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Sublimation Essentials: My Go-To Tools for Starting a Creative Hobby or Side Hustle
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items Whether you're looking to launch a small business or just want a fun, creative outlet, sublimation is a super satisfying way to design and personalize everything from mugs to shirts to tumblers. I’ve put together this list of the exact products I use...
Sections
5
The Core Essentials
Accessories & Must-Haves
Design Tools & Software
Blanks to Sublimate
Business & Marketing Tools
The Core Essentials
This is the heart of your sublimation setup. You don't need the most expensive gear to get great results, but you do need reliable tools. I have personally used and trusted these products for both personal and business use. If you're just starting ou...
When I was spending all my hours doing research of what kind of heat press to use for the things I was interested in making, I felt like this one was the most affordable and well reviewed. I went with the swing away style because I was planning to do...
I will also point out I didn't really use the attachments on this heat press (except for the mug press), but they are an added bonus if you are interested in those types of products!
I will also point out I didn't really use the attachments on this heat press (except for the mug press), but they are an added bonus if you are interested in those types of products!
VIVOHOME 5-in-1 Swing Away Sublimation Heat Press
This is hands down the most expensive thing I bought for sublimating, but it was so worth it. It prints well and I love that I can print larger designs depending on what I'm making. This was another product I did a lot of research on before purchasin...
I also want to note that it obviously does come with ink, however this is not the type of ink you need for sublimation. I have the ink that I chose (and loved) in this list, and I recommend watching YouTube videos on what settings to use for this pri...
I also want to note that it obviously does come with ink, however this is not the type of ink you need for sublimation. I have the ink that I chose (and loved) in this list, and I recommend watching YouTube videos on what settings to use for this pri...
Epson EcoTank ET-15000 Wireless Color All-in-One Printer
I chose to work with this ink and I was never disappointed! I felt like my designs always came out how I wanted, I rarely had any ink bleeding issues (once I found the proper settings of course), and it lasted forever even after printing many designs...
Epson EcoTank Printer Sublimation Ink Refills | Cosmos Ink®
This is another product that I heard recommended time and time again for sublimation and it has not disappointed! I enjoy getting the 11 x 17 size and cutting it in half to save some money for smaller designs and then having the bigger size for when ...
A-SUB Sublimation Paper 11x17 Inch 120GSM, 110 Sheets
I purchased this heat press to specifically use for 20 oz tumblers, but it does work for up to 30 oz ones. It was so easy to use, cut down my heating time because it wrapped around the whole tumbler nicely, and my tumblers came out perfect every time...
This is also why I would recommend having an idea of what you want to make before buying heat presses because if you just want to do mugs and/or tumblers and nothing else, this is the only heat press you need! I just bought both because I wanted to d...
This is also why I would recommend having an idea of what you want to make before buying heat presses because if you just want to do mugs and/or tumblers and nothing else, this is the only heat press you need! I just bought both because I wanted to d...
Craft Express 110V Blue Tumbler Heat Press
I purchased my butcher paper from Sam's Club a few years ago and haven't needed a new roll because it has seriously lasted that long! Apparently, they do not sell it anymore, but I linked this one from Walmart because it is basically the same thing. ...
15 in. x 900 ft. Butcher Paper, White
Accessories & Must-Haves
Trust me, these small tools make a big difference. These are my go-to accessories that I used on almost every project, and they’re well worth having from the start.
Heat resistant tape is SO helpful to keep your designs in place, and they also help reduce the likelihood of ghosting! I never had issues with this one ruining any of my designs by transferring it's yellow coloring, which can be an issue with other b...
EQUTY BAYMERS Heat Resistant Sublimation Tape
This is one of those products that you might not think you need, but trust me it makes your life SO much easier! I didn't buy it initially, and I wish that I would've because it would've saved me a lot of frustration when I found the perfect placemen...
IHOMECOOKER Desktop Tape Dispenser 1" & 3" Core
Another product that I didn't buy initially, but wished I would have! I didn't think I would need these because I was just going to wait for my blanks to cool after pressing. However, when you start making a lot of products for personal use/gifting/s...
Sopito 2Pcs Heat Resistant Gloves with Silicone Bumps for Hair Styling
This is another product that just makes your life easier especially if you are making tumblers or printing a lot of designs for your smaller blanks onto one sheet! Sublimation is very unforgiving if you don't cut a design in a straight line because i...
This was mostly helpful for me with cutting my designs for tumblers because those have to fit the cups just right for seamless lines, but it also saved me a lot of time when I printed multiple ornament, car coaster, or keychain designs onto one sheet...
This was mostly helpful for me with cutting my designs for tumblers because those have to fit the cups just right for seamless lines, but it also saved me a lot of time when I printed multiple ornament, car coaster, or keychain designs onto one sheet...
