Tropical

Tropical Vinyl

Crafting is a great way for you to express yourself artistically. When looking for the perfect vinyl for your project, there are so many different choices that you can choose from. Not only is there a great selection of colors and textures that you can choose from, but there are also a lot of different patterns that you can choose from. One pattern that will transport you to a tropical vacation is the tropical vinyl. This type of vinyl is a patterned heat transfer vinyl or HTV. This means that the vinyl will adhere to the application of both heat and pressure. It is a quick process. Whether you are a beginner at crafting, or you are a professional crafter, you will be able to find the vinyl you need at Expressions Vinyl.

What is Tropical Vinyl?
Tropical vinyl is a type of vinyl material that has a tropical pattern on it. Expressions Vinyl carries multiple different types of tropical patterns. We carry patterns that have all things summer and tropical. Some of the different patterns include flamingos, summer fruits, pineapples, and Hawaiian floral among many others! No matter what type of tropical patterned vinyl you are looking for, you will be sure to find it in our wide selection of tropical vinyl.

Application Process
Our tropical vinyl is a heat transfer vinyl. This means that it will be applied through heat. This can be done either through a heat press or even an iron. This process is not overly complicated, but the directions must be followed exactly to ensure that the vinyl adheres correctly to the material. The steps of this process include:

Choosing the Design
This is the most fun part of the entire process! You will have the chance to choose the design that you would like to have on your craft. Once you have been able to design it, you will then cut out the design. Before cutting the vinyl, you will want to make sure that the correct side of the vinyl is face down. You will also want to take note that you will cut out the design mirrored or reversed from the way that the design is supposed to be. If you are a Vinyl Club Member you have access to hundreds of free cut files, login to your account to download. 

Setting the Correct Heat and Preheating the Item
Once the design is cut out, you will want to look at the instruction sheet to see at what temperature the heat needs to be set. Our Heat Settings Guide has all the details. This is important, because if the temperature is too high, then there is a chance it could burn holes in either the vinyl, the material, or even both. That is an easy way in which the project can be ruined. In contrast, if you do not have the heat set hot enough, then the vinyl may not adhere correctly, and this may cause peeling or for the vinyl to not stick at all.

Once you have started to set the correct heat, the next step that needs to be taken is the item in which you would like to adhere the vinyl, you will need to make sure that it gets preheated. This step can be done with either an iron or a heat press. This is done to press out any wrinkles that may be in the material, as well as to absorb any moisture that may be in the material at the time. Taking the time to preheat the item will ensure the best results.

Place the Design and Apply the Heat
Once you are ready, you are ready to place the design where you would like it to go, as well as to add the heat. Once again, it is important to take the time to read the instructions carefully to see how much pressure should be added to the vinyl, as well as the amount of time that the heat should be applied to the vinyl. This is essential because following these directions exactly will ensure a great application of the vinyl. If you leave the heat on for too long, even if it is the right temperature, there is a chance that there could be holes burned into the vinyl, material, or even both. In contrast, if the heat is not left on for long enough, it will not adhere correctly. It is also important to make sure that there is pressure on the edges, as that will help prevent future peeling.

Once the time is up, you will want to make sure to remove the heat from the vinyl immediately. This will help prevent any burns from happening.

Peeling Off the Carrier Sheet
The final step of this process is peeling off the carrier sheet. Once again, looking at the instructions will give you an exact idea as to how it should be done. In some cases, you will want to wait until the vinyl is completely cool, and in others, you will not need to wait that long and want to peel the carrier sheet while the vinyl is still warm or hot.. Referring back to the instructions will ensure that the vinyl will correctly adhere.

Different Uses for Tropical Vinyl
There are so many different ways in which you can use tropical vinyl some of the common uses of this type of vinyl include:

Sweatshirts
T-shirts
Tote Bags
Towels
Jerseys
Tumblers
Mugs
Beanies
Wooden Signs
Wooden Cutting Boards
And Many More!

The sky's the limit when it comes to all of the things that you will be able to create when you use vinyl for your crafts and projects!

Why Choose Expressions Vinyl?
Choosing the vinyl for your projects can be a hard thing to do. However, when you are shopping at Expressions Vinyl, you will have a great selection of different colors, textures, patterns, and types of vinyl that you can use for your project. Our team strives to offer you the best customer service and will ensure that you will get your high-quality vinyl on time. Contact us if you have any questions!  Whether you are a beginner or a crafting professional, we have vinyl for you! Shop now to get started on your projects.