Christmas is the busiest season for sublimation. Tumblers, mugs and sweatshirts make the best gifts, and everyone wants something cozy for the holidays.
The best part is how bright everything looks. One print, one press, and you get full color with no weeding at all.
I rounded up 17 sublimation Christmas ideas: tumbler wraps, mugs, a glass can, shirts and sweatshirts, a pillow, a kitchen towel and a door sign. Each one comes with the file.
Tip: Found a Christmas SVG you’d love to sublimate? Turn it into a high-resolution PNG with our free SVG to PNG Converter, then print it on sublimation paper.
What You Need for Christmas Sublimation Projects
Here’s what I use for holiday sublimation projects:
- A sublimation printer and ink: a converted Epson EcoTank or a Sawgrass printer both work great.
- Sublimation paper: print the design mirrored on the bright white side.
- Polyester or poly-coated blanks: sublimation only works on polyester fabric and blanks with a special coating, like sublimation mugs and tumblers.
- A heat press, mug press or tumbler press: a convection oven also works for tumblers.
- Heat-resistant tape, butcher paper and shrink wrap: to hold the print in place and protect your press.
Start in early November. Blanks sell out fast in December, and you’ll want time to test a few prints first.
How to Get Bright Colors on Christmas Blanks
Reds and greens are the colors that fade first if something is off. Press on white or light blanks, and use 100% polyester or at least 65% polyester for shirts and sweatshirts.
Follow the time and temperature that come with your blank, since mugs, tumblers and fabric all need different settings. Pre-press shirts for a few seconds to remove moisture, and use a lint roller first so no fuzz gets stuck under the print.
17 Sublimation Christmas Ideas
Here are my favorite sublimation Christmas ideas, starting with tumblers and mugs, then shirts and sweatshirts, and finishing with home decor.
1. Winter Forest Tumbler
Prettiest Tumbler Wrap
Soft snowy hills, tiny gold stars and a row of green pine trees around the bottom of the tumbler.
It’s calm and pretty, so it works all winter long, not just in December. It’s a great gift for someone who doesn’t love loud Christmas prints.
2. Gingerbread House Tumbler
Sweetest Tumbler Wrap
A watercolor gingerbread house with snow on the roof, candy trim and little colorful trees.
The white background makes it look bright and clean after pressing. Fill it with hot cocoa and candy canes for an easy gift.
3. Baby Reindeer Tumbler
Cutest Tumbler Wrap
A sweet watercolor fawn holding a little red present, with soft pine trees behind it.
Kids and teens love this one. Make it on a 20 oz tumbler so the deer sits right in the middle.
4. Christmas Puppy Tumbler
Best Gift for Dog Lovers
A golden puppy in a red knit sweater, sitting by a glowing Christmas tree and a shiny ornament.
It comes sized for 20 oz and 30 oz, straight and tapered tumblers. Any dog lover on your list will smile at this one.
5. Santa, Elf and Gingerbread Mugs
Most Popular Christmas File
Three mug wraps: Santa’s red suit with a black belt, an elf suit with a gold buckle, and a happy gingerbread face. With over 720 favorites, it’s the most popular file in this list.
Make a matching set for the family, or let everyone pick their favorite character for Christmas morning cocoa.
6. Dear Santa, I Can Explain
Funniest Mug
A guilty little gingerbread man in a Santa hat, with “Dear Santa, I can explain” next to him.
It fits 11 oz and 15 oz mugs. It’s a fun gift for the family troublemaker.
7. Merry Christmas Script Mug
Best Classic Mug
“Merry Christmas” in a bold black script, framed by candy canes, ornaments, holly and string lights.
It’s simple and cheerful, so it’s an easy one to make in a batch for coworkers or neighbors.
8. Snowy Village Mug
Best Full Mug Wrap
A full wrap of a snowy little village with glowing windows, frosted trees and a pink sunset sky.
It covers the whole mug, so it looks like a painting. Use shrink wrap or a mug press so the edges stay sharp.
9. Stocking Glass Can
Best Glass Can Wrap
Colorful little stockings hanging from a holly garland, with “ho ho ho” in between.
Press it on a frosted glass can with a bamboo lid and straw. It’s perfect for iced coffee lovers.
10. Glitter Merry Christmas Tee
Most Festive Shirt
“Merry” in red faux glitter letters with snow on top, and “Christmas” in a green script underneath.
The glitter is printed, so you get the sparkly look without any glitter vinyl. Press it on a white polyester or poly-blend shirt.
11. Merry and Bright Tee
Best Simple Shirt
“Merry & Bright” in fun green and blue retro letters with tiny holly leaves.
It’s small and simple, so it’s quick to print and press. Make matching shirts for the whole family photo.
12. Tis the Season Sweatshirt
Best Retro Design
“Tis the season” with a retro tree, Santa, a snowman and little labels like “decorating the tree” and “drinking hot cocoa.”
It’s busy and colorful, which looks great on a light sweatshirt. Use a polyester-blend sweatshirt for bright colors.
13. Jesus Is the Reason Sweatshirt
Best Faith-Based Design
“Jesus” in blue floral letters that look like embroidery, with “the reason for the season” in script.
It looks so pretty on pink or white. It’s a lovely gift for church friends or a Sunday school teacher.
14. My First Christmas
Best Baby Gift
“My first Christmas” in red and green script, with candy canes, holly and a happy little reindeer.
Use it on a polyester baby bodysuit, a bib or a small blanket. It makes a sweet keepsake for new parents.
15. It’s Fine, I’m Fine Pillow
Funniest Pillow
A grumpy cardinal in a Santa hat, all tangled up in Christmas lights, with “It’s fine, I’m fine, everything is fine.”
It’s sized for a 12 x 12 inch pillow cover. Every family has someone who feels like this by December 24!
16. Eat, Drink and Be Merry Towel
Best Hostess Gift
“Eat, drink and be merry” over a mug of hot cocoa topped with whipped cream, with cookies on the side.
Press it on a polyester tea towel and tie it to a jar of cocoa mix. It’s an easy gift to bring to a Christmas party.
17. Christmas Gnome Door Sign
Best Door Decor
A cute gnome in a red snowflake hat with a fluffy white beard, made for a round door sign.
Use a round sublimation door hanger or MDF sign and add a red ribbon. It looks so cheerful on the front door.
Sublimation Christmas FAQs
What are the best Christmas sublimation blanks?
Tumblers, mugs, glass cans, white polyester shirts and sweatshirts, pillow covers, kitchen towels, ornaments and round door signs.
Can I sublimate on a red or green Christmas shirt?
Not directly. Sublimation ink is see-through, so it only shows up well on white or light colors. For dark shirts, use sublimation HTV or a printed transfer first.
How far ahead should I start Christmas sublimation gifts?
Start in early November. That gives you time to order blanks, test your settings and make a few extras.
Why do my Christmas reds look orange or dull?
It’s usually the wrong ICC profile, low press temperature or not enough time. Do a test print and press on a scrap blank first.
