You've created the perfect ampersand design for your team, family, or event. You've ordered the t-shirts. But why stop there? Your ampersand design can work beautifully on mugs, water bottles, tote bags, hats, stickers, and dozens of other items.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk through the different printing methods for non-fabric items, what works best for each product type, step-by-step tutorials, and vendor recommendations to help you expand your ampersand brand beyond shirts.
Why Expand Beyond T-Shirts?
- Complete the set: Create a full merchandise package for teams, events, or businesses
- Different use cases: Mugs for morning coffee, water bottles for the gym, hats for outdoor events
- Gift options: More variety for fundraising or gift-giving
- Brand consistency: Same design across multiple touchpoints
- Higher margins: Mugs and drinkware often have better profit margins than shirts
- Longevity: A well-made mug lasts years, keeping your design in daily rotation
Item Overview: What Works Best for Ampersand Designs
Mugs - Excellent: Large flat surface, daily use, easy to print
Water Bottles - Excellent: Popular item, good print area, high utility
Tote Bags - Excellent: Large canvas, practical, walking billboard
Hats - Good: Smaller print area requires design adaptation
Stickers - Excellent: Affordable, versatile, great add-on item
Phone Cases - Good: Personal item, requires careful sizing
Keychains - Fair: Very small, design must be simplified
Printing Methods by Item Type
1. Sublimation Printing (Best for: Mugs, Water Bottles, Mouse Pads)
How it works: Heat and pressure turn ink into gas, which bonds with polymer-coated items. The design becomes part of the item itself.
✓ Pros
- Permanent - won't peel or fade
- Dishwasher safe
- Vibrant, full-color prints
- Professional quality
✗ Cons
- Requires special equipment
- Only works on polymer-coated items
- Only works on white or light-colored items
- Initial investment for DIY
Best for ampersand designs: Perfect! Bold text designs look crisp and professional with sublimation.
Equipment needed for DIY:
- Sublimation printer ($300-500)
- Sublimation ink ($50-80)
- Heat press (mug press $150-300, tumbler press $200-400)
- Sublimation paper ($20-30/pack)
- Sublimation blanks (mugs, bottles, etc.)
2. Vinyl Decals (Best for: Water Bottles, Tumblers, Laptops, Car Windows)
How it works: Design is cut from adhesive vinyl using a cutting machine, then applied to the surface.
✓ Pros
- Works on any smooth surface
- Affordable entry point
- No heat required (for adhesive vinyl)
- Lots of color options
✗ Cons
- Hand wash only (not dishwasher safe)
- Can peel over time
- Limited to solid colors
- Intricate designs can be difficult to weed
Best for ampersand designs: Great! Simple, bold ampersand text cuts beautifully in vinyl.
Equipment needed for DIY:
- Cricut or Silhouette cutting machine ($200-400)
- Permanent adhesive vinyl ($10-15/roll)
- Transfer tape ($5-10/roll)
- Weeding tools ($10-20)
3. Direct-to-Film (DTF) on Tote Bags
How it works: Design is printed on special film, then heat-transferred to fabric items like tote bags.
✓ Pros
- Works on any fabric color
- Durable and washable
- Full color capability
- Professional results
✗ Cons
- Expensive equipment
- More complex process
- Usually outsourced for small batches
Best for ampersand designs: Excellent for tote bags and fabric accessories.
4. Embroidery (Best for: Hats, Beanies, Bags)
How it works: Design is stitched directly into fabric using computerized embroidery machines.
✓ Pros
- Premium, professional look
- Extremely durable
- Works on any fabric color
- Elevated brand perception
✗ Cons
- More expensive per item
- Setup fees for digitizing
- Small text can be difficult
- Limited detail capability
Best for ampersand designs: Works if you simplify—use larger text, fewer items. "Team & Pride" works better than 5-line designs.
Need a Design to Print?
