Hi everyone! It’s Design Team Member Mandie with another fun idea for your next Iron-on-Ink project! I love crafting for the holidays and making wreaths for my home. With this gorgeous December Blank of the Month Satin Ribbon from Artesprix I can get the exact look I want without searching the store shelves for a ribbon that only exists in my brain! I hope this quick and easy wreath will inspire you to create your own personalized ribbon with this month's featured blank. It is only available for the month of December 2022 so make sure you grab one in the Artesprix Shop!
What is Sublimation Iron-on-Ink?
Iron-on-Ink is an innovative craft sublimation medium to create unique designs that you can transfer to an endless selection of blanks. You can create some amazing one-of-a-kind gifts that will last a lifetime. When the finished sublimation design is combined with heat and pressure, the ink turns into a gas and binds to the polyester fabric or poly-coated blank leaving you with a permanent transfer. Between Artesprix's plethora of Iron-on-Ink products and the endless amount of compatible sublimation blanks, the possibilities are endless! Iron-on-Inks is fabulous because you don’t have to invest in an expensive sublimation printer to create some high quality projects right in your home! Plus, if you’re more “hands on” or “hands inky” like me, I feel you can get so much more creative with the Sublimation Inks, Paints and Markers that Artesprix offers!
Supplies:
December Blank of the Month Satin Ribbon
Sublimation Stamp Pads
Holiday Stamps
Plain Copy Paper
Paper Trimmer
Acrylic Stamping Block
Heat Source (Press or Handheld Craft Press)
Step-by-Step Tutorial:
Step 1: To create the template, I used my paper trimmer to cut plain copy paper into 2.75” strips. Because the Satin Ribbon is 2.25” wide, I’m allowing 0.25” on each side for play and to make sure my pattern goes edge to edge.
Step 2: Next, if you are using cling stamps like me, you will affix them to your acrylic block as desired. I wanted red snowflakes and black gnomes so I set up 2 different blocks for stamping. To cover a large area when stamping, I lay my stamp block on the table with the stamps facing up, then press the Stamp Ink Pads to the stamps to ensure I get even coverage.
Pro Tip: I put a piece of scrap paper behind my strips to absorb the extra ink and then first stamp my snowflakes in red, then the gnome in black in-between.
Step 3: Continue the pattern as needed for the length of ribbon required. I knew I wanted at least 8 feet of the Satin Ribbon so I made 12 strips of transfers. I was careful not to start or end with a partial image so I would get good continuity.
Step 4: Set your Heat Source to the appropriate temperature the blank calls for. The December Blank of the Month Satin Ribbon calls for 400℉, with a transfer time of 90 seconds.
Step 5: Secure your transfer to the ribbon using Heat Tape, or if you have Positioning Spray like me you can also use that as an option.
Pro Tip #2: I didn’t cut any Satin Ribbon off of the roll, I started close to the end of my ribbon and laid it on top of my Protective Paper on my heat presses mat.
Step 6: To create my "Sublimation Sandwich", I positioned the secured transfer and ribbon between two wider pieces of siliconized Protective Paper.
Step 7: Once your heat source is to temperature, and your "Sandwich" is positioned correctly in the press, transfer your design.
Step 8: After your first transfer, conduct a "peek test" to ensure your first transfer was successful, pull back a small piece of the ribbon to check the vibrancy of the sublimation ink. If your transfer was successful repeat the process. Reposition your "Sandwich" with new Protective Paper for each section of the Satin Ribbon and press.
Here’s a look at the pressed ribbon and after it’s been pressed with the patterned strip, notice how vibrant the colors are in the ribbon after pressing!
Step 9: Then I took my newly patterned Satin Ribbon to my craft table and created my wreath. I simply wrapped the ribbon around an 18” faux pine wreath form and tied a simple bow at the bottom. Then I added in my skiing gnome picks and a few glittery snowflakes to complete the look
This Satin Ribbon was so much fun to play with, make sure you check back with the Artesprix Blog to see what the other designers have created with this beautiful, versatile ribbon! Don’t forget to visit the Artesprix Facebook Group where Makers are always sharing inspirational projects. And if you're interested in giving the gift of Iron-on-Ink this season, check out the Sublimation Starter Kit!
Until next time!
Mandie Wade
**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.**
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