Gel Printed Sublimation Textured Coasters with Artesprix Paints

May 17, 2024 Artesprix Design Team
Coasters, Gel Press, Paints

Hello and welcome! My name is Linh from LVHandcrafted and today I’m sharing a fun way to play with your Iron-on-Ink Sublimation Acrylic Paints! Bring out your Gel Press and get ready to make several backgrounds. Gel printing is a fun way to use your craft supplies, household objects, leaves and flowers from your garden, to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind art for your coasters!

sublimation textured coaster gel press design

**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!

sublimation textured coasters artesprix paint

Supplies:

Textured Coasters 4ct

Sublimation Acrylic Paint

Protective Project Mat

Heat Resistant Gloves

Multi Purpose Cleaner.

Heat Source

Copy Paper

Pencil

Scissors

Step-by-Step Tutorial:

Step 1: Place a piece of clear acetate over the Textured Coaster and trace the outline with a marker. This will give us a template on our acetate.

coaster template on acetate

Step 2: Apply a small amount of paint in any color to your gel plate (make sure your gel plate is larger than your blank).

artesprix paint on gel press plate

Step 3: Using a brayer, spread and mix the paint by rolling it across the gel plate. Make sure you cover an area larger than your blank .

brayer with paint on gel press plate

Step 4: Before the paint dries, use anything that has a fun texture (e.g. bubble wrap, stencils, etc.) and press it into your gel plate to lift off some paint.

Pro Tip #1: Before the paint dries on your bubble wrap/stencil, press a sheet of copy paper onto it and burnish with your hand. Lift up to “pull a print”. Save it for a future project when you are in need of something quick!

stencil over gel press plate before pull

Step 5: Before the paint dries on your gel plate. Place a sheet of copy paper onto your gel plate. Burnish well. Then lift up the paper to “pull a print”.

Step 6: You can repeat steps 2-3 of adding more color to your gel plate. Repeat step 4 to remove paint (and add texture). When you have a design you like, Repeat step 5 to “pull a print”.

gel press plate design with artesprix paint

Pro Tip #2: Have fun and go wild! It’s only paper and a bit of paint, and all designs can be transferred at anytime to any sublimation blank!

Pro Tip #3: You don’t always have to pull a print using a fresh sheet of paper, you can also pull a print from a previous print to layer more texture and pattern.

finished design from gel press with sublimation paint

Step 7: Choose the design(s) you’d like to use on your blank. Make sure it’s completely dry.

Step 8: Remove any dust, debris, lint from your blank.

Step 9: Secure the coaster to the design using Heat Tape.

secured coaster to design with heat tape

Pro Tip #4: Use the clear acetate with the blank outlined (from step 1) as a preview window to choose which part of your gel print you want to use. Slide your blank underneath your clear acetate template to line up with the outline.

Step 10: Create a "Sublimation Sandwich" or in my case, a "taco". Place Protective Paper above and below your project to prevent ink from transferring to your work surface and heat source.

secured project with protective paper before transfer

Step 11: Transfer in accordance with the specifications for the Textured Coasters blank. If you are using a Heat Press, set to 400℉ for 90 seconds.

sublimation design on coaster after transfer

Step 12: Time for the "peek test". Lift a corner of your design to see if your design has transferred. If the transfer doesn’t look as you intended, you can transfer again. This step is only possible if you do not move anything out of place.

sublimation design with artesprix paint

Step 13: Our "peek test" was successful so we can reveal the finished coasters!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my coaster project on the Artesprix Blog! If you bring out your gel plate to do some sublimation, please share it 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