HotFix Crystals & T-shirt transfers

[Corryn]

Can anyone recommend a good website to purchase these items on?

Also, any suggestions or tips or tricks?

Also - I purchased some tank tops from Old Navy - the stretchy kind - and when I iron on the transfers, I think I'm going to need to stretch out the shirt first BEFORE I iron on the transfer.
I don't want to iron the transfer onto the (unstretched) shirt, put the shirt on and then when it naturally stretches (a lot!) the transfer will be all discombobulated
Has anyone ran into that issue?

I want to make a couple of tank tops with large pics of Maleficent and then stud them out with the hotfix crystals.

Thanks for your help!

 

[everydaymathchick]

I got hot fix crystals at Michaels and a heat tool special made for jewels there as well. I think the brand was tulip? I was able to get a large wheel of crystals there and right beside it was the heat wand. It has a red handle, and it looks like it's got a nail head on the top. It was super super easy to use and it really dressed up my shirts to add the bling.

I suggest trying your local craft store first.

 

[everydaymathchick]

Also, I was worried about my shirts stretching and messing up the designs, so I used stretchable transfers. It even says on the package to stretch the shirt after you've transfered the design -- I did, and the transfer stretched with the shirt and went back to normal.

Avery makes stretchable light transfers that I got at Walmart. Tailor makes "Soft n Stretchy" dark transfers that I got at Michael's. Not sure why Avery doesn't make the stretchable dark ones too. Both worked great! I recommend using these instead of the normal ones -- trying to stretch your shirt before you iron it might still leave you with a wonky iron on.

 

[Corryn]

Thanks again, Joanna - I checked the Michaels over here, but I'll go back again tomorrow to a different Michaels and see if it's in that store.

So you say I should iron it on and then stretch it - when it's hot or when it's cold?

 

[everydaymathchick]

Thanks again, Joanna - I checked the Michaels over here, but I'll go back again tomorrow to a different Michaels and see if it's in that store.

So you say I should iron it on and then stretch it - when it's hot or when it's cold?

Get the iron on transfers that are made for stretchy materials -- they say so on the package. Then in the directions it will say when to stretch the shirt. I think with one it was once it was cool and with the other it was when it was warm. As long as it says it's a stretchable transfer though, you'll be ok and the directions are really clear in the package.

 

[Corryn]

One more question:
Can I use the Hotfix stones on top of the t-shirt transfers?

 

[everydaymathchick]

One more question:
Can I use the Hotfix stones on top of the t-shirt transfers?

Yes. They stuck quite well on top of the transfers. I think the glue actually seeps through the transfer some since the transfer material is sort of cloth-like. Be sure that after they're stuck to open up the shirt (run your hand through the inside) to make sure it didn't glue the shirt together! I had a close call on one of mine.

Also, I didn't pay attention to the time recommendation on the heat tool; instead I watched the gem closely. You can SEE when the glue melts -- it almost pops out the side of the gem a tiny bit (when you're looking uber close). That's when I knew it was done and took the tool off immediately.

And -- I checked the brand one more time -- it is Tulip for both the tool and the bling I used. They worked GREAT!

 

[Corryn]

Yes. They stuck quite well on top of the transfers. I think the glue actually seeps through the transfer some since the transfer material is sort of cloth-like. Be sure that after they're stuck to open up the shirt (run your hand through the inside) to make sure it didn't glue the shirt together! I had a close call on one of mine.

Also, I didn't pay attention to the time recommendation on the heat tool; instead I watched the gem closely. You can SEE when the glue melts -- it almost pops out the side of the gem a tiny bit (when you're looking uber close). That's when I knew it was done and took the tool off immediately.

And -- I checked the brand one more time -- it is Tulip for both the tool and the bling I used. They worked GREAT!

Thanks for getting back to me so fast
Thank you also for giving me the tip on running my hand through the shirt so the shirt doesn't get stuck together - that Definitely would have been one thing I would not have done had I not been prompted!
Also one more question:
I saw the Tulip tool, but it was Cordless - is that the one you have?
I would think a cordless battery operated tool wouldn't work as well as something with a cord attached?
Thanks again

 

[everydaymathchick]

Thanks for getting back to me so fast
Thank you also for giving me the tip on running my hand through the shirt so the shirt doesn't get stuck together - that Definitely would have been one thing I would not have done had I not been prompted!
Also one more question:
I saw the Tulip tool, but it was Cordless - is that the one you have?
I would think a cordless battery operated tool wouldn't work as well as something with a cord attached?
Thanks again

Yes, that's the one, and it works great! I wasn't sure at first either... but I love it! It's nice not to have the cord in the way. I think it takes an odd number of batteries -- like 3! (Head's up!)

Oh follow the heating up directions carefully though on it. It tells you to hold the button on (you have to hold the button to keep it hot which really isn't a pain like it sounds like it is) until it will sortch paper when you touch it to the paper. My sister held the button for it to heat for too long while we were chatting and then tested it -- it burned through five sheets of paper and then scortched the next 3 in a pad of paper in less than a second! We let it cool a bit after that.

 

[Corryn]

it burned through five sheets of paper and then scortched the next 3 in a pad of paper in less than a second! We let it cool a bit after that.

hahaha
Thanks again

 

[everydaymathchick]

Corryn, did it work?

Just curious how your stuff turned out.

 

[Corryn]

Hi Joanna I'm going to give it a shot next week... You know, my Uncle Vinnie Fundzalo (Funds-are-low) stayed a little too long this month I've gotta buy the printer ink, transfers, etc......But I will definitely post photos and let you know Thanks for the interest