shop owner – A Pop of Gum

Sublimation for Beginners

October 17, 2023October 17, 2023 apopofgum

As a creative artist and entrepreneur I have dabbled in many genres of crafting and designing. With a lot of trial and error, I weed out what I don’t like to do, leaving room for more growth and focus on the crafts I do enjoy. With the creative world always evolving, sometimes it can seem overwhelming when you finally have something down packed and poof! the next best thing is out.

My first and long time love has been working with vinyl. From creating shirts, bags, accessories and drink ware, the possibilities have been endless. However, vinyl can be very time consuming. So when I stumbled upon sublimation, I just knew I had to learn it – and quickly!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with sublimation or maybe you’ve heard of it and haven’t been able to wrap your head around the whole concept here is a little breakdown of what sublimation is, what you can sublimate, and of course what are some of the basic materials needed to start sublimating at home or in your shop.

What is sublimation?

Sublimation is the transition of a substance directly from a solid state to a gas state. It does not pass through the usual liquid state, and only occurs at specific temperatures and pressure. In layman’s terms, sublimation printing is a specific process of printing on a special sheet of paper then transferring that image onto another material (usually polyester or polyester blend). The ink is then heated until it disintegrates into the fabric.

What can I sublimate?

As stated above, if you are going to sublimate shirts or fabric, it must be polyester or a polyester blend shirt. The higher the percentage of the polyester the better the quality will turn out. There are also other media you can sublimate on but they must be specifically for sublimation use. For example, tumblers, mugs, glass, and metal signs must be coated with a polymer sublimation coating. You must read the item descriptions to make sure what you are purchasing is sublimation ready.

What materials are required for sublimation?

Unlike vinyl, sublimation does not require a special cutting machine or pricy materials to start. Listed below are some of my favorite items to use when sublimating.

Please note that as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made using my affiliate links mentioned.

Printer

Through trial and error, I have discovered that the best printer option and most economical option is to purchase an Epson EcoTank model. The Epson ET-2800 is one of the most economical from the EcoTank line. There are other printers in the EcoTank line that support bigger paper options, so it all depends on what you plan on sublimating to determine if those are needed. The Epson ET-2800 prints up to 8.5 x 14 inch sized paper.

Ink

There are several sublimation ink companies out there. I stumbled across Hiipoo Sublimation Ink on Amazon. It is very affordable and the prints come out vibrant. Specifically Designed for Ecotank Inkjet Printer, Hiipoo Sublimation Ink Autofil l Bottles were created for the EcoTank series printers. You will get the best print quality and performance without any ICC Profile！The water-based dye sublimation Ink provides high heattransfer printing rate, and produces bright and vividcolor, which is in high saturation, good permeability, fast drying, waterproof and no fading.

Paper

Now that you have your printer and ink, next step is the sublimation paper. I have been using A-Sub Sublimation Paper since a group I’m in recommended it. I get the best quality prints when utilizing this trio.

Depending on what you will be sublimating on will determine which heat press you will need. Some crafters just like to make shirts, some just like to make mugs and tumblers, and well there are others like me that like to create all of the above and some🤪.

Heat Press

The Fancierstudio Heatpress was actually the second Heatpress I purchased. My first Heatpress was a 10 in 1 Heatpress and I hated it. Having to switch between the different attachments was so annoying and it was actually a little hard to take apart. I decided that my next heat press needed to be a single use item. And this is the one that I chose. This heat press is 15×15 which is an ideal size when pressing shirts, bags, and other flat fabrics.

Tumbler/Mug Press

If you plan on sublimating cups, mugs, or tumblers, the EENOUR Tumbler Heat Press is the way to go. It is easy to use and very versatile. They have a dual option as well where you can sublimate 2 tumblers at the same time or 4 mugs. The tumbler press allows for a more even transfer.

Convection Oven

I bet you’re wondering why this Black + Decker Convection Oven made it to the list. Well simple, this oven heats up to 400 degrees which is the desired temperature for most sublimatable items. Therefore, with this oven you can do multiple cups and tumblers at a time compared to a tumbler press. So I wanted to make sure to give you both options.

Other miscellaneous items

Now that you have the basics down, a few items that I’ll mention below will complete your new sublimation kit.

And there you have it folks – my Sublimation for Beginners list. If you’d like to see more list like these on other crafts, make sure to leave a comment below.

Blog, Reviews

Business Essentials 101

October 8, 2023October 8, 2023 apopofgum

Being in business for over 10 years, there is always something new out there. Technology is always evolving, new products are always being launched, which in turn makes things get old quick or even obsolete. As you continue to read, I will show you ten of my favorite business essentials that I use day in and day out.

1. Computer: Mac Book Air

I’ve been using a Mac Book Air for over 5 years now. At first, it was so hard for me to transition from Windows to an iOS device. However, once I saw how easy it was to switch between my laptop, phone, or tablet, I was sold. I can access my files from anywhere and let’s not forget the sleek look is beautiful.

