Creating a Holiday Pillowcase with Artesprix Iron-On Ink!

Hi crafters! It’s Debbie from Debbie J’s Crafting Corner, and today, I’m bringing you a fun and festive project using Artesprix Iron-On Ink. We’re taking a step up from cards and creating a custom holiday pillowcase! This blank is a whopping 29.5 x 21 inches—plenty of space for your creativity to shine. If you’re ready to dive into a holiday décor project, stick around, because this one’s super easy and turns out beautifully!

What is Artesprix Iron-on-Ink?

Artesprix Iron-on-Ink is a game-changer for crafters. It’s a specialized sublimation ink that allows you to transfer vibrant designs onto compatible surfaces with heat and pressure. Unlike traditional sublimation, which requires expensive printers, Artesprix makes it accessible for all makers. Once your design is transferred, it’s permanently infused, making it durable and long-lasting.

Supplies:

Step-by-Step Tutorial:
Step 1: Designing Your Pillowcase

With such a large blank, I wanted to make sure my design was the perfect size. To do this, I used Canva, a design software, to create a visual representation of my pillowcase. If you prefer sketching, feel free to grab a ruler and sketch your design on paper, but I love using Canva for large projects like this.

Step 2: Creating the Folk Tree Design

 For the holiday-themed design, I chose the Catherine Pooler and Sizzix Layered Stencil. It’s perfect for creating detailed folk trees with ease. Using the Sizzix stencil and stamp platform, I stenciled three beautiful holiday trees onto my pillowcase, making sure the dimensions and placement were just right.

Pro Tip: For smaller areas, I switched from my Picket Fence Paper Pouncers to blending brushes, ensuring I got into every little detail of the stencil. And remember, designate your tools for Artesprix use only to avoid cross-contamination with other inks!

Step 3: Applying the Base Layer

Before pressing the design, I wanted to make sure everything was aligned perfectly. I folded the pillowcase in half and pressed it with my heat press to create a center crease. This helps ensure the stencil’s placement is right where it needs to be, with the center tree perfectly aligned.

Step 4: Taping and Preparing for Pressing

Now that I had my design ready, I taped it to the pillowcase with Artesprix Heat Tape.

Step 5: Create Your Sublimation Sandwich

I also inserted protective paper inside the pillowcase to prevent ink from transferring to the other side.

Make your sandwich like this:

1. Protective paper on the bottom (bottom bun)

2. Your blank with taped design (the blank is the burger, the design in the cheese)

3. And another layer of the protective paper on top. (top bun)

Step 6: Heat Pressing the Design

Once the design was taped down and the pillowcase properly protected, I used my Cricut Easy Press to transfer the ink. For Artesprix’s holiday pillowcase blank, the ideal settings are 400℉ for 45 seconds. I carefully pressed each section, making sure not to shift the press to avoid ghosting.

Step 7: Peek Test and Reveal

After pressing, I did a quick peek test to ensure the design transferred properly. Once confirmed, I removed the tape for the big reveal. The results? A stunning, colorful holiday pillowcase featuring three festive trees! Each tree had a unique look, but the design came together beautifully.

Final Thoughts

I absolutely love how this holiday pillowcase turned out. The vibrant colors and folk-style design are perfect for adding some festive cheer to your home. And the best part? This custom pillowcase is totally unique and permanent, thanks to the magic of Artesprix Iron-On Ink.

Want to give this a try? Head over to Artesprix’s website and check out their starter kits—they include everything you need to dive into sublimation crafting!

Don’t forget to share your Artesprix projects with us by using #debbiejscraftingcorner and #Artesprix or post it to the Artesprix Facebook Group and to my Crafting with Debbie Facebook Group! I’d love to see what you create!

Because if I can make it, You Can Too!

~ Big Hugs, Debbie J

Want to see more Artesprix Projects? Check these out!