applying water decals

[sion]

Can anyone give some tips for applying water decals?

I would to apply the ones below.

So far have tentativley sprayed on a little water on edges and they do not appear to be peeling off and have even
started to crack a little bit 

They are probably NOS from early-80's

[spesh]

put them in a saucer of luke warm water for about 15 seconds and then "slide" them off the backing onto the frame/fork 
any longer than 15 seconds in the water and they curl off the backing and are useless

i had put some schwinn water slide decals on my beach cruiser

[sion]

They all cracked up, almost as soon as they made contact with the water 

Maybe they were too old & dried up.