Quick description:

Mac Book Air – Apple’s thinnest and lightest notebook gets supercharged with the Apple M1 chip. Tackle your projects with the blazing-fast 8-core CPU. Take graphics-intensive apps and games to the next level with an up to 8-core GPU. And accelerate machine learning tasks with the 16-core Neural Engine. All with a silent, fanless design and the longest battery life ever—up to 18 hours. MacBook Air. Still perfectly portable. Just a lot more powerful.

2. Keyboard – UBOTIE Wireless Keyboard and Mouse

Over the years, I’ve become such a girly girl and love ALL things PINK! I came across this UBOTIE keyboard and mouse and it has been such a great addition to my workspace. Don’t like pink? No worries, they have other color combos to choose from.

Quick Description:

UBOTIE Colorful Computer Wireless Keyboard Mice Combo, Retro Typewriter Flexible Keys Office Full-Sized Keyboard, 2.4GHz Dropout-Free Connection and Optical Mouse (Pink-Colorful)

3. Desk – FEZIBO Height Adjustable Electric Standing Desk

Let’s face it, being an entrepreneur, we spend several hours sitting down at our desk planning, creating, thinking. And all of that takes a toll on us if we don’t remember to get up every now and then to stretch and walk around a bit. When Covid came around we were all bound to our homes and we had to figure out the best ways to make the best of it. Whether we were working from home or our kids were home schooling, these height adjustable desks from FEZIBO came in very handy. It allowed us to get up and move and not be bound to our chairs all day. This desk is also available in other color combos to match your theme.

Quick Description:

FEZIBO Height Adjustable Electric Standing Desk with Double Drawer, 40 x 24 Inch Stand Up Table with Storage Shelf, Sit Stand Desk with Splice Board, White Frame/Light Rustic Brown Top

4. Desk Chair – Mimoglad Office Ergonomic Desk Chair

If you’re like me, back problems, neck pains, and just sitting down the majority of the day, you know one thing we must invest in is a comfortable desk chair. These can be pricy, however, the level of comfort is very important to me. Back in 2010 I was involved in a drunk driver accident scenario. My vehicle was hit from the back and the driver tried to flee the scene. Even though I was able to catch the plate numbers, the vehicle was stolen and we were unable to find the people who hit me. I was left with 3 herniated discs and my cervical curve in my neck was flipped. This causes for my neck to pain very easily sitting down in a chair where I can’t rest my head and neck. When I came across this chair, I immediately added to cart! It’s been one of the best investments for my home office.

Quick Description:

Mimoglad Office Chair, High Back Ergonomic Desk Chair with Adjustable Lumbar Support and Headrest, Swivel Task Chair with flip-up Armrests for Guitar Playing, 5 Years Warranty

5. Printer – Epson ET15000

Over the past 10 years I have gone through so many printers. I’ve used Canon, Brother, HP, and Epson. Cartridge after cartridge, print after print, I finally came across the Epson EcoTank Printers. This was a complete game changer for me. I had an Epson 8710 & 8720 that I converted to a sublimation printer, but the issue was the cartridges. Either the printer wouldn’t read it correctly or the print wasn’t as vibrant as I wanted, and most of all cartridge replacements every week. As much I print, I needed to find something more economical FAST. So when I feasted my eyes on the EcoTanks from Epson I was made a believer. It was months before I had to refill the tank.

Brief Description:

Epson EcoTank ET-15000 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer with Scanner, Copier, Fax, Ethernet and Printing up to 13 x 19 Inches, White

6. Label Printer – MUNBYN Label Printer

If you ship packages like me, then you know how handy it is to have a label printer. Printing labels on a regular printer can be costly using ink and copy paper. The MUNBYN label printer is a thermal printer that doesn’t require ink. And if you buy the labels, it usually comes in a roll of 500 which is a good amount to start with. This printer also came in pink so it was a win win there.

Quick Description:

MUNBYN Pink Label Printer P941 for Shipping Packages & Small Business, 4×6 Thermal Sticker Printer Compatible with Chrome, Mac Os, Windows

You can buy the labels here

7. External Hard Drive – WD 1 TB External Hard Drive

As a graphic designer, I work with a lot of businesses and utilize a lot of elements. Storing them on the computers hard drive will quickly use up the space and slow down your computer. By storing your designs on an external hard drive it alleviates utilizing your computer space and slowing it down. If you can spare a few extra bucks there are bigger storage capacity’s available.

Quick Description:

WD 1TB Elements Portable HDD, External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready – WDBUZG0010BBK-WESN, Black

8. Desk Necessities – Sharpie Variety Pack

Who doesn’t love pens, markers, and highlighters?!?! I love buying new pens to try out all the time. With this Variety pack you will not only get pens but it also includes markers, highlighters, pencils, glue and much more for a total of 38 pieces!

