So, you’re thinking about making your own sublimation earrings? Welcome, crafty soul! Whether you stumbled across a TikTok video or you just like the idea of printing your personality onto something small and dangly, this guide is for you. And don’t worry—I’ll walk you through it like we’re crafting together at the kitchen table.
What Exactly Are Sublimation Earrings?
Sublimation earrings are typically made from MDF (a type of fiberboard) or aluminum blanks that are coated with a special surface that allows you to print designs directly onto them using heat and pressure. The ink bonds to the surface, so your design won’t peel or fade, it becomes part of the earring. Science!
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Supplies You’ll Need:
Sublimation earring blanks (teardrop-shaped and pre-drilled—no one’s trying to bust out a drill today)
These come pre-coated and ready to absorb sublimation ink. MDF is lightweight and easy to work with, while aluminum gives a sleek, glossy finish. Make sure they have pre-drilled holes unless you want to break out the tools.
Converted sublimation printer with sublimation ink
Not your regular printer! This uses special ink that turns into gas under heat and bonds to the coated surface. (Epson EcoTank models such as Epson T-2800 with converted ink are popular for beginners.)
Sublimation paper is specially made to hold sublimation ink and release it evenly during heat pressing. While regular copy paper can work in a pinch, it won’t give you the same vibrant or crisp results as true sublimation paper.
You’ll need heat + pressure to make the magic happen. A traditional clamshell or flat heat press is ideal, but a Cricut EasyPress works great too—just press firmly and evenly.
Heat-resistant tape and dispenser (optional)
Regular tape will melt. This special tape holds your design in place during pressing without leaving residue or catching on fire (always a plus).
Butcher paper (because mess = stress)
Protects your heat press from rogue ink. Place it under and over your earrings while pressing. Think of it like a shield between your craft and your equipment.
Heat-resistant gloves (optional but your fingertips will thank you)
These save your fingers when you're peeling off hot paper. Not required, but highly recommended if you’re like me and flinch at oven mitts.
Earring hooks and jump rings (silver, gold, or anything that sparks joy)
This is the hardware that turns your sublimated beauty into wearable art. Use pliers to attach them—no soldering needed!
Small jewelry pliers help open and close jump rings with ease. You don’t need a fancy toolkit—just something to pinch with purpose.
Let’s Get Crafty: Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Create Your Design
Use any design software you like, Canva, Silhouette Studio, or even Photoshop if you’re fancy. Choose a design that fits the teardrop shape.
If you’re using Canva, you can download a teardrop earring frame from Creative Fabrica. If you’re not a member yet, you can sign up using my referral link to get access.
Important: Mirror the image before printing.
If you forget, your cute image especially the ones with wording will end up backwards and people will think you're trying to cast spells :D
Step 2: Print It
Once your design is ready and mirrored, print it on sublimation paper using your sublimation printer. Let the print dry for a minute or two to avoid smudging when you cut or tape it.
Step 3 : Prep the Earring Blanks
Most blanks have a clear film to protect the shiny sublimation side.
It’s sneaky. It’s clingy. And it will absolutely ruin your press if you forget to peel it off.
Remove it gently before moving on.
Step 4 : Tape the Design On
Cut your design out and place the earring blank face-down on the inked side of the paper. Tape it with heat-resistant tape so it doesn’t shift.
No shifting.
Shifting = ghost prints = crafting regrets.
Step 5 : Preheat the Heat Press
Set your press to 385–400°F and 60 seconds. Let it preheat fully.
This is a good time to sip that coffee you reheated three times.
Step 6 : Sandwich with Butcher Paper
Lay a sheet of kraft butcher paper on the bottom platen, place the earring setup on top, then cover it with another sheet. Why? Because sublimation ink will absolutely try to bond with your heat press—and we are not here for permanent ghost earrings burned into the machine. Just look at the right-hand side of the fabric in the photo, the ink bled right through! :)
Step 7 : Press it!
Press for 60 seconds, medium to firm pressure. No peeking. Trust the process.
It’ll be hot, but beautiful.
Step 8 : Peel (Carefully)
Use heat-resistant gloves to pick up the earrings and peel off the tape and sublimation paper while it’s still warm. Or, if you enjoy danger, wait until it’s cool and avoid the glove drama altogether.
Step 9 : Add the Hardware
Open a jump ring with pliers, slide it through the hole, then add your silver or gold earring hook (or rose gold, because we love options).
Close it tightly, and boom! You’ve got a wearable masterpiece.
Step 10 : Repeat and Rock 'Em
Make the second earring. Match or mismatch—it’s your art.
Then go show them off. Or sell them. Or gift them. Or just stare lovingly at them like I do.
TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS FOR BEGINNERS
My design looks blurry.
👉 This usually means your sublimation paper moved during pressing. Try using more heat-resistant tape and make sure you’re applying even pressure with your press. Also, check that your image is high-quality—300 DPI is a good setting to use.
The colors on the paper look really dull.
👉 Don’t panic! This is totally normal. Sublimation prints always look faded or muted on the paper. The magic happens after heat pressing—your colors will pop once they’re transferred onto the blank.
My design printed backwards!
👉 You probably forgot to mirror your design before printing. It happens to all of us (usually once). Next time, flip the image horizontally in your design program before hitting print
The ink bled through the paper.
👉 Always place a sheet of butcher paper under and over your earring when pressing. This protects your heat press from ink stains. If your press has a cloth cover, protect that too—unless you want ghost earrings burned into it forever.
The print didn’t fully transfer.
👉 Check your settings! Make sure your press is set to 385–400°F for about 60 seconds with firm, even pressure. Also, make sure your sublimation paper is flat and fully taped down—no lifting corners!
Final Tip:
Start small. You don’t need the fanciest setup to make beautiful sublimation projects! The ET-2800 is a solid way to test the waters without diving into a pricey setup. Once you get the hang of it, upgrading becomes a fun decision—not a stressful one.