How to Make Sublimation Tumblers

How to Make Sublimation Tumblers: Step-by-Step Tutorial!

Have you heard the news? Sublimation tumblers are the next crafting craze. Are you ready to take your crafting skills to the next level and make amazing gifts?

If you are a beginner, check out this blog first before you begin.

If you’re looking to add a touch of creativity and custom flair to an ordinary tumbler, this step-by-step tutorial is sure to provide valuable insight into how a simple material can be transformed into something truly unique!

Whether you’re just dipping your toe in the craft arena or looking for ways to spice up your existing designs, this blog post will help guide you through all the steps necessary to create an amazing sublimation tumbler. Keep reading and get ready – because it’s time to make some magic happen!

Materials Needed for Sublimation Tumblers

• Sublimation Printer, either a converted Epson printer or a dedicated Sawgrass sublimation printer
• Source for images and software to edit sublimation images, such as Adobe Illustrator, Cricut Design Space, or Photoshop for pictures.
• Sublimation Ready Tumblers, you can find blanks on Amazon, 143Vinyl, Heat Press Nation. Make sure the tumblers are specifically made for sublimation.
• Transfer Sheet/Transfer Paper
• Heat resistant tape
• Heat resistant gloves
• Dedicated Toaster or Convection Oven

Let’s get started with Sublimation Tumblers

Sublimating a tumbler is not difficult, but it does require some tedious measuring to ensure the joining seam does not look misaligned. I recommend using a skinny tumbler over a tapered tumbler because they are easier to line up images.

Find and Edit Image

Find your design, I use Creative Fabrica for the sheer quantity and quality of the sublimation tumbler designs and images. Look for continuous designs for a seamless appearance.

Using Adobe Illustrator, Cricut Design Space, or other image software to resize the sublimation print to fit the tumbler. Size the image a little larger than the tumbler to have some overlap to prevent an obvious seam.

Skinny Tumblers typically measure 9.3″ (Width) X 8.2″ (Length). For seamless sublimation tumblers, choose an image that repeats, or has a center image and then a background that repeats. This will make for a smoother seam appearance, you do not want the entire seam to be obvious.

Printing Image

With your sublimation printer, print the image a little larger than the tumbler requires to allow for overlap, repeated designs will help camouflage where the sublimation paper meets.

Applying Sublimation Prints to Tumblers

• Remove the lid, and wipe the tumbler with an alcohol wipe
• Once dry, tape the image to the tumbler, the image side down being very careful to line up the image and tape in place.
• Starting from the bottom, use heat-resistant tape and tightly tape around the entire tumbler, double-taping the sublimation paper to the tumbler at the top and the bottom.
• A different method would be to use a shrink wrap sleeve. Slip the sleeve over the tumbler and using a heat gun, heat the sleeve until it is snug against the tumbler.

Cooking the Tumbler

Use a dedicated toaster or convection, you don’t want to use the same oven to cook food.

• Preheat the toaster oven to 350 degrees.
• Insert the tumbler into the toaster oven for nine (9) minutes, turning every three (3) minutes.
• Using heat-resistant gloves, remove the tumbler, and once cooled, remove the transfer paper.
• Enjoy your creation

Tips for Sublimation Tumblers

• If you are making big projects, check out wholesale sublimation tumblers.
• Make sure your background image either repeats or varies significantly to avoid a noticeable seam.

Recommended Products

• Epson WorkForce WF-7110 Wireless and WiFi Direct, Wide-Format Color Inkjet Pr
• EcoTank ET-15000 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer with Scanner, Copier, Fax, Ethernet and Printing up to 13 x 19 Inches
• Cosmos Ink
• A-Sub Paper, Crafting Besties Paper

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)!