Make Some Merch Using Sublimation, Personalized Apparel in Minutes!

Hello and welcome!  My name is Linh from LVHandcrafted and I’m making some “merch” for my YT channel!  Sublimation is such an awesome way to make high-quality, custom branded merchandise that you can sell or give away. For t-shirts, particularly, I love sublimation as an alternative to HTV because it doesn’t change the feel of the t-shirt. Because sublimation permanently changes the color of the polyester threads, it doesn’t have that stiff feel that vinyl can. And it won’t crack, peel or fade over time.

**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: 

Sublimation T Shirt

Sublimation Acrylic Paints

Gel Plate

Brayer

Protective Paper 

Heat Tape 

Heat Tape Dispenser

Protective Project Mat 

Heat Resistant Gloves 

Heat Source

Copy Paper/Cardstock

Step-by-Step Tutorial: 

Step 1: I created my slogan “Crafty Fun with Friends” in Cricut Design Space and cut that out of stencil mylar.

Step 2: I weeded out the letters but made sure to keep all the pieces that are inside the letters. Tape all stencil and the “insides” of letters back in place onto some plain copy paper.

Step 3: I mixed up “Pool" with "Sea Glass" with the Artesprix Acrylic Paints using the Paint Color Mixing Chart. Friends, trust the formula, not your eyes. This is the one time that your eyes are truly deceiving. 

Step 4: Using a sponge, I dabbed the paint on through the stencil. This helps control how much paint gets applied so you don’t have paint seeping under the stencil.

Step 5: I made a 2-layer stencil so once the first layer of paint dried, I stenciled on the 2nd layer.

Step 6: Prepare your T-Shirt by lint rolling and pre-pressing to wick out any moisture and remove wrinkles.

Step 7: Place your design face down (paint side touching) the front of the shirt, placed as desired. Secure in place with Heat Tape to ensure design stays stationary during the transfer process. 

Step 8: Cut 3 pieces of Protective Paper, one for inside the shirt, to protect the back, one for the top of the shirt, and one for underneath to keep the back of the shirt white from unwanted ink. 

Step 9: Press at 370°F for 35 seconds.

Step 10:  Without moving any tape out of place, take a sneaky peek by lifting a corner of your design. If you feel like you got a good color transfer, all your blank to continue to cool. If your transfer looks light, try re-pressing again perhaps with more pressure. 

Step 11: Peel off the design and all enjoy!

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

**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.**