Hula Girl Necktie Sublimation Project with Iron-on-Ink

Hi everyone! My name is Tanya and I am excited to be on the Artesprix Design Team this term. 

I wanted to create something that could be a cool Father’s Day gift. This year, My Dad would be 100 and the old-school tattoo art just makes me think about his era. He was a soldier in World War 2, so the Hula Girl it is! 

I am putting a Hula Girl on the Artesprix Polyester Necktie Blank of the Month.

What are Sublimation Markers?

Any art tool that allows people be more creative at expressing themselves is something I gravitate to.  The sublimation markers allow anyone to create their own original artwork and transfer to any dye sub substrate!!! This really changes the “homemade” gift game. As an art educator, Artesprix will definitely be added to some of my classes.  I’ve pulled out my old sketchbooks and have begun choosing which of my art pieces will looks great using the markers. So far, the fine tip black marker is my favorite!!

Materials:

• Original, Pastel and Gnomie Botanical Sublimation Markers
• Poly Necktie Blank
• Plain Copy Paper
• Heat Tape
• Protective Paper
• Heat Press
• Pencil
• Heat Press 

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1. Find a design you want to use. I looked up old-school flash art and I decided on a hula girl for my polyester necktie. 

Step 2. I drew the hula girl on tracing paper so I could easily flip the paper over and burnish the backside onto copy paper. 

Step 3. Next I colored the design. I waited a few minutes then I outlined using the fine tipped black sublimation marker. I also cut out the image to make it easier to place on the tie.

*PRO TIP: Make sure you leave enough room around it to later use heat tape without covering part of your image.*

Step 4. I freehanded a simple pineapple design for the thin end of the hula girl polyester necktie project.  It will be a nice surprise when it pops out from behind the wider end of the tie.

Step 5. Don’t forget to use a lint roller over your substrate/blank to pick up any fuzz or, of course, lint.

Step 6. Using the siliconized release Artesprix Protective Paper, I cut a piece large enough to be able to fold it in half and sandwich the necktie and the design, kind of like a taco. Before you tape the design down, do a quick press with the heat press or iron to get any wrinkles out and wick out moisture.

Step 7. I taped, face down, my design and set my heat press for 60 seconds and at 400F degrees. I fold the silicone paper in half, sandwiching the tie and place a piece of plain copy paper on top. Using only slight pressure, I shut my press for 60 seconds. 

Step 8. Before removing any tape, do a peak test to ensure you got a good transfer to your blank. Once you see you successfully transferred your hula girl to your polyester necktie, reveal your project. 

OH MY GOSH! How cute is this?!

Step 9. I repeated those same steps to transfer the pineapple to the back of the hula girl polyester necktie. 

Step 10. Enjoy your final project! 

It’s just so amazing that you can make such classy (ha, ha) gifts by just using markers. Ok, they are not JUST markers, they are Magic markers. Not THOSE magic markers, these are REAL magic markers!

Don't forget to PIN one of the photos to your Pinterest boards for your next sublimation craft project!

Thank you for joining me!

Until next time,

Tanya