Hey crafty friends! I’ve been experimenting with sublimation and felt, and I’m excited to share how to sublimate felt car air fresheners with Cricut and HTV. This is a fun project that combines sublimation, HTV, and Print then Cut, so let’s get started!
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How to Sublimate Felt Car Air Fresheners
I recently shared How to Sublimate Felt Keychains, and this project follows a similar technique but has fewer steps. Not only do these make great car air fresheners they are great to add on to backpacks or to use as keychains. Let’s go over the supply list…
What you will need:
Cricut Machine (Maker or Explore, any model)
Heat Press (I used my Cricut AutoPress)
Craft Felt (must be polyester)
HTV (I used glitter HTV because it has a higher temperature tolerance)
Essential Oils
Key Chain hardware and optional Tassels
I created a quick video showing you the process, check it out below…
Doesn’t that look easy? Now that you have seen how to make them, let’s go over the steps on how to set up the project in Cricut Design Space.
Step 1:
Upload your graphic or pick one from the Cricut Design Space library. Make sure you select PRINT THEN CUT.
Step 2:
Size images to your liking. Cricut Design Space will let you know if you need to resize it for the print and then cut feature. Note: At the time of this post, printing on the larger page and corner registration marks are only available in the Beta desktop version of Cricut Design Space. Check your settings to see if you have it.
Step 3:
Create an offset using the Offset feature. Adjust to your liking. Grab both the offset and image and flatten.
Step 4:
Click Make It and when you go to the next screen, DO NOT mirror. Select your printer options. Now, this is where it gets a little tricky. Turn off Bleed and select the System Dialog settings.
Step 5:
When your printer dialog opens, select mirror here. If you mirror in Cricut Design Space, the cut will be mirrored, but we don’t want that. We need to sublimation print to be mirrored so that we can sublimate the images on the felt. And when we put the felt in the Cricut machine for cutting, it will cut the image correctly. Load sublimation paper in your sublimation printer and print.
Step 6:
Now we move on to the sublimation part as shown in the video. Start by making a “felt sandwich”, lay down the print face up, then the felt on top, and then the Glitter HTV on top (glossy side up). Use heat-resistant tape to keep them together.
Step 7:
Set your heat press to 400 degrees for 60 seconds. Place butcher paper down, and secure the sandwich to the paper with more heat-resistant tape. Cover with butcher paper and press.
Step 8:
When done, remove the paper and carrier sheet from the htv. Trim any overlapping HTV.
Step 9:
Load the Deep Point Blade in the Cricut, place the felt on a strong grip mat, and secure it with painter’s tape.
Step 10:
In Cricut Design Space, select Felt Wool Bonded from the materials list and use more pressure. Cut.
Step 11:
Remove the cut pieces from the mat when done. Using a piercing tool, make a hole and add the hardware and optional tassel. You can also add metal eyelets in the holes.
Step 12:
Add a few drops of essential oils and you’re all set!
What do you think? Can you imagine the possibilities? I will be trying more projects with this technique, so stay tuned!
Happy Crafting!
PIN FOR LATER:
- Unlocking Sublimation: A Guide to Sublimation
- Sublimation Oven or Cricut Mug Press – Which is Best?
- HTVRONT Auto Heat Press Product Review
- Cricut Maker VS Cricut Maker 3 – Which Cricut Machine is Right for you?
- Cricut Glue Gun Product Review
- How to Sublimate Frosted Glass Can Tumblers with the Cricut Mug Press
- How to Sublimate Tumblers with the Cricut Mug Press
- How to Sublimate on Wood With or Without a Sublimation Printer