article for more details about the semicolon in relation to mental health.)
The abridged version: “A semicolon represents a sentence the author could have ended but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life.”
Basically, the semicolon represents suicide, but is a message to keep going.
Suicide is something we need to talk about more.
It’s scary and uncomfortable and almost taboo… until someone close to you dies from suicide.
So let’s talk about it.
Let’s not talk about “mental health care” as taking a bubble bath. If you suspect someone is struggling, don’t ignore it. Don’t say “just cheer up.” Look them directly in the eyes and say, “I know you’re having a hard time. Talk to me.” Then LISTEN.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death in people ages 10-34 in the US. The stickers below could go on waterbottles, lockers, or notebooks. For someone struggling with their mental health, it’s a little reminder that you care about them deeply.
There are four different colors of the semicolon butterfly to choose from. There are two versions of each – one with a thin antenna and a white border; the other has a thicker antenna and no border.
Use Cricut’s print and cut feature to cut the stickers out precisely. This one is just half an inch wide.
The photos below show a few of the different places I’ve put stickers.
LBTQ+ youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide as their peers. The rainbow butterfly shows your support.
Ready to make it?
Note:
If you don’t have a cutting machine, you can simply print out the images on sticker paper and hand-cut them.
1) Double-click the PNG image. Choose File > Print.
2) In the print window, change the “Copies per page” to 16 to use the whole page of paper.
Materials & Supplies needed to make the semicolon butterfly stickers
- The PNG files, which are design #81 – Semicolon Butterfly PNG images in the Free Files Folder.
- (If you don’t have the password for the free files, fill in the form at the bottom of the page and it will be emailed to you.)
- a printer (this is my printer and I love it)
- Zicoto Water-resistant Glossy Vinyl Sticker Paper (it’s the best!)
* Links to products are for your convenience in finding tools and materials, however, they are affiliate links.
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If you’re familiar with Print then Cut, you can probably make the stickers now without further help.
but… Do you know how to make a pattern fill behind an image? Do you know exactly how to use the offset feature if you want to outline your stickers? If the answers are no, you’ll find the tutorial linked below helpful too.
Click the button below or this link for a very in-depth tutorial on making stickers with the Print Then Cut operation in Cricut Design Space.
You’ll learn to put backgrounds, both solid colors and patterns, on your stickers in the Print Then Cut tutorial.
I finally created a design that I want to decorate my machines with!
Don’t want to forget this?
Save it for later by pinning it on Pinterest.
Click the image below to Pin it.
Leave a comment below with how you’ll use these free semicolon butterfly images.
Shirl Lundstrom says
Thank you for this.
Stephanie S. says
These are fabulous. I have depression and these can be reminders to believe in myself. Thank you for making these wonderful butterflies..
Emily says
Yes!! I think it’s good to have constant little reminders. Hopefully the little reminders will help prevent a big spiral down. (I call it the spiral of doom. When it’s activated, almost nothing can lift it.)
Margaret Carmichael says
I plan to make these for our Rainbow Club at school. My daughter-in-law happens to be the teacher that sponsors the group, but every teacher needs to let every student know that school is a safe place to be. If we get a student to ask one teacher each to put them up in their classroom, we can get them up in almost every classroom! Of course, I will credit you as the creator. This is perfect timing!