Groovy Sequin Pillow with Artesprix Paint

Hello! I’m Alison Heikkila and I am really excited to share today’s project with you. I was in a bit of a funk….I wasn’t in a good mood, and I wasn’t really feeling very creative. When this happens, one of the things I like to do is paint. It always helps me to “reset” and feel better. I decided I was going to paint something really vibrant and happy, in a sort of graffiti-style. Originally, I was going to use this art on the July Blank of the Month Beverage Caddy, (which, by the way, if you haven't grabbed yours yet, be sure to do so before July 31st!) but I liked it so much, that I decided to sublimate on the Sequin Pillow Case instead. That’s one of the great things about Artesprix projects! Since you’re just working on paper and not the actual “Blank” or substrate, you can change your mind as often as you like, even though the design may stay the same. Let me show you what I did.

What is Artesprix Iron-on-Ink?
Artesprix Sublimation Markers, Ink, and Paint are specially formulated to allow you to use basic copy paper to: color, stamp, stencil, and monoprint anything you wish and turn it into a heat-transferable design. These designs are then applied to a polyester fabric or polyester coated substrate with heat and pressure. You can use a heat press or a home iron! These designs, through this process of sublimation, will become permanent on your substrates/compatible surfaces.

Materials:
Sequin Pillow Case
Acrylic Paint Set (I mixed many colors. See Artesprix’s free Color Mixing Chart for details.)
Ink Pads (I used Black)
Sublimation Markers (I used only Black)
Protective Paper
Heat Tape
Heat Source: Home Iron or Heat Press 
Bubble Wrap
Pencil
Copy Paper
Brushes
*Optional: Blick Plastic Storage Cups (really helpful when mixing/storing paints)
Step-by-Step Tutorial:
Step 1: You’ll see here that the Beverage Caddy was traced since initially I was going to use this art for that. But since the pillow case is bigger than my paper, you don’t need to trace anything. Just start sketching in whatever you’d like to paint. Remember, that everything will transfer backwards, so take that into consideration if you’re doing any lettering. 

Step 2: Paint your art. I used a range of imagery and colors to get the look I wanted. Arteprix’s Color Mixing Chart was extremely helpful in deciding what colors to put where, since the paint looks much duller before it’s sublimated.
Step 3: Add additional details. I scribbled some lines and traced my design with the Black Sublimation Marker to make everything stand out, once my paint was dry. I also applied some of the Black Sublimation Ink Pad to some bubble wrap and stamped it around my design for some faux texture.

Here’s my completed artwork. It’s so vibrant and happy already, I can’t wait for you to see it once it’s sublimated!
Step 4: Flip all your sequins so the white side is showing, tweezers can be helpful to ensure they are all flipped correctly. Tape your design to the Sequin Pillow Case with Artesprix’s Heat Tape. I decided to add my design to the center, but you can place it anywhere you want. If I choose to, I can add additional art later since I still have plenty of room.  

Step 5: Let’s make our "Sublimation Sandwich". Usually you only need 2 pieces of protective paper, but I cut 3 and added a piece of Protective Paper to the inside of the pillow case to ensure no ink transfers to the other side, even though it is not necessary. (This would be needed if it was not a Sequin Pillow) Then I have my case, with the art face down, then another layer of Protective Paper on top. If our Heat Press is heated up to 400℉, then we’re ready to sublimate! The 3 piece is important to ensure the velvet side of the pillow stays ink free from anything that might be hiding on your work surface. 
Step 6: Transfer the design for 60 seconds. It is important to ensure the only thing in-between the heat and the face-down design is one layer of protective paper. 

Step 7: Time for the "Peek Test"! Carefully lift a small portion of your art off of the Blank to ensure a good transfer. If you need to re-press your piece, you can do it since you haven’t moved the art out of place. I’m really happy with this transfer, so I can remove the art from the Blank.

Here is the completed pillow case with the original art. I never get tired of seeing just how bold the colors become after you sublimate!
Look at how fun this pillow case is once you’ve filled it with a pillow form! This case takes a standard 16x16" pillow. I totally love it. Making this piece definitely got me out of the “funk” I was in. That’s what art is about, right?

Here, I’m showing you what it looks like if you flip the sequins over. Seriously, how fun is this?!
This pillow case has rose gold sequins, but there are 2 other options available on the Artesprix website too. I love this project, and I hope you do too. Even if you decide to use stamps or stencils that you own instead of painting your own art, this is such a fantastic project to try. How would you like to get more ideas on using Artesprix’s Sublimation Ink Pads, Markers, and Paint? There’s a Facebook Group that’s just for fans of Artesprix! You can click HERE to join. Also, don't forget to visit the Artesprix store to see all of the available blanks and bundles, so you can get started with sublimation.
Thanks so much for stopping by. Have an inspiring day! 
Alison Heikkila 
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