Every holiday season the same requests come in: a photo ornament for the grandparents, a mug for every teacher, a gift for the whole office. Sublimation gift ideas like these are made for a small shop, because one printer, one paper and a couple of presses cover all of them.
This guide covers what to make, which blanks and press each one needs, and how to time and price your holiday run so the busy weeks pay off.
Holiday Sublimation Gift Ideas That Sell From One Setup
Pick products your customers already buy as gifts, then make them personal. These all come from the same printer and transfer paper:
| Gift | Why customers want it | Blank | Press |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo and name ornaments | A keepsake they hang every year | Sublimation ornaments in round, oval, heart, star and holiday tree shapes | Flat heat press |
| Mugs | An easy gift for teachers, coworkers and family | 15oz pearl coat mugs | Mug press |
| Travel mugs | A step-up gift for commuters | 14oz white travel mugs | Mug press |
| Mouse pads | Office gifts and company logo orders | Sublimation mouse pads | Flat heat press |
| Key rings | Stocking stuffers and add-ons at checkout | Sublimation key rings | Flat heat press |
| Photo tiles | Framed-photo gifts | 4.25" sublimation tiles | Flat heat press |
| Pillow cases | Family photos and pet portraits | 20" x 28" pillow cases | Flat heat press |
← Scroll to see all columns →
What sublimation gifts can I make for Christmas? Ornaments, mugs, travel mugs, mouse pads, key rings, photo tiles and pillow cases all work with one sublimation printer and transfer paper. The only thing that changes from product to product is the blank and the press.
Blank by Blank: What Each One Needs
Ornaments, mouse pads, key rings and tiles are flat, so a clamshell heat press handles all of them. One press, a shelf of blanks, and you can switch products between orders without changing your setup.
Mugs and travel mugs need a mug press that wraps the heat around the mug. If mugs turn into a big part of your holiday orders, a press that holds more than one mug at a time helps you keep up.
Pillow cases are the largest item here at 20 by 28 inches, so check that your press and your printer cover the design area before you add them to your menu. Follow the time, temperature and pressure settings from the blank maker for every product.
The Sublimation Workflow in Four Steps
- Design. Lay out the customer's photo or name at the size of the blank.
- Print. Print onto sublimation transfer paper with sublimation ink.
- Press. Put the print face down on the blank and press it. Heat moves the ink into the blank's polyester coating, so the design becomes part of the surface.
- Finish. Peel the paper, let the piece cool, and package it.
Run a sample of every product before the rush. You'll catch a press setting or a sizing problem on one blank instead of a case of them.
What Your Shop Needs to Run It
- Printer. The Epson SureColor F170 prints sheets up to 8.5 inches wide from a 150-sheet tray, and Epson builds it for mugs, mouse pads and awards. The Epson SureColor F570 Pro prints up to 24 inches wide from rolls or sheets, with a built-in cutter, when you want larger pieces.
- Ink. Both printers run the same Epson Dye Sublimation Ink 140 mL bottles.
- Paper. Epson's 85GSM multi-use transfer paper comes in an 8.5" sheet pack for the F170 and F570, an 11" x 14" sheet pack for the F570 and rolls for the F570.
- Flat press. A 15" x 15" clamshell like the HIX HT-400 or HIX S-450.
- Mug press. The Joto single station to start, or the Joto dual station and Joto 5 multi station when mug orders stack up.
Not sure which printer fits? You can see every dye sublimation printer we carry in one place.
How to Time Your Holiday Run
Plan the menu before the orders arrive, and the rush gets a lot calmer.
- Pick your menu early. Three to five products are easier to stock, photograph and press than fifteen.
- Order blanks, paper and ink ahead of your busy weeks. Check each product page for its lead time, since some items ship from the manufacturer.
- Press samples and post them. Photos of your own ornaments and mugs show customers exactly what they'll get.
- Set an order cutoff. Pick the last day you can take an order and still deliver on time, and tell customers up front.
- Batch by product. Run all the ornaments, then all the mugs, so you're not changing presses on every order.
How to Price Holiday Gifts Without Discounting
Customers are paying for the photo, the name and the fact that nobody else has the same gift. Price for that.
- Cost every piece. Add up the blank, paper, ink, packaging and your press time, then set a price that leaves room for redos.
- Sell sets. A mug with a matching key ring or ornament raises the order total without extra design work.
- Charge for rush orders. Late orders take time from the work you already promised, so price them that way.
- Offer company orders. Mouse pads, mugs and ornaments with a business logo are an easy pitch to local offices for their holiday gifts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get Your Shop Ready for the Holidays
Choose a short menu, test every blank before the rush, and price for the personalization. Everything on this list runs from one printer, one paper and a press or two.
Need help picking the right printer or press for your holiday menu? Talk to a specialist. All American Print Supply has been in business since 1986, with US based stock and tech support.
