DIY Personalised Ceramic Bauble: A Cheap Alternative to Sublimation

christmas Tutorials

Danielle showing off the personalised watercolour christmas bunny bauble

Looking for a unique, affordable way to create personalised Christmas baubles? With water slide decal transfer paper, you can turn any design into a custom decoration without needing costly sublimation equipment! In this guide, I’ll walk you through making a beautiful ceramic bauble, step-by-step, using tools like Canva, a Canon printer, and your Silhouette Cameo. Get ready to create a standout ornament for your holiday décor or as an adorable gift.

Supplies Needed:

  • Ceramic Round Bauble
  • Clear Water Slide Decal Transfer Paper
  • Canon IP8750 Printer (or another inkjet printer)
  • Acrylic Sealer Spray
  • Silhouette Cameo
  • Ribbon for Hanging
  • Supplies to make a sublimation effect bauble with printable waterslide decal paper

    Step-by-Step Guide

    Design Your Bauble in Canva


    Begin by designing your bauble artwork in Canva. Start with a blank canvas and select the size that fits your bauble dimensions. Add text, festive elements, or graphics that match your style. Personalized designs like names, dates, or holiday icons can make the bauble even more special. Canva has so many different free elements that you can use. Don't forget to make the most of Canva's text effects to really make your design pop.

    Custom bauble design with holiday graphics and personalized text in Canva.

    Set Up Your Silhouette Cameo File

    After completing your design, save it as a PNG and import it into Silhouette Cameo’s software. Make sure to turn on registration marks so the machine knows where to cut around your design accurately. Create a circle the same size as your design, and then position your imported design inside.

    Bauble design setup in Silhouette Cameo software with registration marks.

    Print Your Design on Clear Transfer Paper

    Load your Canon IP8750 printer with A4 clear water slide decal transfer paper. Go to your print settings, select “gloss media,” and choose high-quality printing for the best detail and color vibrancy. Print your design, and leave to dry before moving.

    Canon IP8750 printer with clear transfer paper for bauble design.

    Seal the Print with Acrylic Sealer

    Take the printed transfer paper outdoors for ventilation and spray it with an acrylic sealer to make the decal water-resistant. Apply three coats, waiting one hour between each coat. This step is essential to prevent the ink from bleeding when the decal is submerged in water.

    Applying acrylic sealer to bauble decal print outdoors for water resistance.

    Cut the Design with Silhouette Cameo

    Once the sealer is completely dry, place the transfer paper on your Silhouette Cameo cutting mat, aligning it within the mat guide marks. Send the file to cut, and the machine will precisely cut around your design, making it easy to transfer onto the bauble.

    Silhouette Cameo cutting bauble decal design on water slide transfer paper.

    Submerge the Decal in Water

    Grab a bowl of warm water, and carefully submerge the cut decal in it. After around 60 seconds, you’ll see the backing paper start to peel away. This means the decal is ready to be applied. Handle it gently to avoid tearing.

    Water slide decal soaking in warm water, ready for transfer onto bauble.

    Apply the Decal to the Bauble

    Slide the decal onto the ceramic bauble, positioning it exactly where you want it. Use your fingers or a soft cloth to smooth out any air bubbles or wrinkles. Be gentle as the decal is delicate and can tear if handled roughly.

    Transferring water slide decal onto a ceramic bauble with gentle smoothing.

    Blot Excess Water

    Use a paper towel to blot, not wipe, away any extra water from the bauble. Blotting gently helps the decal adhere smoothly without shifting. Be careful during this step as the decal is still fragile and could tear.

    Blotting excess water from the bauble decal with a paper towel for smooth adhesion.

    Let the Bauble Dry Completely

    Place the bauble in a safe spot, allowing it to dry fully. Give it several hours, or even overnight, to make sure the decal adheres firmly and won’t slide or shift when touched.

    Ceramic bauble left to dry completely after applying the decal.

    Add a Ribbon for Hanging

    Once the bauble is fully dry, thread a festive ribbon through the top. Your personalized ceramic bauble is now ready to hang on the tree or gift to someone special!

    Personalised ceramic bauble hanging by a festive ribbon.
    I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on making your very own personalised bauble with water transfer paper. If you'd prefer to see the instructions in video format, hop over to my YouTube channel.
    If you make your own ceramic bauble with this method, I'd love to see your creations! Don't forget to tag them #ChibiChiCrafters over on instagram, or tag me @ChibiChiDesigns so I can see your hard work!

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