Sublimation

 Have you tried sublimation? I have a cricut but wanted a way to add to my shirts without buying tons of printable vinyl and print directly to shirts. Then I saw this Epsom ecotank printer in savers and knew it was meant to be. In order to convert a printer you need to make sure the regular ink is completely removed from the tanks and I even ran through a cleaner before converting it. I bought some Hippo sublimation ink off of amazon and some polyester shirts and was off and running. Shirts and items need to have at very least 60% polyester for the ink to cling to. 

In the world of printing, sublimation printing has emerged as a revolutionary technique that combines art and technology to produce vibrant, durable designs on various substrates. Whether you’re a small business owner looking to expand your product line or an artist seeking new ways to express your creativity, understanding sublimation printing can open up a world of possibilities.

What is Sublimation Printing?

Sublimation printing is a process that uses heat to transfer dye onto materials, producing high-quality images with brilliant colors and intricate details. Unlike traditional printing methods that apply ink to the surface of an object, sublimation printing utilizes a unique process where solid dye turns into gas without passing through a liquid state. This gas permeates the substrate (usually polyester or polymer-coated materials) and solidifies, creating a permanent bond.

How Does It Work?

The sublimation printing process involves several key steps:

1. **Design Creation**: The first step is creating a digital design using graphic design software. It’s essential to use high-resolution images to ensure the best print quality. I use ideogram.ai and bing ai to create images. I also use https://www.creativefabrica.com they have everything and high resolution too

2. **Printing**: The design is printed onto a special sublimation transfer paper using sublimation inks. These inks are specifically formulated to turn into gas when heated. I use high heat regular printer paper to save on costs.

3. **Heat Transfer**: The printed transfer paper is placed on the substrate, and heat and pressure are applied using a heat press. The temperature typically ranges between 350°F to 400°F (about 175°C to 205°C). This heat activates the dye, causing it to turn into gas.

4. **Cooling**: Once the heat press cycle is complete, the substrate is removed and allowed to cool. As it cools, the gas solidifies back into a solid state, creating a vibrant and permanent image.

### Advantages of Sublimation Printing

Sublimation printing offers numerous benefits that make it a popular choice among businesses and artists:

- **Vibrant Colors**: The sublimation process produces rich, vivid colors that are difficult to achieve with other printing methods. The dye becomes part of the material, resulting in an image that won’t fade or peel.

- **Durability**: Sublimated images are highly resistant to scratching and fading, making them ideal for products that undergo wear and tear, such as apparel and promotional items.

- **Versatility**: Sublimation can be used on various substrates, including fabrics, ceramics, metals, and plastics. This versatility allows for a wide range of products, from custom t-shirts to personalized mugs.

- **Eco-Friendly**: Sublimation printing is a waterless process, reducing the environmental impact compared to traditional printing methods that use large amounts of water and chemicals.

### Applications of Sublimation Printing

Sublimation printing is used in various industries, including:

- **Apparel**: Custom t-shirts, sports jerseys, and promotional clothing are popular products that utilize sublimation printing.

- **Home Décor**: Items like pillows, blankets, and wall art can be personalized through sublimation printing, allowing for unique home accents.

- **Promotional Products**: Businesses often use sublimation to create branded items such as mugs, keychains, and phone cases for marketing purposes.

- **Personalized Gifts**: Sublimation offers a way to create custom gifts for special occasions, including weddings, birthdays, and holidays.

Getting Started with Sublimation Printing

If you’re interested in diving into sublimation printing, here are a few steps to get you started:

1. **Invest in Equipment**: You’ll need a sublimation printer, heat press, and sublimation inks. Additionally, ensure you have the right substrates that are compatible with sublimation.

2. **Learn the Software**: Familiarize yourself with graphic design software to create and edit your designs effectively.

3. **Experiment**: Practice makes perfect. Start with simple designs and gradually work your way up to more complex projects.

4. **Market Your Products**: If you’re a business owner, showcase your sublimated products through online platforms and local markets to attract customers.

Sublimation printing is a powerful tool that empowers creativity and innovation. Whether you’re looking to create custom apparel, unique home décor, or promotional items, sublimation printing offers endless possibilities. By understanding the process and investing in the right equipment, you can unleash your creativity and bring your ideas to life. Dive into the world of sublimation printing and watch your creative visions come to fruition!

Winter Sowing

**Winter Sowing: A Guide to Early Spring Gardening**

Winter sowing is an innovative gardening technique that allows you to start seeds outdoors during the winter months. Attributed to Judy Trudell instead of waiting for spring to begin sowing, this method takes advantage of the natural freeze-thaw cycles of winter, giving your seeds a head start while protecting them from harsh conditions.

