Floral Blank of the Month Garden Flag with Hero Arts & Artesprix
Artesprix Design TeamGarden Flag, Gel Press, Paints
Hi guys! I'm Design Team Member Debbie from Debbie J’s Crafting Corner. April's Blank of the Month is another fun blank, Garden Flags. Are you one to change out your Garden Flag seasonally? If you are, you are going to love that you can now personalize one yourself with Iron-on-Ink. The best part is it will last through the seasons and the weather, let's get started.
**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?
Artesprix Iron-on-Ink is specialty sublimation ink in craft form. Traditionally sublimation ink is found in a fancy (expensive) printer. However, Artesprix hit the crafting scene in 2018 giving Makers, like me, the ability to experience sublimation without high-end equipment. Sublimation is when ink transforms to a gas and then binds to a compatible blank once combined with heat and pressure. The big deal? Once the design is infused to the polyester coated blank or polyester fabric, it is lifetime permanent!
Supplies:
Artesprix Sublimation Stamp Pad
Hero Arts Sweet as Honey Stamp Set
Hero Arts Sweet as Beelieve Stamp Set
Hero Arts Sweet as Color Layering Dragonfly
Fiskars Position & Press Stamp Block
Magnetic Glass Mat from glassboardstudio.com - use discount code DEBBIE20 for 20% off
Plain Copy Paper
Step-by-Step Tutorial:
Step 1: First let’s prepare the template. Our Artesprix Garden Flag Blank is much larger than a sheet of copy paper. However, an 8 ½ x 11" sheet of copy paper placed horizontally is about the width of the blank.
Pro Tip: I decided to use 2 sheets of copy paper to create my design on. One for the top half of the flag and the other for the bottom half.
Step 2: Let's add our design. I’m trying something new. I’ll be using some of the Artesprix Paints and a Gel Press to add the design to the top of one of my paper sheets. I’m also using the Hero Arts Lacy Floral Stencil.
I first placed the stencil onto a clean gel press, and pressed it into the surface. Then I added blue and white artesprix paint over the stencil and brayered it over most of the stencil.
Pro Tip #2: The stencil is smaller than the area I’m working on, so I moved it a couple of time and added the blended Artesprix Paints over it.
Step 3: Then I “pulled” the paint from the press onto a sheet of copy paper. This is a new technique for me and takes a bit of practice…. But it’s so much fun!
Pro Tip #3: The white Artesprix paint isn’t actually white. It’s a color lightener so that you can have different shades of colors.
Step 4: For the bottom half of the flag, I’m stamping and coloring some flowers using black Artesprix Sublimation Stamp Ink, three Hero Arts Stamp Sets and some Artesprix markers. There are so many new colors available that I just combined different marker sets to get the look I was going for.
Step 5: Tape the finished design to the garden flag. I trimmed around the lower edge of my “sky” and the top of my “flowers” to try to get it all to fit at once, no such luck. Plus, this blank turned out to be LARGER than the heating surface of my larger heat press.
No worries. I just pressed the design in two steps.
For each press, I taped the design onto my garden flag blank with Heat Tape, made my sublimation sandwich and pressed the design in the heat press.
Step 4: For the "Sublimation Sandwich” you need 2 sheets of protective paper that are larger than your design and blank. One piece will go above and below your secured project.
Step 5: Now it’s time to transfer! Always make sure that the paper with the design is closest to the heat. I set the temperature to 400℉ and my time to 55 seconds and transferred.
Step 6: "Peek Test" time, this can be a project saver! Before removing any tape, peel back a small part of your design to ensure the transfer was successful.
Step 7: Once you confirmed your transfer was successful, remove your design for the big reveal!
I just love those bright orange flowers! And I learned (by trying it) that you CAN press twice on the same project. The key is to do so carefully and use more heat tape than you would normally. That opens so many possibilities and I’ll be experimenting more on future projects.
I really appreciate you hanging out with me today and would love to see what you create using your craft supplies and Artesprix Iron-on-Ink!
If you do not have any in your Maker's toolbox yet, head on over to the Artesprix Shop, right now. They have a "Starter Kit" that I highly recommend. Share your Artesprix projects with us by using #Artesprix and #IrononInk or post it to the Artesprix Facebook Group.
Because, if I can make it, You Can too!
Big Hugs!
Debbie Jenkins
**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.**
