How to Make Your Own Heat Transfers Using Rhinestones
Designers create novelty heat transfer patterns including trims such as rhinestones into the designs. When motifs such as cherries and rainbows are manufactured as pre-made patterns, the designs usually can not be altered. Creating an original heat transfer allows the designer to change the dimensions as well as the color scheme. Use a mirror image of the artwork as a guide for placing the rhinestones to ensure that the design will not appear reversed.
Things You'll Need
- Sketch paper
- Dark marker
- Clear transfer film
- Rhinestones
- Tweezers
- Scissors
- Iron
- Teflon sheet
Instructions
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Preparing the Rhinestones
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1
Trace your reversed artwork's outline on sketch paper with a dark marker. Place the sketch paper on a flat table top.
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2
Position your clear transfer film on top of your outline. The transfer film has a sticky, tacky surface on one side and a smooth surface on the opposite side. Make sure the sticky side is facing up.
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3
Pick up each rhinestone individually with your tweezers and superimpose it onto the artwork, with the rhinestone's flat side facing up. Keep in mind that the placement of the first rhinestone will dictate the subsequent rhinestone direction. For example, if you place your first rhinestone over your outline, you will need to continue placing the remaining rhinestones in the same direction to avoid gaps within your heat transfer pattern. Space your rhinestones according to your design. Full heat transfer patterns generally have rhinestones sitting side by side. Partial heat transfer patterns have an even spacing between each rhinestone, for instance, setting stones 1/4 inch apart.
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4
Cut out your rhinestone heat transfer pattern with your scissors, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the design. Although the border is optional, it will ensure that you will not have to touch the surface of your rhinestone placement when handling the pattern.
Heat Transfer Application
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5
Turn your iron's selection wheel to a high heat or high cotton setting. Make sure the iron is hot prior to applying heat to the transfer. A warm iron will not release the adhesive backing.
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6
Flip your heat transfer over and position the flat side of the rhinestones onto your fabric. Do not remove the transfer film.
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7
Cover the film and transfer pattern with a Teflon sheet.
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8
Apply your iron by gliding it in a side to side or top to bottom motion. You will need to repeat this several times.
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9
Lift the corner of your Teflon sheet together with the transfer film. Be careful not to touch the heated surface with your fingers. It is extremely hot and can cause injury. As you lift the transfer film, the rhinestones should pull away from the film and adhere to the fabric. If the stones remain on the film, repeat step 4 several more times until the rhinestone heat transfer design adheres to your fabric.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Keep your work area clear of threads, paper or fabric. Although items are removable, each time an object is lifted from the film, it removes the film's invisible adhesive.
