Hey crafty friends! I’ve been experimenting with sublimation and felt, and I’m excited to share how to sublimate felt keychains. This is a fun project that combines sublimation and the Print then Cut feature in Cricut Design Space, so let’s get started!
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How to Sublimate Felt Keychains
I created these felt keychains as “Calming Keychains”, by adding your favorite calming essential oil, these are great to add to backpacks to help your kids manage anxiety. 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)
Deep Point Blade (I used the fine point blade, but I recommend the deep point blade)
Cotton Balls
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. Duplicate the offset and select BASIC CUT (this layer will be used to cut the backside of the keychain). Grab the original offset and image and flatten (this will be used to print then cut the top of the keychain).
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. Place the print on top of the felt, faced down.
Step 7:
Set your heat press to 400 degrees for 60 seconds. Place butcher paper down, and secure it with heat-resistant tape. Cover with butcher paper and press.
Step 8:
When done, remove the paper.
Step 9:
Load the Deep Point Blade in the Cricut, place the felt on a fabric 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.
Step 12:
Load a blank piece of felt on the mat, secure with painter’s tape and load it in the machine.
Step 13:
In Cricut Design Space, send the offset to the Cricut to cut. Using the same cut settings as before. Remove the pieces when done.
Step 14:
Pair the top layers with the blank bottom layers of felt. Spread some cotton balls and place them in between the felt. Add a few drops of your favorite calming essential oil.
Step 15:
Glue the edges together, I like to use fabric glue for this step.
Step 16:
Using a piercing tool, make a hole and add the hardware and optional tassel. You can also add metal eyelets in the holes.
What do you think? Can you imagine the possibilities? I will be trying more variations of this technique, so stay tuned!
Happy Crafting!
PIN FOR LATER:
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- How to Sublimate on Wood With or Without a Sublimation Printer