Welcome back to the craft room and today’s Sublimation Baby Gift: Blanket & Card post! I’m sharing a creative way to make a truly personal baby shower gift by combining two of my favorite techniques—sublimation and handmade cardmaking. Using a super soft blanket from Hobby Lobby, my HTVRont Auto Heat Press, and an adorable bear design from Creative Fabrica, I’ll show you how to create a cozy, customized gift. And to make it extra special, I’ve also designed a matching card using the same image!
Whether you’re new to sublimation or looking for unique baby gift ideas, this project is a sweet and simple way to stretch your supplies across multiple crafts. I’ll walk you through the full process—starting with the blanket and finishing with the card—and if you’d like a step-by-step checklist for sublimating blankets, be sure to grab the free PDF guide I’ve included below!
Want a printable version of the process?
Grab my free PDF guide that walks you through every step of sublimating a blanket—from image prep to pressing tips.
Choosing the Perfect Image
Every sublimation project I create starts with a visit to Creative Fabrica. No matter what I have in mind, I can always find the perfect image there—and today’s baby blanket project was no exception. After a short search, I found the Pink Teddy Bear Clipart – Sweet Dreams set. It includes 38 high-resolution PNG files with transparent backgrounds, perfect for all your baby girl crafting needs. There were several sweet images in the set that I loved, but the sleeping bear instantly captured my heart. I knew she was the one for this project.
Once I chose the image, I resized it and personalized it with the baby’s name, then printed it on A-SUB sublimation paper using my Epson SureColor F170 printer. Since I wanted the image to sit neatly in the corner of the blanket, I used a light pencil line on the back of the paper to help me line it up straight during pressing.
Here’s something to keep in mind when sublimating onto fabric: there’s a good chance the edges of the sublimation paper will leave faint press lines on the material. To avoid that, you have two options—cut around the image with scissors or gently tear around the edges.
Although trimming with scissors works, the edges can still look too sharp or structured. That’s why I prefer tearing. When you tear the paper toward yourself, it removes both the excess and the top layer of the paper, helping the design blend more softly into the fabric. You can see in the image below how this simple trick helps the edges disappear beautifully.
In the image below, I’ve lined up the sublimation paper with the finished design so you can see how faint the pressed edge really is. It’s barely visible—you’d honestly have to be looking for it to even notice. After pressing, I also like to go over the area with a lint roller. It sounds simple, but it helps soften that line even more and encourages the edge to blend more seamlessly into the fabric.
Preparing the Sublimation Blanket
The incredibly soft and snuggly blanket I used for today’s project is from the Sublimation Blanks brand, available at Hobby Lobby. It’s made of 100% polyester, measures 30″ x 40″, and is labeled as an infant blanket. It looks soft in the photo—but in person? It’s unbelievably cozy! Honestly, it’s so luxurious I’m tempted to head back and pick up the larger version just for myself.
Before jumping into the sublimation process, it’s important to make sure the surface is as free of lint and fuzz as possible. I started by giving it a good shake outdoors to remove any loose debris or fibers that might interfere with the press.
The Sublimation Process, Step-by-Step
Figuring out the right time and temperature for sublimating this blanket took a bit of trial and error. Unfortunately, the sublimation blank didn’t come with any pressing instructions. Since I’d never sublimated a blanket before, I turned to YouTube to see what others had tried. I found recommendations ranging from 385°F to 400°F, and pressing times from 40 to 60 seconds. I ended up settling on 390°F for 60 seconds.
While my HTVRont Auto Heat Press warmed up, I prepped the lower platen by placing a piece of 12″ x 12″ Recollections cardstock on the bottom, followed by a sheet of uncoated white butcher paper.
I chose to place the image in the corner opposite the blanket’s tag. To prep the area, I made sure to pull the blanket’s seams off the back and side of the platen so they wouldn’t interfere with pressure. I also went over the surface with a lint roller to pick up any remaining particles.
To help ensure a smooth, even transfer, it’s important to brush or smooth the nap of the fabric in the same direction before pressing. I also added a second piece of butcher paper on top and did a quick pre-press for about 7 seconds, even before the press was fully up to temp.
Once the blanket had cooled slightly, I secured the sublimation print in place with two pieces of heat-resistant tape. Then I pressed the image at 390°F for 60 seconds. To minimize the chance of ghosting, I let the blanket sit undisturbed for a minute or two before removing the A-SUB paper—and when I finally peeled it back, the sweetest little sleeping bear was revealed!
Creating the Perfect Coordinated Card
Because I just couldn’t stop at the blanket, I decided to create a matching baby shower card using the same adorable sleeping bear image.
In Canva, I set up a 5″ x 3.75″ design template and added the bear, along with the same font I used on the blanket—this time spelling out “It’s a Girl!” Once I had everything sized just right, I downloaded the design and pulled it into Microsoft Word so I could print it using my HP printer.
To trim the printed image to the exact 5″ x 3.75″ size, I used one of the Waffle Flower A2 Layering Dies. Then, I cut a mat for the image using the next largest die and a piece of Bazzill Basics cardstock, which gave me a perfect 5.25″ x 4″ layer.
To prevent the ink from smudging or bleeding, I lightly applied Tim Holtz Distress Micro Glaze over the printed image. After letting it sit for a moment, I gently buffed off the excess with a paper towel. This not only protects the image but also gives the printed colors a slightly richer, deeper tone.
To finish the card, I adhered both layers onto an A2-sized card base made with Recollections 110lb white cardstock. I also added an extra piece of the Bazzill Basics cardstock to the inside of the card to tie everything together. It’s a simple but perfectly coordinated addition to the gift—and I love how it pulls the whole project together!
Wrap-Up: Your Sublimation Baby Gift – Blanket & Card
Creating this Sublimation Baby Gift: Blanket & Card was such a joy—from choosing the sweetest little sleeping bear to seeing the design come to life on both the blanket and the matching card. Whether you’re new to sublimation or just looking for your next project, I hope this gave you a few helpful tips (and maybe even some inspiration!). Personalized gifts like this are always a hit at baby showers, and the extra touch of a matching card really completes the presentation.
If you’d like to have the full process handy for your next project, don’t forget to download the free PDF guide I created. It includes all the steps and tips for sublimating on a blanket, so you can follow along offline or save it for later.
Have you ever tried sublimating on fabric like this? Or made a coordinating card to go with a handmade gift? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below! Curious what else you can create with sublimation? Take a look at my other sublimation projects for more crafty ideas and giftable creations. Thanks for visiting—I’ll see you back in the craft room soon!
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