How to Apply HTV on Stuffed Animals
Personalizing stuffed animals has got to be one of my favourite gifts for children. They can range from just a name and birthday to birth stats. But putting HTV on stuffed animals can be a bit challenging because of a few factors.
First off, stuffed animals aren’t flat so it’s not as easy to put HTV on stuffies due to their shape. Also, it’s harder to HTV on stuffed animals that are really “hairy” and “fuzzy”. The longer the hair, the more challenging it will be to get your HTV to adhere.
What to Look for in a Stuffed Animal
There are certain factors that make it easier to put HTV on a stuffed animal. I’m all for making life easier so here are things to look for.
- A stuffed animal with an area to apply HTV. This may seem obvious but look for big, open spaces like ears and bellies.
- A stuffed animal with a short nap or short “hair”. This means a stuffed animal that isn’t too “hairy”. You want the HTV to adhere to the actual stuffed animal. If you can’t reach the stuffed animal because of “long hair”, it will stick to the hair instead of the stuffed animal and won’t last.
What Type of Vinyl Works Best When Applying HTV on Stuffed Animals?
Any type of HTV will do, but my favourite is StripFlock. StripFlock is fuzzy vinyl and I love how it is on stuffed animals. The fuzzy texture blends right in with the stuffed animal and it seems like it’s embroidered on. Read all about StripFlock in this post here.
Yes, you could use regular HTV or even glitter – but I personally don’t like the touch or feel of it. I much prefer using StripFlock.
How to Apply HTV on Stuffed Animals
Whenever applying HTV to anything there are always 2 key issues – pressure and heat.
The heating temperature is determined by the type and brand of HTV you are using. Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Pressure can be an issue when applying HTV on stuffed animals because they are not completely flat. Here are my recommendations for applying HTV on stuffed animals.
If using a Heat Press, stick as much of the body that does not have the HTV on it, outside of the heat press as possible. Typically this may be the head. The head may also be one of the thicker parts of the stuffed animal and so you want it outside of the heat press so that you can close the heat press as tight as possible.
Doesn’t it look funny with its head sticking out?
Another challenge with using the heat press is making sure your HTV is in the correct spot while you let go of the stuffed animal in order to close the lid. Be careful because it’s hot! Close the lid slowly so that the stuffed animal doesn’t lean to one side, causing your HTV to shift. This has happened to me a couple of times
The easiest way I have been able to apply HTV on stuffed animals is with my Cricut Easy Press. I find that the smaller size of the Easy Press makes it easier to steady the stuffed animal and then directly apply pressure from above. In order to do this, I work on my kitchen floor so that I can use my full weight on it. I use a small teflon sheet in between the stuffed animal and the Easy Press.
I also find that with the Easy Press, I can also rotate it 45-degrees and use the corner to get right on to the belly of the stuffed animal. Depending on the shape and size, it can be tricky because the arms or the head get in the way.
I think applying HTV on stuffed animals is one of my favourite projects. They always turn out so nicely and personalized gifts are always so appreciated.
Check out this one I made as a thank you gift for a volunteer. What a great idea!
Great write up, where did you get your stuffed animals? Thanks
Hi. I get them from a variety of places, including Amazon and the dollar store. Keep an eye out for good sales and then scoop them up.
Great article, thank you for sharing your technique. Do the HTV last long on these stuffed animals?
Hello! Yes – as long as it has been applied correctly, it should last.