Flock Rhinestone Template Material - How to use it including Tips & Tricks

Flock is truly the magic material to create Rhinestone templates if you own a Cricut or Cameo cutter.

Cutting and storing your templates:

Create your own Rhinestone design with your Cameo or Cricut or you can purchase ready made SVG designs from Etsy, Pinterest or your favourite SVG site.

Whether creating or purchasing a template, it will give you the amount of rhinestone you will need, based on the size of rhinestone you are using in your design.

I would use a cutting mat for Flock and re-use the same cutting mat for this purpose only. 

Flock has a backing sheet attached to the velvety (Flock) material. The settings for Cricut and Cameo are provided with our Flock kit. 

Remove the backing and add the sticky flock material to your cutting mat and cut the template according to the required setting. (These settings are usually spot on, but as you know, ensure your blade is in good condition and fitted properly). You do not always see the cut lines very clear, due to the flock material. 

Tip: Please carefully remove the flock from the mat, to ensure you do not tear the template due to its stickiness.

Remove the dots that have not stayed behind by gently placing the flock on a desk or table and remove the remaining dots until your template is clear. Check the back of you template also for those sticky dots and make sure to remove them.

You can now place your template back on the shiny side of the backing that you have removed, for storage.

Tip: I have used a photo album with pockets to store my templates, and transfer sheets, easy to store, easy to look through and use. I have also added notes to my designs of the Rhinestone size of the design and how many stones required by writing it on the template)

Adding rhinestones to your template

You are going to brush the rhinestone into your template by removing the template from the backing sheet and sticking it onto a flat surface.

Tip: I use a plastic kitchen tray for smaller designs or a wooden tray on feet (those breakfast in bed trays) on my desk for bigger designs. The purpose of this is to ensure that the Rhinestone that you are going to brush into the design, remains easy to collect and scoop up with a plastic scoop to return to its container. 

Now pour some rhinestone onto the design an brush with circular motion into the template with the brush provided in our kit. Gently sweep of the excess stones (out of the way) and pic them up with a plastic scoop for saving. 

Check that all stones are facing up and fit snug into the holes. Use the pic provided should you have to tweak one or two stones.

Prepare your garment for pressing your design onto:

Tip: Preferably garments should be new and unwashed, or if washed please ensure no fabric softener used. This can cause designs to not stick as well or remain perfect for years to come).

Remove the moist:

To remove any moist in the fabric, press your T-shirt or garment at 160°C (Which is the rhinestone pressing temperature),  

Tip: If I am going to press on T-shirts or thin garments, I add baking paper or a teflon sheet / pillow between layers of fabric, to safeguard it from sticking together. 

Check the placement of the design and align according to your preferred effect and ensure you press on a flat surface that is heat resistant.

Transferring the design to be pressed onto your garment.

Your heat press is pre-heated to 160°C.

Now this is where the fun starts. Don't be disheartened and once you have done this a few times, you will have mastered it quickly. 

Remove your re-usable transfer sheet from its backing sheet. (Included in the kit).

This has to be placed in one go onto the design. 

Tip: I have found folding it gently into two and placing the bottom of the sheet onto the design then slowly lowering the ends to cover the design, without lifting it up again,  works for me. 

If it is now covering your design, gently press the design to ensure all stones are stuck to the transfer sheet.

Gently peal the transfer sheet off from one side, and ensure all stones are stuck to the heat transfer sheet, shiny side seen through the transfer sheet.

Place the transfer sheet with the rhinestone design onto your garment and press at 160 ° C for 15 seconds. 

 

Remove the transfer sheet and save it on its backing sheet again for re-use.

Now turn your garment inside out if possible, and press a second time for about 12 seconds, to ensure no stones had lifted slightly from removal of the transfer sheet. 

Now you can admire and share your creativity.