Hopes and Dreams Blank of the Month Garden Stakes with Iron-on-Ink

Hi everyone, it's Designer Betsy here! All around me farmers and gardeners are getting soil ready and beginning to plant their crops. I tried my hand at vegetable gardening, but confession, I’m kind of a lazy vegetable gardener. Oddly enough, I love flowers! I love going to the greenhouse and dreaming about my gorgeous yard filled with beautiful colors as I walk down the aisles and plants fill my shopping cart. It’s fitting this month we are personalizing garden stakes. I wanted to create a set that truly reflected my flower garden, a space filled with “hopes” and “dreams”! 

What is Artesprix Sublimation Craft Ink?
Artesprix Sublimation Inks are specially formulated heat transferred ink. These inks allow you to create personalized designs on polyester coated surfaces and polyester fabrics. Using plain copy paper, you create your design, you then transfer the finished design onto your compatible blank using a heat source and pressure. The results are vibrant, colorful, and best of all permanent! Before Artesprix you needed a fancy printer to experience this level of personalization, but not anymore! 
Supplies:
Artesprix June Blank of the Month Garden Stakes
Sublimation Stamps: Block Alphabet
Acrylic Stamp Block
Sublimation Stamp Pad
Post-It notes (for mask) 
Scissors
Protective Paper Roll
Heat Tape
Heat Source
Floral Stencil
Daubers
Copy Paper
Pencil
Step-by-Step Tutorial:
Step 1: Using pencil, trace around your garden stakes on plain copy paper.

Pro Tip: Warm up your heat source to 400℉ while you work on your design. 
Step 2: Using the Artesprix Sublimation Stamps: Block Alphabet Stamps place each letter on your acrylic block. Ink your word and stamp onto your paper. Stamp again onto the post-it note. 

Pro Tip #2: Because sublimation ink is dark before transfer, some Artesprix Sublimation Stamp Pads look the same. Be careful to match your lids with the correct bases, color names are on the bottom. I didn't do this and some were mixed up from a previous project, so purple it is! :) 
Step 3: Cut around the words stamped on your Post-It notes and adhere over the words stamped on your copy paper. The mask will help keep your words clear when stenciling over. 

Step 4: Lay your stencil over the outline of your garden stake and masked word. If you are afraid the stencil will shift use a bit of heat tape to hold in place. Using the daubers gently dab the ink onto the stencils. 
Pro Tip #3: When stenciling, Use a straight up and down motion vs. back and forth to keep your transfer crisp. Go slowly layering colors. I like beginning with the lighter colors and working towards darker as I find they blend better. 

Step 5: Remove the stencils and place your garden stake white side down on your inked design. Use heat tape to hold in place. 

Step 6: Flip your secured project over so the paper is on top. Create a “sublimation sandwich” by placing protective paper under and on top of your project. 
Step 7: Time to make the magic. Using your heat press, press your project for 90 seconds 400℉.

Step 8: CAREFULLY Do a "peek test" to see if your colors transferred. Peel back a small piece of your design to confirm it transferred without removing the tape. On my first transfer, I checked added more pressure and time and it came out perfect. 

Step 9: ALLOW TO COOL! This step is really important especially with metal projects because they are so hot after transfer.
Look at those colors! Such a fun reminder of the gorgeousness to come in my new flower bed. 
So what are you planting this year? We would love to hear about how you are using your Artesprix Garden Markers to mark and decorate your gardens or flower beds this year. Come visit us in the Artesprix Facebook Group to share your projects or be inspired by others in the group! 
Happy Crafting! 
Betsy Burnett