StyleTech Craft Gloss Vinyl + chipboard + a Silhouette Cameo = the most adorable pet photoshoot prop ever. This is a sponsored post but all ideas and opinions are my own.
Okay, I have to be honest — this project started because of a joke. We always say our puppy Lilo looks like a stuffed animal. She’s 11 months old, fluffy, tiny, and stares at you with those boba eyes that absolutely do not look real. One day I said, “She needs a Ty tag,” and instead of leaving it at that, I actually went and made one.
Spoiler: it was completely worth it.
Meet the stars of this shoot
Lilo: 11-month-old puppy. Looks like a toy. Acts like a tornado. The whole reason this project exists.
Beans: Our guinea pig and professional model. Incredibly patient. Deeply unimpressed by everything.
Both of them got the full Ty Tag treatment, and honestly? Beans might have stolen the show. There is something so funny about a guinea pig with an official collector tag.
What you’ll need
Supplies
- StyleTech Craft Gloss Vinyl
- Chipboard (for the tag base)
- Silhouette Cameo
- Free File for Tags (personal use only)
- Thin ribbon or twine
- Weeding tool
- Transfer tape
The inspiration: the Ty tag
If you ever owned a Beanie Baby (or Beanie Boo), you know exactly what I’m talking about. That little heart-shaped red tag with the iconic “ty” logo in the center — it’s one of the most recognizable collectible tags ever made. I wanted to recreate that look as closely as possible, sized perfectly to hang from a pet’s collar or rest against their fur during photos.
How I made it
- Designed the tag in Silhouette Studio — I modeled the shape and layout after the classic Ty heart tag.
- Cut the chipboard base using the Cameo. Chipboard gives it that satisfying stiff, cardstock feel that a real collectible tag has.
- Cut the gloss vinyl design separately. This is where StyleTech’s Gloss Vinyl really shines — the color is rich, the surface is smooth, and it catches light beautifully in photos.
- Weeded the vinyl and applied it to the chipboard using transfer tape. Take your time here — the glossy finish makes every bubble or misalignment very visible.
- Tied on a small piece of ribbon to complete the look.
Why I love StyleTech Gloss Vinyl for this
I’ve used a few different vinyl brands over the years, and for a project where the finish really matters — like a prop that’s going to be up close in photos — the quality of StyleTech Gloss Vinyl is noticeable. The red is deep and true (no muddy undertones), the cut was clean with no tearing, and the adhesion to chipboard was solid without any lifting at the edges.
The glossy finish also plays really well with natural light during photoshoots. In pictures, it genuinely looks like the real thing.
The photoshoot: a chaotic, adorable success
Lilo, as expected, was mostly interested in eating the tag. But in the brief moments she held still, the photos were perfect. The tag hung right under her ear and with her fluffy fur and big eyes, she looked exactly like a plush toy pulled straight off a store shelf.
Beans was far more cooperative (guinea pigs have a surprisingly regal stillness about them). We propped the tag against his side and he just… sat there and let it happen. Absolute professional. 10/10 model behavior.
There is something deeply satisfying about handing your guinea pig an official collector’s tag and having him just accept it.
Final thoughts
This is one of those projects that took maybe an afternoon but will live rent-free in my head forever. The tags are easy to customize — you could change the name, add a birthday, adjust the colors for different “editions.” I’m already thinking about making holiday versions.
If you have a pet that looks even slightly like a stuffed animal (or one that just deserves to be collectible), please make one of these. Your future photoshoot content will thank you.
Have you tried a vinyl craft for your pets? Drop a comment — I want to see your babies!
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