How to Use OPI Make It Stick Tabs for Nail Art Stencils
By OPI Nail Polish, Nail Care & Nail Art | OPI® | Published: 2026-10-24
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to turn OPI Make It Stick Tabs into reusable nail art stencils for crisp French tips, half-moons, and geometric designs—no glue or drying time needed.
Quick Answer
OPI Make It Stick Tabs work as low-tack stencils for nail art: press a tab onto cured polish, paint over it, then peel it away for a clean edge. This gives you crisp designs without buying separate stencil sheets.
Why Tabs Work as Stencils
Make It Stick Tabs are peel-and-stick adhesive tabs with a secure hold, which means they stay put while you paint but remove cleanly without pulling up the polish underneath. That low-tack balance is exactly what a stencil needs: it seals the edge to prevent bleeding, yet lifts off without smudging.
Because the tabs work with any OPI press-on nail set, you can also use them to mask off sections of a press-on before painting—great for testing a design before committing to your natural nails.
Trade-Offs and Limitations
Tabs aren't precision-cut like dedicated stencils, so you'll need to trim them with small scissors for intricate shapes. They also have a limited number of uses—once the adhesive picks up lint or loses tack, replace the tab for clean lines.
For curved designs like French tips, the tab's straight edge won't bend around a smile line. Use it for straight or geometric patterns, or cut a curve into the tab before applying.
Step-by-Step: Make It Stick Tab Stencils
- Prep the nail: Apply your base color and let it dry completely. Wipe the nail with rubbing alcohol to remove oils that could cause the tab to slip. Common mistake: painting over a tacky base will pull up color when you remove the tab. Check that the base is dry to the touch before placing the tab.
- Cut the stencil: Trim a Make It Stick Tab to the desired shape using small scissors. For a straight French tip, cut a strip; for a half-moon, cut a curve. Common mistake: leaving jagged edges causes paint to bleed under the stencil. Smooth any rough edges with a nail file before applying.
- Place and press: Peel the tab from its backing and press it firmly onto the nail, smoothing from center to edges to eliminate air bubbles. Common mistake: air bubbles allow polish to seep underneath, ruining the line. Burnish the edges with an orange stick to seal them down.
- Paint and remove: Apply your design color over the stencil and immediately peel the tab away while the polish is still wet. Peel at a 180-degree angle back over itself. Common mistake: waiting for the polish to dry makes it peel off with the tab. Remove the tab right after painting for the cleanest edge.
- Seal the design: Let the design dry for a minute, then apply a top coat over the entire nail to smooth the edge and add shine. Common mistake: skipping the top coat leaves a raised edge that catches on clothing. Use a quick-dry top coat to lock in the design.
Products Mentioned
- Make It Stick Tabs: Make It Stick Tabs are peel-and-stick adhesive tabs designed to turn any OPI press-on set into an insta-mani, with a secure hold and mess-free application. Their secure hold keeps the stencil edge sealed for crisp lines, while the peel-and-stick design means no glue or drying time slows down your nail art.
Make It Stick Tabs
