Make Easy Custom Gift Tags using Sublimation Charms Charlie Brown!

January 17, 2025 Artesprix Design Team
Charms, Markers

Hello and welcome! I'm Design Team Member Linh and I have a fun project to share! I recently learned how to do finger knitting and I’m making a set of 4 knitted pillow cases in the colors of 4 Peanut characters. Since it won’t be immediately obvious that the pillows are themed for the characters, I’m making a set of sublimation charms as a little gift tag that I can put on each pillow so the gift recipient knows which pillow is which character!

I used a lightpad to trace the characters and color them in with Sublimation Markers! You can just about trace anything with a lightpad.

**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 are Sublimation Arts & Crafts Supplies?

The word "sublimation" is a chemistry term that describes the process of a substance (like Iron-on-Ink) going from a solid state to a gaseous phase and skipping over the liquid phase. In the world of designing custom goods, sublimation offers a permanent way to transfer a design to a polyester surface. The result is a vibrant, custom designed product that is long-lasting and durable. If you’ve always wanted to try sublimation but thought you needed an expensive, specialty printer, you’re in luck because Artesprix makes it possible to sublimate without a sublimation printer!

Supplies:

Charm Blank

Sublimation Markers - Black, Yellow, Red, Blue

Protective Project Mat

Heat Resistant Gloves

Heat Source

Copy Paper/Cardstock

Step-by-Step Tutorial:

Step 1: I found some adorable Peanuts characters and scaled them down to fit onto the Charm Blank. You can use any photo editing or word processing software or application. I printed this out.

Step 2: Using a Light Box to shine light through the printed image, I traced the characters onto a blank sheet of copy/printer paper using Black Sublimation Marker. The Light Box helps you to clearly see the image and because these are cartoon characters, you don’t have to worry too much about it looking hand-drawn - that’s part of the appeal!

Step 3: Lay your Charm Blank on top of your characters and trace a circle around the Charm Blank using a PENCIL. It’s important to use a pencil because any other type of pen/marker could ruin your sublimation.

Peo Tip: You can also trace your circle onto the copy paper first and then position it over the character before you trace. This will let you frame/preview the image much more precisely. (I was just very eager to do the tracing and didn’t think ahead. 😂)

Step 4: Color in your image with Sublimation Markers. I chose to color the background around each character instead of coloring the character itself. But you can color the portions that you’d like for the look you want to achieve.

Step 5: Tape the Charm Blank to the design. You want to make sure the white side (not the silver metal side) is touching your design. This blank is single-sided.

Step 6: I placed the blank with the design taped to it inside a folded sheet of protective paper. I doubled up on the protective paper because the Sublimation markers are very intense! Make sure that your design on the copy paper is on the top and closest to your heat source.

Step 7: Press your design into your blank at 400°F for 45 seconds.

Step 8: Take a peek to make sure the sublimation ink has transferred. If it hasn’t, and no tape has been moved out of place. Check your time, temperature, pressure, and how your project was positioned.

Step 9: Once you have confirmed Step 8 was successful, you can reveal the other designs.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my project on the Artesprix Blog! Share your next sublimation project in the Artesprix Iron-on-Ink Inspirational Group on Facebook, we would love to see your creations. Be sure to use the tags #Artesprix and #IrononInk so we don't miss it. If you want to learn more about me and see more projects click here: @LVHandcrafted.

Thanks so much for checking out my project. Have a fabulous day!

Linh Van