Firbon 12 Inch Titanium A4 Paper Cutter Pink
Design Tools & Software
You don’t have to be a graphic designer to make beautiful sublimation designs, but you do need a few programs to help you along the way!
I recommend Canva if you aren't an artist or graphic designer. It's fairly user friendly once you get the hang of it (YouTube is great for tutorials) and can help bring your designs to life! They have a free or paid option, and deciding between the t...
The pro option gives you access to more design elements and is best if you plan on making sublimation into a business, but the free version still has lots of great choices and might be better if you plan on keeping sublimation as just a hobby.
If you are turning this hobby into a business, Canva Pro is great for business marketing to help build your brand and promote your products. You can use it for not only your designs, but also for social media marketing, business cards, mockups to sen...
The pro option gives you access to more design elements and is best if you plan on making sublimation into a business, but the free version still has lots of great choices and might be better if you plan on keeping sublimation as just a hobby.
If you are turning this hobby into a business, Canva Pro is great for business marketing to help build your brand and promote your products. You can use it for not only your designs, but also for social media marketing, business cards, mockups to sen...
Canva
This may sound like a strange one because I don't have a machine for this program, but I use it for every project I make. It's what I use to print, crop, and size my designs. It's especially great for when you are trying to plan out if a design will ...
Silhouette Studio
Blanks to Sublimate
This is where the creativity really comes in! These are the blank items you'll be pressing your designs onto. I’ve included a mix of fun and popular options like tumblers, mugs, ornaments, and car coasters—great for both gifting and selling. You can ...
My main best seller when I had a sublimation business was personalized ceramic ornaments! I can't tell you how many of these blanks I ordered and it wasn't just at Christmas time either! These ones were fantastic to work with and rarely broke (if the...
They make mdf ornaments as well, but I think the ceramic ornaments are so much nicer and set your brand a part from the other ones that use the mdf. I just think they elevate the overall experience and the results are better and classier!
They make mdf ornaments as well, but I think the ceramic ornaments are so much nicer and set your brand a part from the other ones that use the mdf. I just think they elevate the overall experience and the results are better and classier!
PYD Life 25 PCS 2.75" White Sublimation Ornaments
I tried a few brands of tumblers before using these and I WISH I would've found them sooner! These are hands down the best because they come with the non-slip rubber bottoms to put on after pressing, as well as the lids, the metal straws, the straw c...
They also technically come with sublimation paper and shrink wrap, but I did not use these products.
They also technically come with sublimation paper and shrink wrap, but I did not use these products.
HTVRONT 12PCS 20OZ Sublimation Tumblers Set
I loved these mugs because they came with a box to sell them or gift them in, and they were the perfect size! Once I found my time and temp preferences, I also never struggled with how these turned out.
MYSUB 11oz White Sublimation Ceramic Mugs 36pc
I will say these did not sell as well for me personally, but I loved making them for myself and my friends and family! I have also heard people have great success with car coasters if you choose to do farmer's market events though, and if that's some...
100 PCS 2.75in Sublimation Blank Car Coasters
I did not personally sell these, however, I got them to make my kids personalized trick or treat bags and they turned out super cute! They were also the perfect size tote in my opinion and would also work great to sell for teachers or book readers!
MR.R Sublimation Blanks Reusable Canvas Tote Bag
Keychains were the first product I ever sublimated and sold! I love these because they are the perfect size, they are double sided (which is great for more personalizing possibilities), they come with everything you need to make the keychain itself, ...
200 PCS Sublimation Keychains Bulk Set with Tassels
I've ordered all of my t-shirts, hoodies, crew necks, and onesies from Jiffy! I feel like they have the best variety, products, and prices whether you are looking to buy in bulk or not! They also have fast shipping and great customer service in my ex...
Jiffy
Business & Marketing Tools
If you’re turning your sublimation hobby into a small business (or think you might want to someday), these tools will help you build your brand and promote your products. As mentioned before I would use Canva for any and all marketing needs, but thes...
Just mentioning Canva again because it's so great to make mockups for designs to show your customers different options, help with invoice templates, design washing instructions/tags for blanks, designing business cards, anything you can think of! The...
Canva
I think shopify is a great website if you are really serious about making sublimation a business rather than just a side hustle or hobby. It's very customizable, fairly easy to use once you watch some YouTube tutorials, and it just adds that extra le...
Shopify
If you haven't heard of Etsy when you are thinking about starting any kind of crafting business, you are researching the wrong things! Etsy is great for when you are just starting out a small business and establishing your customer base. It doesn't h...
Bottom line, Shopify is great once you are established to add that extra level of professionalism and to pay a monthly fee for service so you can receive your full profit on each product; but Etsy is better when you are just starting out because the ...
Bottom line, Shopify is great once you are established to add that extra level of professionalism and to pay a monthly fee for service so you can receive your full profit on each product; but Etsy is better when you are just starting out because the ...
Etsy