How to Make a Cupcake Sublimation Dress!


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How to Make a Cupcake Sublimation Dress! Turn a boring or plain dress into a work of art with sublimation! This dusty pink dress was pretty drab...but looks amazing with colorful cupcakes all over it! Let me show you how easy it is to customize your fit with a few sublimation supplies.

How to Make a Cupcake Sublimation Dress!


Turn a boring or plain dress into a work of art with sublimation!


This dusty pink dress was pretty drab...but looks amazing with colorful cupcakes all over it!


Let me show you how easy it is to customize your fit with a few sublimation supplies.



How to Make a Cupcake Sublimation Dress! Turn a boring or plain dress into a work of art with sublimation! This dusty pink dress was pretty drab...but looks amazing with colorful cupcakes all over it! Let me show you how easy it is to customize your fit with a few sublimation supplies.

Polyester dress


Sublimation works best on polyester, like 100% polyester...it will work on blends too, but won't be as vibrant without high polyester content.


I found this dusty pink babydoll dress that is 100% polyester. Unfortunately, there's only one left!


Here's some other 100% polyester dress options:



Smocked Mini dress (comes in 12 colors and 6 sizes)
Deep V Neck Midi Dress (comes in 12 colors and 4 sizes)
Short Sleeve Mini Dress (comes in 5 colors and 4 sizes)
Ruffle Sleeve Summer Dress (comes in 13 colors and 4 sizes)
Flared Swing Dress (some short or long sleeve in 14 colors in 4 sizes)
Long Sleeve Sweater Dress (in 13 colors and 5 sizes)


Pick a dress that is a lighter color.


Polyester dress Sublimation works best on polyester, like 100% polyester...it will work on blends too, but won't be as vibrant without high polyester content. I found this dusty pink babydoll dress that is 100% polyester. Unfortunately, there's only one left! Here's some other 100% polyester dress options:

The sublimation won't work on a black fabric, and it will be muted slightly based on the fabric color. 


The pink I picked worked really well, especially for cupcakes.


Just keep that in mind based on what you are sublimating on to your dress.


The sublimation won't work on a black fabric, and it will be muted slightly based on the fabric color. The pink I picked worked really well, especially for cupcakes. Just keep that in mind based on what you are sublimating on to your dress.

Here's the dress before.


It's not a color I would normally wear...mostly because it's not black.


However, I did buy this dress in black and I wear it regularly, so I knew I at least like the style.


The flare works great for adding cupcakes or designs too!


Here's the dress before. It's not a color I would normally wear...mostly because it's not black. However, I did buy this dress in black and I wear it regularly, so I knew I at least like the style. The flare works great for adding cupcakes or designs too!

I love these cute cupcakes...here's the story.


When I turned 30 years old, way back in 2011, my daughter was only 6 years old at the time.


For my 30th birthday, she drew, colored and cut out 30 adorable cupcakes and taped them to my bedroom door for a wonderful surprise.


She told me it was really hard work and she didn't realize how many 30 actually was.


So, for my 40th birthday, back in 2021, she decided as a now 16 year old, to draw and color 40 cupcakes for me.


She did these one digitally, which she said was easier but still a lot of work!


I used the digital cupcakes to make this dress.


I love these cute cupcakes...here's the story. When I turned 30 years old, way back in 2011, my daughter was only 6 years old at the time. For my 30th birthday, she drew, colored and cut out 30 adorable cupcakes and taped them to my bedroom door for a wonderful surprise. She told me it was really hard work and she didn't realize how many 30 actually was. So, for my 40th birthday, back in 2021, she decided as a now 16 year old, to draw and color 40 cupcakes for me. She did these one digitally, which she said was easier but still a lot of work! I used the digital cupcakes to make this dress.

Supplies Needed for Sublimation Dress:



Supplies Needed for Sublimation Dress: Dress (100% polyester in a light color) Sublimation Printer Hiipoo Sublimation Ink for EcoTank Sublimation Paper Cricut EasyPress Cricut EasyPress Mat Art

Step 1: Art to Print


You will need something to sublimate onto your dress.


I'm not sharing my cupcakes...but you can draw, design, or find wonderful things to add to your piece.


This is where you can get extremely creative.


Are you making a costume? Do you need specific art on it?


Think of a Doctor Who, Harry Potter, My Little Pony, Lord of the Rings, Magic School Bus--Miss Frizzle, Horror themed or any other countless fandoms turned into a stunning dress!


Are you a school teacher?


Have each of your students draw a picture of you! 


Then take pictures of them, reverse them and print them out with a sublimation printer...then you have a custom dress to wear for Parent/Teacher conferences that just screams "awesome teacher".


There are so many more options than just cupcakes!


Do you have a hard time finding themed clothes for your kids? 


Make custom dresses, shirts and costumes using their art or downloadable pictures!


Again, so many options!


