Ever wonder how all those cute coasters, keychains, bag tags, and more come to life at August Nine Home? I thought it’d be fun to give you a peek behind the scenes into my home setup and share a little about how I make each piece with love (and coffee, always coffee ☕).
✂️ Step 1: Design Time
It all starts with the design! I use digital tools (usually Canva) to lay out the artwork. Whether it’s a trendy pattern, a custom name, or something super specific for a team or event.
Sometimes I start from scratch, other times I play around with my fav fonts, colors, or illustrations until something feels just right. I love Creative Fabrica as well! I get a ton of inspiration here and love my subscription to them.
🖨️ Step 2: Printing with Sublimation Magic
Once the design is ready, I print it onto special sublimation paper using sublimation ink. This is what makes the design permanently transfer onto the product, no peeling or fading here!
🔥 Step 3: Heat Press Time
Each item gets pressed using high heat and pressure. This part feels a little like magic! The ink turns into gas and bonds with the surface of the blank (whether that’s a neoprene coaster, a keychain insert, or a mouse pad). It becomes part of the material, not just something sitting on top.
I always do test presses, especially for custom orders, to make sure everything looks perfect.
🛍️ Step 4: Quality Check + Packaging
Once pressed, I check for color, alignment, and any tiny flaws. Then everything gets packaged with care, either as a single order or in batches for teams or events.
🧡 The Heart Behind It
I run August Nine Home from my own workspace, right here at home. Every order is personal to me, whether it's one keychain or 50 coasters for a tournament. I love knowing these pieces are headed to locker rooms, teacher desks, dorm rooms, or thoughtful gift bags across the country.
Whether you're shopping for yourself, your team, or your bestie, now you know there's a real human behind every press and package. And I’m so dang grateful you’re here!
xoxo,
Jennifer