Hey, crafters! Looking to add a pop of personality to your office supplies or create some unique gifts? Today, I’m walking you through how to sublimate acrylic paper clips, perfect for adding custom designs. Sublimation makes it easy to get vibrant, long-lasting results. Let’s dive in!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links, at no additional cost to you.

What You’ll Need

Before we get started, here’s your supply list:

• Acrylic Paper Clips (4×2): (I didn’t use these specific ones, but they are comparable) 
• Epson F170 Printer: A fantastic sublimation printer with a max print size of 8.5″ x 14″.
• MakerFlo Crafts Sublimation Paper: High-quality paper designed to work seamlessly with the Epson F170.
• TransPro Plus 16×20 Heat Press: A reliable flat heat press for even heat distribution.
• Sublimation Ink: Make sure your Epson F170 is loaded with sublimation ink (I use Epson’s own ink for best results).
• Design Software: Something like Canva, Photoshop, or Silhouette Studio to create your 4×2 design.
• Heat-Resistant Tape: To secure your design to the paper clips.
• Heat-Resistant Gloves: For safe handling post-pressing.
• Scissors or Paper Trimmer: To cut your sublimation paper.

Step 1: Create Your Design

First things first—let’s design something fun! Since these paper clips are 4 inches long by 2 inches wide, create a design that fits within those dimensions. I like to add a little extra space around the edges (about 4.25″ x 2.25″) to ensure full coverage and make trimming easier.

Open your design software and whip up something colorful—think patterns, quotes, or even tiny artwork. Sublimation loves bright, bold colors, so don’t hold back! Want a shortcut? I’ve created three free designs for you to download—a pencil pattern, a paper pattern, and a classic composition notebook pattern. Grab them when you sign up for my newsletter below and skip to printing! If you’re making your own, do not mirror your design and save it as a high-resolution PNG or JPEG.

Step 2: Print Your Design

• Load your Epson F170 with MakerFlo Crafts sublimation paper.
• No need to mirror when sublimating this acrylic.
• Print the design. The Epson F170 and MakerFlo combo delivers crisp, vibrant prints, so you’ll see your design come to life right away!

I created a quick video to show you the pressing process, check it out below:

Step 3: Prepare the Paper Clips

Grab your acrylic paper clips and peel off the protective film from both sides. 

Step 4: Cut and Tape Your Design

Trim your print to size if needed.  Place the paper clip’s sublimation-coated side onto the paper ink-side.  Secure it with heat-resistant tape on all sides to prevent shifting during pressing. Make sure it’s snug—no wrinkles or gaps!

Step 5: Set Up Your Heat Press

Time to fire up the TransPro Plus 16×20 heat press! For acrylic sublimation, temperature and time can vary, but here’s what works for me with these 4×2 paper clips:

• Temperature: 356°F 
• Time: 120 seconds
• Pressure: Medium

Preheat your press to the set temperature. While it’s warming up, place a piece of butcher paper on the press bed to protect it.

Step 6: Press the Paper Clips

Position your taped paper clip (design facing down) onto the heat press bed. Cover it with another piece of butcher paper to protect the press and ensure even heat. Close the press and let it work its magic for 120 seconds. 

Pro tip: Since the TransPro Plus is a large 16×20 press, you can sublimate multiple paper clips at once if you’re doing a batch—just space them out evenly!

Step 7: Reveal Your Design

Once the timer’s up, if you have the auto open featured enabled, the press will open —the acrylic will be hot!. Remove the paper clip and peel off the sublimation paper and tape. Ta-da! Your design should now be permanently embedded in the acrylic, with vibrant colors and a smooth finish.

Let the paper clip cool completely before handling it too much—acrylic can be a little soft when hot. 

Pro Tip: Put them in a cold (not turned on) heat press if you have one, or under something heavy to keep them from warping while they cool.

Step 8: Admire and Repeat

Look at that beauty! Your custom acrylic paper clip is ready to organize papers in style. If you’re making more, repeat the process—tweak the time or temp slightly if you notice any scorching or under-transferring (acrylic can be finicky, so test a few to perfect it).

Free Designs to Get You Started

To make your first project even easier, I’ve put together three free sublimation designs sized perfectly for these 4×2 paper clips: a playful pencil pattern, a clean paper pattern, and a nostalgic composition notebook pattern. Download them and try them out with this tutorial. I’d love to see what you create with them!

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Sublimating acrylic paper clips is such a fun way to flex your creative muscles! With the Epson F170, MakerFlo sublimation paper, and the TransPro Plus 16×20 heat press, you’ve got everything you need to make these little gems pop. Whether you’re gifting them, selling them, or just jazzing up your desk, this project is a win!

Have you tried sublimating acrylic before? Drop your tips or questions in the comments—I’d love to hear how it goes for you!

Need more ideas? Check out these other Acrylic sublimation projects…

How to Sublimate Acrylic Signs: A Step-by-Step Guide

DIY Stanley Name Tags with Sublimation

Happy crafting!

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