Sharpie Expo Elmer’s & Paper Mate Variety Pack

Quick Description:

Supplies Kit, Highlighters, Mechanical Pencils, Glue Sticks, Erasers, Permanent Markers, Gel Pens, Pencils, Glue And More From Sharpie, Elmer’s, Paper Mate, & Expo, 38 Pieces

9. Fan – Dreo Tower Fan

I like to be comfortable when I am in my zone. Fortunately and unfortunately I live in Florida so it definitely gets hot ALL the time! To not over work my AC, I like to keep this fan close by so that I can get that extra cooling that I need. Plus I love the white noise of a fan so I get a 2 in 1 🤪

Brief Description:

Dreo Tower Fan with Remote, Smart Oscillating Quiet Floor Fans for Bedroom, Standing Bladeless Fan with WiFi Voice Control, 4 Modes, 4 Speeds, 8H Timer, Works with Alexa/Google

10. Aromatherapy Diffuser – Pink Aromatherapy Diffuser

Last but definitely not least, something that you may have not thought of before, or maybe you have, is an aromatherapy diffuser. I like to create a space where I am most comfortable. Since I have to work a lot, some of the things that make me happy is a nice scent. I love for my space to smell good and clean. It clears my mind and keeps me in a calm space. Of course I found a pink one to match my decor, but they do have them in different colors to suit your taste.

Brief Description:

Diffusers for Essential Oils Large Room, 500ml Aromatherapy Diffuser. Low Noise & Sleep Better: Adopted noise reduction technology, ultrasonic diffuser operates quietly with no water dripping sounds, creates a restful and soothing environment for undisturbed relaxation, learning, working and sleeping

I hope you enjoyed this list I’ve created for you. And hope you come back to my blog to check out other product reviews and suggestions.

Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. When you click on a link on this channel and make a purchase, this can result in this channel earning a commission.

Blog, Lifestyle

Pop Culture

March 2, 2018March 2, 2018 apopofgum

Hi Everyone! Welcome to my page, A Pop of Gum!

I wanted to start off by introducing myself so that you can get to know me a little better.

My name is Denise Lee, however, most of my customers at Bubblegum’s Creations, know me as Bubblegum or Mrs. Bubblegum. The way I came up with this name is simple enough – I Love Bubblegum. However, here’s the twist on how the name “stuck” (pun intended).

In an attempt to avoid giving out my real name to guys when I was out with my friends, I would always say my name was Bubblegum. So, when I decided to make my Etsy Shop, it made sense that I would stick with Bubblegum since 1. It’s what I love, and 2. My audience would be geared towards children. And there you have it.

Running an online store, I don’t always have the luxury of meeting people in person. Most communications are via email or text. I created A Pop of Gum, not only so that you can get to know me but also to be able to work on my second favorite craft—writing. In my blog, I hope you find yourself learning with me, laughing with me, and who knows, maybe even crying with me. To break the ice, I will answer a few questions that I found over at Torunn Lee Stuen’s blog beYOUtifulblog.

Where Do You Live?

I was born in Trenton, New Jersey. However, I moved to Miami, Florida at the age of 5 and have been here ever since.

Why Start a Blog?

My first passion has always been writing. I would always journal my day-to-day activities and enjoyed being in classes where I could exercise my writing skills. As an adult, I’ve found myself reading other blogs and questioning my own writing abilities. I realized that sometimes, it’s not about being the best at something, but, instead, sharing your thoughts and ideas in hopes that it could help someone else.

What Is Your Education Background?

Well, this is a tricky one for me. When I graduated High School, my mother’s friend had a Mortgage Company that offered to pay my schooling to become a real estate agent. I took the class and passed the final with a 100%. However, I never took the state exam. I later went on to obtain my Full Specialist License which included Esthetician, Nail Artist, and Makeup Artist. I have taken some college writing courses, but, to be honest, school is just not for me.

Family Background.

My mother is Honduran and my father is Puerto Rican. Our families on both sides come from a very mixed culture. The predominant ethnic group in Honduras is the mestizo— people of mixed native and European (mostly Spanish) descent. As for Puerto Ricans, it is well known that they are one of the most diverse cultures, with influences from several parts of the world.

What advice do you have for women wanting to become their own boss?

My advice is to stay focused on the goal. This is not something that happens overnight. Being your own boss takes a lot of countless hours, little sleep, a lot of dedication and COFFEE LOL. You have to give it your all to see your dreams become a reality.

My Advice to Women:

Be Ambitious! There has to be something that you are passionate about, but haven’t yet discovered that it can be your money maker. I stumbled upon crafting. I am not your typical stay at home mom who decided to explore their crafting side for their kids. I actually don’t have kids. However, I love them and mostly cater to them and their loving families.

What camera do you use?

I use a Canon EOS Rebel T6i for my blog posts.

Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know me just a little bit more. If you’d like to see more Q&A blog posts like this one, let me know and I’ll find some more to answer. You can Pop on over anytime, I am always available to chat.

& Remember – Live Fabulous!

Mrs. Bubblegum