**What is Winter Sowing?**

Winter sowing involves planting seeds in containers that are then placed outside in the winter. The containers act like mini-greenhouses, allowing sunlight in while protecting the seeds from extreme temperatures and pests. As the temperatures fluctuate, the seeds undergo natural stratification, which is essential for many perennial and hardy annual seeds to germinate.

**How to Get Started:**

1. **Choose Your Seeds:** Select seeds that are suitable for winter sowing. Many hardy annuals, perennials, and vegetables like peas, lettuce, and pansies thrive with this method.

2. **Gather Containers:** Use clear plastic containers such as milk jugs, plastic clamshells, or any clear container with a lid. Ensure they are clean and have drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.

3. **Prepare the Containers:** Fill the containers with a seed-starting mix, then plant the seeds according to the packet instructions. Water gently to moisten the soil.

4. **Seal and Label:** Close the containers and label them with the seed type and date. This helps keep track of your plantings.

5. **Place Outdoors:** Set the containers outside in a sunny spot. They can withstand snow and freezing temperatures, and the sunlight will help maintain a stable environment.

**Benefits of Winter Sowing:**

Cost-Effective:** You can save money by starting your seeds instead of purchasing young plants.

- **Less Work:** Since you’re planting outdoors, there’s no need for grow lights or indoor space.

- **Stronger Plants:** Plants that germinate outdoors tend to be hardier and adapt better 

Winter sowing is a fantastic way to embrace the gardening season early while working with nature. By following these steps, you can enjoy a vibrant garden come spring, filled with healthy, thriving plants. So grab your containers and seeds, and get ready to sow your way into a successful gardening year!

Infuenster vox box

I recived rachel ray nurish cat food from infuenster to try. The cats were very excited when I opened the box. I mixed a bit into the food they currently eat and they really seemed to enjoy it. I haven't gotten picked for a vix box for quite a while so I'm very excited to give this a try.

Sverve

Sverve is a way to promote and make your blog something great. Do campaigns and get paid for products you love.

Just Fab

I was wary of ordering as they don't have the best track record of being transparent.
  I went into it knowing it would be a pain to cancel and for some reason all the good sales are to get people to sign up.
 I got two pairs of boots and sized up a half size on one and stayed my regular size on the other.
I love them so pretty. The quality isn't amazing but worth the $20 I paid. I really wish I had sized up on both and a full size bigger on both. Keep in mind the sizes are all over the place.
These are the boots I chose.

Vogue 2015 summer fashion

Here are some looks by vogue for the hottest looks for summer!
Everyday I will post a featured look and the the look for less.

Here are my top looks and the looks for less

                                                        First up Ballerina 

                                             The looks for less
                          Like this dress from lulu's

or these from white plum

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My review of the #GoBloom mascara from covergirl. I received this to test in my influenster vox box. A vox box is where you review and test products for free!

 I just received my lash bloom vox box from influenster. This mascara is a good size at a good price point and is fairly effective. It does have a few drawbacks. The wand is hard plastic. I'm wondering if it will soften up over time. Its almost impossible to get to smaller parts of the eye because of the size and inflexibility of the wand

My recipes

Since nobody really reads this and all my recipes are currently in composition books. Ill try and organize and add pics once they are all typed in. For now the pics are not my own they are goggled ones that look close to what I'm making

My most used ones:
 
Lemon Salmon patties:
1 can pink salmon, drained, skin and bones removed
3/4 a cup of milk
1 cup bread crumbs
1 egg beaten
1/4 teaspoon dill weed
1 teaspoon minced onion
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
 1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/8 teaspoon of pepper

Lemon sauce:
2 tablespoons of butter
4 teaspoons flour
3/4 cup of milk
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
combine first ingredients put in sprayed muffin cups at 350 f0r 45 min

sauce: Melt butter stir in flour and milk boil and make sure to continuously stir
thicken and add lemon, salt and cayenne

Yorkies:



2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs room temp
2 cups of milk room temp
1oz of melted butter, oil or drippings
whisk flour and salt together
beat eggs and milk separately
make a well in flour and mix in the wet mixture slowly
cover with saran wrap and wait an hour
heat oven to 400F
wait for pan to smoke and cook for 30 min no peeking


 

1 can pumpkin
4 eggs
1 cup veg oil
2/3 cup h20
2 cups of sugar
3 1/2 cups of flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp clove
1/4 tsp ginger
preheat oven to 350F
grease and flour pans or mason jars
mix wet ingredients well add sugar and blend
mix flour,cinn,nutmeg,clove,ginger and add into wet mixture until just blended
bake 50 min 
I make this every year for gifts in mason jars  as well as cookies and apple cake


Balsamic Broccoli:
 
1lb broccoli
4 tsp olive oil
2 tsp garlic
1 tbsp Balsamic
2 tsp Dijon mustard
steam broccoli
heat oil in saucepan
add garlic and saute
stir in vinegar and mustard
add broccoli and toss

infuenster

You can get some awesome free products to try that are relevant to your everyday life. I have gotten everything from cheese to nail polish. Its awesome!

