Custom Charmed Card with Iron-on-Ink

Hello Crafty Friends!  I'm Kelly Nagy, and one of the newest Design Team members for Artesprix.  I'm excited to share my crafting journey with you on the Artesprix Blog.  Join me as I dive into the world of paper crafting and explore the magic of sublimation. Discover how Artesprix has transformed my crafting experience, allowing me to use my beloved crafting supplies in a whole new way!

My first project of this term features the Blank of the Month Charms for May. Each month Artesprix features a unique blank that is only available for that month. May's Charms come in a set of four, leaving lots of opportunity for creative possibilities. For crafters who often ponder how to utilize those intricate small stamps in their stash, these blanks are the perfect solution! I dove into my own collection, searching for the perfect tiny designs to bring to life as delightful charms, to both elevate my card making projects, as well as create other items for unique and personalized gift giving.

**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 Artesprix Iron-on-Ink?

"Sublimation Made Simple" as Artesprix put it! Sublimation is like magic for your crafts. It transforms solid ink into a gas without any liquid in between! With a range of coated blanks from Artesprix, made to accept their specially formulated, sublimation ink under a combination of heat and pressure, the possibilities are endless. The ink comes in a variety of forms, from markers, stamp pads, and ink refills to acrylic paints, which can be mixed and matched to create any color you can dream up. These, along with your own personal arsenal of crafting supplies, the sky’s the limit! This fascinating chemical process is not just for commercial use anymore. It is available to home crafters just like you and me! We are now able to create vibrant, long lasting prints, using this amazing technology, thanks to the innovative products tailored for us crafters by Artesprix! Let your creativity soar using sublimation magic, and bring your designs to life in a new and exciting way!

Supplies:

Charms 4ct

Sublimation Markers

Sublimation Stamp Pad-Black 

Heat Source: Heat Press or Home Iron

Project Mat (if using handheld heat source)

Stamping Platform or Acrylic Block

Ink Blending Brushes - dedicated for sublimation ink use

Copy Paper

Pencil

Step-by-Step Tutorial:

Step 1: Trace the outline of the small charm blank onto a piece of plain copy paper using a pencil.

Step 2: Stamp small images in any format on the copy paper, using the traced blank as a template with any color Sublimation Stamp Pad. I decided to use a tiny colored pencil stamp on one charm and a small flower image on another.

Pro Tip: Be sure to have the images hang past your outline so that you have a continuous pattern.  

Step 3: Color in your images using a variety of Artesprix Sublimation Markers.

Step 4: Once the transfer is completely dry, secure the charm with heat tape, white side toward the design.

Step 5: Make the "Sublimation Sandwich". Add a layer of siliconized paper to the top and bottom of your Blank. Your sandwich will be: Protective Paper, secured project with paper on top, and another piece of Protective Paper. 

Step 6: It’s time to sublimate! Press the charm with medium pressure at 400 degrees for 45 seconds.

Pro Tip #2: My photo shows 390℉, which is what worked best for me and my specific heat press. Sometimes you may need to adjust slightly. 

Step 7: Now we can do the "Peek Test". This is when we lift a corner of the paper off of our design to make sure it sublimated correctly. This looks perfect, so we can remove the paper completely. 

Step 8: Use the bails that are included to enhance your cards, scrapbook pages and or other DIY craft projects. 

Check out the vibrant finished transfer is on the charms are! I really love the finished look. I used one to create a fun spring/summer floral necklace, but the other, with colored pencils, adds a nice visual  addition to my card and a keepsake the receiver can wear or simply leave as an embellishment on the card.  

Wanting  more inspiration? 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. 

Happy Crafting!

Kelly Nagy

**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.**