Abstract Artesprix Blank of the Month Hero Arts Button

Hello! I’m Alison Heikkila and it’s time for me to share my Blank of the Month project for Artesprix. This month’s Blank (or substrate) is a 2 pack of Buttons. I love buttons, flair, enamel pins, etc., so to be able to make my own large button was really exciting! Plus, I got to use an amazing stamp from Hero Arts that reminds me of my favorite painter. The stamp is called Abstract Expressionist Bold Prints, and it is very similar to the works of Wassily Kandinsky. Plus, I will be using all three of the new Artesprix Sublimation Marker sets!

**This post may contain affiliate links. That means that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher, but I may get compensated.** 

What is Sublimation Iron-on-Ink?
Artesprix Sublimation Markers, Ink, and Paint are specially formulated to allow you to use basic copy paper to: color, stamp, stencil, and monoprint anything you wish and turn it into a heat-transferable design. These designs are then applied to a polyester or polyester coated substrate with heat and pressure. You can use a heat press or a home iron! These designs, through this process of sublimation, will become permanent on your substrates.

Materials:
Button 2 Pack
Sublimation Stamp Pad-Black
Sublimation Markers- Basic Fine
Sublimation Markers- Bold Chisel
Sublimation Markers- Pastel Chisel
Protective Paper
Heat Tape
Hero Arts: Abstract Expressionist Bold Prints
MISTI Stamping Tool or an Acrylic Block
Heat Source: Home Iron or Heat Press
Step-by-Step Tutorial:
Step 1: Stamp the Abstract Expressionist design on to copy paper or watercolor paper with the Black Sublimation Ink Pad.

Step 2: Because this is a large background, I wanted to be able to isolate the area that I would eventually sublimate onto the button. I had a circle die cut that was almost the exact size of the button, so I die cut it out of cardstock, and used the negative piece to look at the stamped design. 

Step 3: Using the negative space, determine exactly which area you want on the button. Then use a pencil to trace the outline. 
You can see the circle I drew with my pencil in the middle. Now I know exactly where to color.

Step 4: Color the area you’ve chosen. As I mentioned before, this stamp reminds me Wassily Kandinsky’s art, so I used his color palette as inspiration, particularly his Composition VIII painting. I used an assortment of the 3 new marker sets (the Fine Tips were so helpful for this!). At times I colored directly with the marker, and other times I scribbled on to my glass mat, and painted the color on with some water and a brush. I was really trying to emulate Kandinsky’s style. 

Here is what my finished design looks like. The colors will get much brighter after we do the sublimation. 

Step 5: Tape the front of the button to the design with Heat Tape. 

Step 6: Let’s make our "Sublimation Sandwich"! Add a layer of siliconized paper to the top and bottom of your Blank. 

Step 7: Time to sublimate! Press the Button for 60 seconds at 400℉. 

Step 8: Let’s do the "Peek Test". This is when we lift a corner of the paper off of our design to make sure it sublimated correctly. Since we used a lot of Heat Tape, it shouldn’t shift the design off the Blank if we need to re-sublimate. Mine looks great, so we’re on to the next step!

Here is the sublimated design next to the original art. You can see that the original is paler in the middle now, and the colors on the Button are really vibrant! It looks so much like Kandinsky’s Composition VIII. 
Step 9: All that’s left to do is to attach the pin back that comes with the Buttons. Peel off the release paper, and stick it on to the back side of the button. 

Here is the finished Button in action. I love the size of it! I will absolutely need to wear it the next time I go to the Guggenheim Museum, which is where several of Kandinsky’s works can be found, including Composition VII. 

I really love how this Button came out. I am so happy that the new Sublimation Marker sets are out, because they were the exact colors I needed, and I didn’t need to mix any colors. The Abstract Expressionist stamp from Hero Arts is such a fun one, I am going to need to use it for other Artesprix projects, for sure. Don’t forget to grab the Button Blank of the Month, as it’s only available in March. How would you like to get more ideas on using Artesprix’s Sublimation Ink Pads, Markers, and Paint? There’s a Facebook Group that’s just for fans of Artesprix! You can click HERE to join. Also, don't forget to visit the Artesprix store to see all of the available blanks and bundles, so you can get started with sublimation.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Have an inspiring day!

Alison Heikkila

**This post may contain affiliate links. That means that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher, but I may get compensated.**