Winter Weather!

I have been really busy trying to make sales for new job at Comcast.
I like being in the snow and we finally got some. I haven't forgotten the blog but just got internet again.

Look how pretty it all is! My winter sowing is in full swing and I promise an update later this week.  I moved into a new apartment and have a new garden plan. I'm hoping to stay here for a few years and expand. I'll show my plan for the 5 gallon buckets and the mixture I found on garden web.

Bulb Wreath

I'm in wreath making mode! Today I made a bulb wreath. It's my first attempt and was not as easy as it looked. Here is my step by step.  I took a coat hanger.

Then I unscrewed the top half.

 Then I glued the tops on! Don't forget this part or the bulbs will all fall off.
I also did a large dot of glue and glued the first one on at the top where it curves.

 20 Minutes and about 70 bulbs later there you have it! Try thrift stores and the dollar store for cheap ornaments!

4 Dollar Christmast Wreath

I went to the family dollar on Sunday and came up with this idea for a wreath.

 The whole thing cost me 4 dollars! I got the ornaments and swag for 2 dollars and the twine wreath form was a dollar.
 I went to joannes and looked at the foam wreaths and they were 5 bucks each for a much smaller form. I just got up and added another ornament to the left side were it looks a little bare. I got out the glue gun and glued the swag to the form waited about 2 minutes for it to dry and then added the ornaments and accessory's. That's it! I have some left over ribbon from the mini mouse ornaments. So I may use that to hang it up!

Ah Pinterest

So I have decided to actually do a ton of things I have had pinned. What's pintrest for if not random holiday crafts?

I decided to try this one. My grand-niece loves mini mouse and these are adorable. The link didn't give a tutorial so I got creative.

I have never seen black ornaments? So I picked up some red ones at the dollar store. They were actually left over from my 4 dollar wreath project I will post tomorrow! I also didn't add the dots but may later. Here is how I did it:

Dollar store red ornaments
Black Glitter
school glue
black poms
polka dot ribbon

  I put the black glitter in a disposable white bowl.
Then I poured craft glue into another bowl. I dipped the top of the ornament into the bowl of glue and then into the black glitter and smoothed out the excess and made a defined line. Next time I may tape off the bottom part to prevent drips and make a more defined line.

I sat on the bowl with the glue so it's a little smushed whoops!
I waited about an hour for the glue to dry a little and then it's time for the ears. I put the top back onto the ornaments and broke out my trusty glue gun.

                 See glue gun and poof! I added the ears and then made a little bow with the ribbon and attached that to the front and viola! My version of the mini mouse ornament. I may add some white dots on the red part as the rhinestones were like 5 bucks a box and I wasn't that committed to spending cash. The whole project was less than the rhinestones alone.

jojoba oil for your hair!

Now my hair is super blonde it is also super dry. I you remember a few months ago I played around with Listerine for hair growth with meh results. While it felt good and tingly it dried my hair out more and I found no real growth from it. So doing a bit more research I got some rosemary oil  and jojoba and mixed the two together. I got some trader joes jojoba and some Rosemary Oil.

About once a week I comb it through damp unwashed hair and go to bed. The result? Soft shiny no longer brittle and dry hair. The growth has also been kicked up a notch. My hair went from just above my shoulders to just past the shoulder blades. All in two months and that is fast growth for me and my hair had stalled growing before that. The science behind it is that the oil cleans your scalp and moisturizes hair and the rosemary oil stimulates the scalp with a wonderful sent and tingle. Added bonus of the smell of rosemary oil
it increases concentration it stimulates mental activity and is a good remedy for depression, mental fatigue and forgetfulness. So go out and get some oils ladies. Let me know how it works!

tattoo

Getting a tattoo at someones house is not the best idea. For forty buck at 21 I decided it was. Here it is.

Faded and crooked and all around crappy it was time for a redo. Not to mention I was told the first artist went so deep on the wings he chipped the bone. So I went to redemption tattoo. My brother and several friends had gone there so I knew the quality of the work. Here is the new tattoo. Well new last year. The picture quality isn't great as I took it myself using my phone.

The artist really took his time making sure it looked perfect. He must of drawn it a million times and I love how it came out. I may go back soon for a touch up and perhaps add some color to the outer petals.

Flowers!

Peony's in a pot!

Not sure what this is, but it is growing out of the cracks in the concrete in the backyard and is beautiful!

Wordless Wednesday!