Posted By TeckWrap Craft On September 24, 2024
DIY Sublimation Ornaments
You can make DIY sublimation ornaments at home with acrylic, ceramic, metal, glass, or wood blanks. All you need are premium-quality sublimation sheets, a sublimation printer, and a heat press. Simply, print your design on the sublimation sheet, then transfer it to the ornament by applying heat and pressure. Let’s discuss in detail how you can make beautiful and eye-catching sublimation ornaments.
Materials Needed To Make DIY Sublimation Ornaments
For designing exquisite sublimation ornaments, you will need the following materials:
- Sublimation Ornament Blanks: There are different types of sublimation
ornament blanks available on the market. They can be bought in different shapes too, such as round, oval, hexagon, square, tree, heart, and star. These can be of glass, ceramic, acrylic, porcelain, metal, or wood. They are poly-coated so that sublimation prints can be transferred to them. - Sublimation Sheets: This is a special type of coated sheet that helps transfer vibrant and beautiful prints to poly-coated ornament blanks. Make sure they are of premium quality for excellent results such as those available at TeckWrap Craft.
- Sublimation Printer: It is best to invest in a printer that is equipped with special dye sublimation inks and has been specifically designed to print on sublimation sheets ensuring the best color transfer and longevity.
- Sublimation Tape: This is to hold the sublimation print in place during the application of heat and pressure.
- Heat Press: You will have to apply a specific amount of heat and pressure to sublimation ornaments for a certain duration and for this, you will need a heat press machine. You can make DIY sublimation ornaments with Cricut EasyPress or any other heat press machine you have,
- Butcher Paper: This will ensure even distribution of heat and prevent the material from getting scorched.
- Heat-resistant Gloves: Wear these because protection and prevention of injury are of utmost importance.
- Measuring Tape: This is required to measure the size of your ornament for a perfect, centralized print.
- Lint Roller or Microfiber Cloth: You will need this to clean the ornament before the application of sublimation print.
How To Make Sublimation Ornaments?
Customized sublimation ornaments look awesome when used for decoration. If you have designed them for a special occasion, you can store them to be used again as these are long-lasting. Following is an easy and straightforward method of making DIY sublimation ornaments at home. Here’s what you have to do:
- Step 1: Choose Your Design: Select a design that you want to apply to the ornament. You can choose any image you want and upload it on a design software. You can choose a thematic design for Christmas, Halloween, Good Friday, and other special celebrations.
- Step 2: Set its Dimensions and Shape: Measure the ornament and set the dimensions of your design or image accordingly on the software. You can even place two or three images on a page that should be as big as the sublimation sheet you have. At TeckWrap Craft, the size of a sublimation sheet is 8.3"x 11.7". Also, set the shape of your design according to that of your ornament.
- Step 3: Print and Cut Your Ornament Design: Mirror the ornament design on the software, load your sublimation sheet into the special sublimation printer, and print it. Once you get the vibrant prints, let them dry before you cut around their shape with a pair of sharp scissors. Do not touch the printed image to prevent smudging.
- Step 4: Apply the Image to the Sublimation Ornament: Clean the sublimation ornament with a lint roller and/or gently wipe it with isopropyl alcohol and a clean microfiber cloth to remove dust. Place the print on the ornament with the image facing down and secure it with the sublimation tape. Put butcher paper on top and apply heat and pressure according to the recommendations of the ornament manufacturer.
- Step 5: Remove the Sublimation Sheet: You can either wait for the ornaments to cool down or wear heat-resistant gloves and remove the sublimation sheet slowly. You will see your design successfully transferred to the sublimation ornament. This way you can print on both of its sides.
Sublimation Ornaments Ideas
There are numerous design ideas that you can work with to make beautiful ornaments using the sublimation process. Here are a few to spark your creativity:
- Capture Your Memorable Moments: Print pictures of your family and pets on different ornaments and make a collage from them to display. You can also print pictures from a vacation, birthday, anniversary, or wedding day. These will make excellent memorabilia.
- Print Your Favorite Quote: If there is a small quote, saying, caption, or motto you follow in life, you can print it on these little pieces in a stylish font. This can be used to decorate your room.
- What’s Your Hobby: Whatever you enjoy doing most, print it on the ornament. This can be the logo of your favorite sports team, the movie or cartoon character you like, your favorite video game, and more.
- Ornaments for Special Occasions: Everyone loves to display ornaments on special occasions. These are a must on Christmas. You can also design them for Easter, the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and so on.
- Simply Print Your Name: Why go for complex designs when you can just print your name to design an amazing ornament? There are so many fonts to choose from. If your full name is too long, you can only print your initials. You can also display your family name and those of your children.
- Ornaments for Branding: Now this is an excellent idea. If you own a small business, you can design ornaments with your company’s logo. This can also serve as an excellent giveaway to customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Create Amazing Ornaments This Holiday Season!
Make the holiday season this year extra special with DIY sublimation ornaments. Following the simple method mentioned in this blog, you can create fascinating customized sublimation designs. For premium sublimation sheets, visit the TeckWrap Craft online store. Do not forget to share pictures of your amazing work of art with us!
