DIY Customize Stainless Steel Tumbler with Sublimation

Are you looking for a fun way to customize your stainless steel tumbler? Are you looking for a way to make a unique gift for a friend? If you answered yes to either question, then you are in the right spot!

I have discovered Sublimation and how easy it is to customize stainless steel tumblers in the last month. In the past, I have customized stainless steel tumblers using the epoxy method. The tumblers turned out great, but they also take a couple of days to make.

Do you want to learn how to customize your stainless steel tumbler in less than 1 hour? If the answer is yes, then Sublimation is the answer! You might also want to check out my first post on Sublimation HERE!

Let’s start with a few supplies that you will need. There is some up front cost to get into sublimation but the cost in the long run pays for itself in my opinion.

*Disclaimer:  Links in this post are affiliate links. By clicking on these links I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Some products may have been provided to me by vendors, however, all opinions and reviews are strictly my own.

The Printer

The first thing you will need is a printer with sublimation ink. I already had an Epson 7720 printer on hand, and through my research, I determined that many people use them for Sublimation. So I researched how to convert my printer. I found a great tutorial on YouTube, and the link is HERE! The one issue you need to know is that you will only be able to use the converted printer for Sublimation once you change the ink. I purchased an inexpensive printer to use for everyday printing from Wal-Mart. I bought my ink from Amazon. The link is HERE!

Sublimation Tumbler

The sublimation process requires blanks that the sublimation ink will adhere to the blanks. I have found numerous sources for blanks. One of the sources for sublimation blanks is Conde. They are a company that specializes in sublimation blanks. The link is HERE!

Sublimation Paper

To get the best results with Sublimation it is recommended that you use Sublimation paper. I purchased my paper on Amazon. The link is HERE!

Sublimation Shrink Wrap

To sublimate on the tumblers, you use a shrink wrap on the tumbler and place the stainless steel tumbler in the oven! I bought my shrink wrap from Conde. The product is called SubliShrink™ Shrink Wrap Film. The link is HERE!

Design

The sky is just about the limit here when you start to think about your design. Can you put a picture on a stainless steel tumbler, YES? What about an intricate design on a tumbler, YES? Or can you personalize on a stainless steel tumbler, YES? So you decide what you want to do. The first tumbler I made a sublimated my Fun Stuff Craft logo on it! I love it.

So let’s get started! You can either watch the step by step video tutorial below or scroll down to the step by step tutorial.

Step #1 The Design for Your Stainless Steel Tumbler

Pick your design. I have a couple of friends that are working with a brand new school this year. So, I thought it would be fun to make them a personalized tumbler. So here is my design!

Step #2 Print

Determine the size of the design and print the design on the sublimation paper using your sublimation printer.

Step #3 Place Design

Cut out design and affix to tumbler using heat tape.

Step #4 Shrink Wrap Your Stainless Steel Tumbler

Now it is time to insert the tumbler into the shrink wrap. Once the tumbler is in the shrink wrap, you use a heat gun to shrink the wrap around the tumbler.

Step #5 Bake Your Stainless Steel Tumbler!

Now it is time to place you tumbler in the oven! Place in oven for 6 minutes at 360°. Remove from oven  and remove shrink wrap and image from tumbler.

There you have it a customized stainless steel tumbler. The other significant point to using the shrink wrap is that you can do multiple tumblers at a time! Just think about how many you can make! It is not recommended that you use your regular oven to make the sublimation tumblers. I purchased a small convection oven that I have in my garage for my Sublimation!

So what do you think! Will you try it? I hope so! Just think of ideas for Christmas gifts. I make a cut tumbler for a new mom recently that had a picture of a tropical island, and I added “Mommy’s Sippy Cup”.

Make sure you check out my new Fun Stuff Crafts Amazon Store Front, where I list all my favorite crafting and sewing tools. Please check it out HERE!