Step 1: Art to Print You will need something to sublimate onto your dress. I'm not sharing my cupcakes...but you can draw, design, or find wonderful things to add to your piece. This is where you can get extremely creative. Are you making a costume? Do you need specific art on it? Think of a Doctor Who, Harry Potter, My Little Pony, Lord of the Rings, Magic School Bus--Miss Frizzle, Horror themed or any other countless fandoms turned into a stunning dress! Are you a school teacher? Have each of your students draw a picture of you! Then take pictures of them, reverse them and print them out with a sublimation printer...then you have a custom dress to wear for Parent/Teacher conferences that just screams "awesome teacher". There are so many more options than just cupcakes! Do you have a hard time finding themed clothes for your kids? Make custom dresses, shirts and costumes using their art or downloadable pictures! Again, so many options!

Find the desired art and print it in reverse on sublimation paper.


I was able to fit 2 cupcakes on each piece of paper.


Cut them apart so they are ready to sublimate individually.


Find the desired art and print it in reverse on sublimation paper. I was able to fit 2 cupcakes on each piece of paper. Cut them apart so they are ready to sublimate individually.

Step 2: Sublimation


Warm up the dress with the EasyPress on the EasyPress Mat.


Then place the sublimation ink side down on the dress.


Tape it in place with some heat resistant tape.


Step 2: Sublimation Warm up the dress with the EasyPress on the EasyPress Mat. Then place the sublimation ink side down on the dress. Tape it in place with some heat resistant tape.

This dress naturally has gathers and wrinkles, so it could have been better if I took the time to iron it first, but I didn't bother.


This dress naturally has gathers and wrinkles, so it could have been better if I took the time to iron it first, but I didn't bother.

Set the Heat Press to 400*F and the timer to 45 seconds.


Then press each image on the dress.


It's easy to do and takes very little pressure, if any.


Set the Heat Press to 400*F and the timer to 45 seconds. Then press each image on the dress. It's easy to do and takes very little pressure, if any.

The first reveal was the most nervous!


I wasn't sure how well this was going to work out, but it worked awesome!


I was so happy how these cupcakes turned out...they look air brushed right on the fabric.


The first reveal was the most nervous! I wasn't sure how well this was going to work out, but it worked awesome! I was so happy how these cupcakes turned out...they look air brushed right on the fabric.

I love the variety of cupcakes my daughter drew.


I had so much fun picking my favorites and deciding which yummy cupcake should go right on the front center of the bodice.


I love the variety of cupcakes my daughter drew. I had so much fun picking my favorites and deciding which yummy cupcake should go right on the front center of the bodice.

Repeat this process.


There's no need to throw away the heat resistant tape each time, just reuse the tape for the next image and so on.


Repeat this process. There's no need to throw away the heat resistant tape each time, just reuse the tape for the next image and so on.

I used the 12x10 EasyPress, but I would have loved having the 9x9 for this project. 


I just don't have an EasyPress that size...and the 6x7 was a little too small.


I used the 12x10 EasyPress, but I would have loved having the 9x9 for this project. I just don't have one that size...and the 6x7 was a little too small.

The paper won't stay stuck to the dress long after heating, so every step of this dress was a reveal.


Just cover already pressed images with teflon, parchment or butcher paper if the heat press is going to be close to it.


The paper won't stay stuck to the dress long after heating, so every step of this dress was a reveal. Just cover already pressed images with teflon, parchment or butcher paper if the heat press is going to be close to it.

I overlapped the front bottom cupcakes to give it some variety.


I also didn't want my dress to look store bought this way...I want it to have an element of DIY to it.


This fun dress is the perfect way to update, customize or refashion your wardrobe.


I love my sublimation printer!


I overlapped the front bottom cupcakes to give it some variety. I also didn't want my dress to look store bought this way...I want it to have an element of DIY to it. This fun dress is the perfect way to update, customize or refashion your wardrobe. I love my sublimation printer!

Just think of all the possibilities this has!


I want to turn every plain jane dress into a custom sublimated dress.


What fun sublimation dress ideas do you have for me to try? 


Leave your ideas in the comments and I'll do another dress soon!


Maybe a fun "ugly sweater" dress for Christmas parties!


Just think of all the possibilities this has! I want to turn every plain jane dress into a custom sublimated dress. What fun sublimation dress ideas do you have for me to try? Leave your ideas in the comments and I'll do another dress soon! Maybe a fun "ugly sweater" dress for Christmas parties!

I'd totally pick a dark chocolate cupcake with ganache or buttercream to eat...


but I love that little pink cupcake with a strawberry on top for the front and center piece.


It just goes with the dress perfectly!


I'd totally pick a dark chocolate cupcake with ganache or buttercream to eat... but I love that little pink cupcake with a strawberry on top for the front and center piece. It just goes with the dress perfectly!

That's it!


If you didn't already have a sublimation printer on your wish list, you'll need it now.


Adding custom art to dresses and clothes is so much fun!


I love my sublimation printer and the customization it allows me on so many projects. 


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Turn a boring or plain dress into a work of art with sublimation! This dusty pink dress was pretty drab...but looks amazing with colorful cupcakes all over it! Let me show you how easy it is to customize your fit with a few sublimation supplies.











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