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4.5
This arrives double boxed (a sturdy brown branded cardboard box with the printed product box inside) measuring approx 35cm x 22.5cm x 26cm.This means the product box arrives in perfect condition & would be easy to wrap - either in the outer or inner box.Inside you get the mug press (sealed in plastic) with a 3 pin plug for use in the UK plus a 2 pin EU plug & a USB C cable which you need to set up & activate the product.I am already registered with Cricut so this was a very quick straightforward process for me.I plugged in the mug press, connected the press to my computer, logged in & activated.In order to actually use this, as a minimum you need to get the following materials.A mug treated for sublimation.You can buy Cricut own brand mugs or others marked as for Sublimation & there are loads on Amazon.They need to be straight sided as the press is.Infusible ink - this could be sheets of infusible ink, a set of infusible ink pens or a sublimation printer with sublimation inks & paper.You should also have some butcher paper to wrap around the outside of the mug & some heat resistant tape to make sure your design is in full contact with the mug surface.Although you are unlikely to get any ink on the inside of your press if using infusible ink sheets, if ink does get on it this can transfer to your next project & spoil it.Using infusible ink pens or prints from a sublimation printer are more likely to leak through so it is important to protect your press by wrapping 2 or 3 layers of butcher paper between the walls of the mug press & the outside of the mug.Finally, you need something to put the very hot mug on when you take it out of the press (the mats for using with the straight presses work or a trivet from the kitchen would do equally well) & a heat resistant glove is also a good idea.You could just leave it to cool down where it is but if you are like me, you won't want to wait.If you have a Cricut (or similar) you can use the Cricut design program & search for the Mug set up template which is free & has templates for a variety of different sized mugs.I used my Cricut Maker to cut out designs from infusible ink sheets.You need to remember to mirror your design because when you put it on your mug it will be the reverse of the image you create - really important if you want writing on it as otherwise it will look like mirror writing.It's incredibly simple to use & once you've activated it, the press does not need to be connected to your computer to use.Remember it does get very hot inside so to keep children away when it's plugged in.You just plug it in, turn it on & when it has heated up to the correct temperature (takes a few minutes) the light turns green & you put your mug in then lower the handle to secure it against the heat plates.There are a series of little lights on the top which light up in turn until they are all done.Then it beeps & that means your mug is done (the handle will be cool but the rest of the mug will be very hot & stay that way for some time).That's it.So, why would you do all that?Well, in our family we have a lot of unusual names you just don't see on a mug, so we can make our own.I also had my own designs I wanted to make which I can now do with this.The results you get if you are careful & practice a bit are fabulous.Once you have printed your mug, you cannot see or feel a difference between the printed & unprinted areas on the mugs.Mine were glossy & remain so even after being put through the dishwasher & used in the microwave.They look like I purchased them.If you run a small business, you can whip up a 'branded' mug of your own, either for your own use, or staff use, or as promotional materials for valued customers.You won't need to order from someone else & guess how many you need, because you can just get the blank mugs & only make as many as you want at one time.If you change your design you can instantly be printing your new updated branding without having old stock to use up first.This is something people who love to make things but are not necessarily naturally artistic can make.You can find many projects (some free, some paid) that you can use & customise to create exactly what you want & get a fantastic result with ease.If you are artistic, you can go wild with freehand drawings & create something special of your own.I let my kids draw with infusible pens to create their own images (on mug sized sublimation sheets) & I will treasure their mugs far more than any 'mum' mug they could have bought for me in the shops.I'm trying money boxes next week as I found some I think will fit.Now I just need to save up for a sublimation printer so I can print photo mugs/other very complex images.I can't wait.
