I wanted to add a fun little touch of red, white, and blue to my porch but didn’t want something that was bulky or time consuming. So I made this fun and easy July 4th yard flag with sublimation in about 15 minutes!
So fast, sublimation is definitely on the top of my list of favorite crafting methods, plus I just really enjoy designing the sublimation graphics because it’s such a wide-open method. Literally no restrictions as to what vinyl colors you have on hand or even distracting my cutting machine from doing it’s more important work.
But it’s more than that. I love sublimation because it’s fast and simple. Once you have your design figured out, you can bang out multiple shirts, yard flags, mugs, or anything with minimal effort or time.
So, needing a quick project, of course I turned to a sublimation design for July 4th!
What Do you Need to Make This July 4th Yard Flag Sublimation Craft?
You’ll need these materials to make your yard flag for July 4th:
- Yard Flag Blank (make sure this is a sublimation-friendly material)
- July 4th Sublimation Design
Then you’ll need the following tools:
- Sublimation Printer
- Heat Press
- Butcher Paper
- Heat-Safe Tape
- Heat-Safe Mat
What’s the Best Sublimation Printer?
Not too long ago, I pulled together a quick analysis of all the pros and cons (that I could think of) between the two printers at the top of the list for winning the best for sublimation printer for a craft room or small office. There’s no clear answer and it’s totally up to your needs.
However, I will be honest, if I had the wider-format printer available for this project, I might have been able to fill-up the blank a bit more and been even more happy about the outcome of this particular sublimation craft.
But, that’s not a deal-breaker for me because I was just making something for myself this time.
Do You Have to Have a Sublimation Printer?
The answer is “no”. You can have a sublimation print mailed to you from shops like this one here. I have my own sublimation printer, so I haven’t purchased any, but I know there are businesses that rely on buying these sublimation prints from others. So, you can do that, or invest in the printer, whatever works for you.
What’s the Best Heat Press to Use for Sublimation?
Just like when we’re talking about sublimation printers, I just created a big-ole analysis of which heat press will be the best for you here. No right or wrong – just what’s going to work best for you, obviously (as with any investment like this). So, take a look at all that information I brought together and get pressing!
Tips to Make This July 4th Garden Flag Sublimation Craft
On the off chance that this is the first time you’re making anything with sublimation, here are my favorite tips to make sublimating a success:
- Iron your yard flag before you sublimate. If there’s even one little wrinkle, you’ll be disappointed because that wrinkle will ruin your design.
- Plus, those yard flags are folded when they ship them and the fibers are all crammed together. So, give it a good shake-out and iron it. Trust me, it’s worth it.
- Definitely set a timer when you heat pressing anything. I have nothing against these yard flags in specific – I’ve never had a problem. But, with ANY heat press activity, you run the risk of ruining your design or the blank itself if you leave the heat press on it too long. So, make sure to use a timer.
- Also, let’s make sure to be clear: Once you set down your heat-press, do not move it. If you move it at all, you’ll end up with fuzzy, wiggly edges that just don’t look right. So, do not move your heat press. Use the timer and be still.
- Absolutely make sure that the material you’re starting with is a polyester blend. Do not use cotton. The sublimation ink will not bond with cotton fibers unless they’re pre-treated. So, just save yourself the upset and start with a sublimation-ready blank.
Free 4th of July Yard Flag Sublimation Design
Now that you have everything you could ever possibly need to make this project a success, keep scrolling down to get the easy sublimation tutorial to make your July 4th yard flag.
July 4th Yard Flag Sublimation
Such an easy and fast way to add a touch of patriotic pride to your front yard, this July 4th Yard Flag is a quick sublimation craft that you don't want to miss!
Materials
- Yard Flag Blank (make sure this is a sublimation-friendly material)
- Happy July 4th Sublimation Design
Tools
- Sublimation Printer
- Heat Press
- Butcher Paper
- Heat-Safe Tape
- Heat-Safe Mat
- Sublimation Paper
Instructions
- Download the file and make sure you have mirrored your image. Then send your print to your sublimation printer.
- Heat your EasyPress to 400 degrees.
- Use the lint roller to remove any lint from the flag blank.
- Place the flag blank on your heat-safe mat
- Lay the printed design sheet face down on your flag blank, positioning it in place, then taping it to make sure it will stay where you want it to be.
- Cover with butcher paper.
- Press for 60 seconds with light pressure. Remove your heat press and allow the paper to cool to the touch. Remove the paper and tape then discard.
If you are all about this fun sublimation DIY but you don’t have time to pull out the heat press right this second, be sure to pin this to your favorite easy craft ideas board so you can find it again fast when you’re ready!