Create your ampersand design and export high-resolution files ready for any printing method
Design Now →Step-by-Step: Printing on Mugs with Sublimation
Mugs are the most popular non-shirt item for ampersand designs. Here's the complete process:
What You'll Need
- Your ampersand design (exported as PNG or JPG)
- Sublimation printer with sublimation ink
- Sublimation paper
- Mug press or convection oven
- Sublimation-coated mugs (white or light colors)
- Heat-resistant tape
- Heat-resistant gloves
The Process
1Prepare Your Design
- Size your design to fit the mug (typically 8.5" x 3.5" for standard 11oz mugs)
- Remember: the design will wrap around the mug
- Mirror/flip your design horizontally (important!)
- Print on sublimation paper using sublimation ink
2Apply Design to Mug
- Trim excess paper around your design
- Wrap design around the mug (printed side against mug)
- Secure with heat-resistant tape—make sure it's tight!
- No wrinkles or air bubbles
3Press the Mug
- Preheat mug press to 400°F (204°C)
- Place mug in press
- Press for 180-240 seconds (follow your press's instructions)
- Use even pressure throughout
4Cool and Reveal
- Remove mug carefully (IT WILL BE HOT!)
- Let cool for 2-3 minutes
- Remove tape and paper
- Your design should be permanent and vibrant!
Troubleshooting Common Mug Issues
- Faded design: Temperature too low or time too short
- Ghost images: Paper moved during pressing—tape more securely
- Uneven color: Uneven pressure or wrinkled paper
- Design peeling: You used a non-sublimation coated mug
Step-by-Step: Vinyl Decals on Water Bottles
Vinyl decals are perfect for water bottles, tumblers, and drinkware. Here's how:
What You'll Need
- Your ampersand design
- Cricut or Silhouette cutting machine
- Permanent adhesive vinyl (Oracal 651 or similar)
- Transfer tape
- Weeding tools
- Water bottle or tumbler
- Rubbing alcohol and cloth
The Process
1Prepare Your Design
- Upload design to Cricut Design Space or Silhouette Studio
- Size appropriately (typically 3-4" wide for water bottles)
- Convert text to single-color outline (vinyl is one color only)
- Send to cutting machine
2Cut and Weed
- Load vinyl into your cutting machine
- Cut the design (use "vinyl" or "permanent vinyl" settings)
- Weed away excess vinyl using weeding tool
- Leave only your design on the backing
3Apply Transfer Tape
- Cut transfer tape slightly larger than your design
- Place over design and burnish (rub) firmly
- Peel backing paper away slowly
- Design should stick to transfer tape
4Apply to Water Bottle
- Clean bottle thoroughly with rubbing alcohol
- Let dry completely
- Position design on bottle
- Burnish from center outward to remove air bubbles
- Slowly peel away transfer tape
Tips for Long-Lasting Vinyl Decals
- Always hand wash: Dishwashers will destroy vinyl decals
- Let cure 24 hours: Don't use bottle immediately
- Use premium vinyl: Oracal 651 outlasts cheap vinyl significantly
- Clean surface well: Any oil or residue prevents adhesion
Adapting Your Ampersand Design for Different Items
Not every item can accommodate your full ampersand design. Here's how to adapt:
For Mugs (Large Surface)
- Full design works great (4-7 items)
- Can wrap around or keep on one side
- Consider both sides: front = design, back = logo or date
For Water Bottles (Medium Surface)
- Full design works if sized appropriately
- Vertical orientation works best
- Keep text readable when bottle is held
For Hats (Small, Curved Surface)
- Simplify to 2-3 items max
- Horizontal layout instead of vertical
- Example: "Team & Pride & 2024" instead of 5 positions
- Consider embroidery-friendly fonts (thicker, less detail)
For Tote Bags (Large, Flat Surface)
- Full design works perfectly
- Can go bigger than shirts (8-10" wide)
- Consider centered design or off-center for style
For Stickers (Tiny to Small)
- Full design works if sticker is 3"+ wide
- For smaller stickers, simplify to 3-4 items
- Use thicker fonts for small stickers
Export Your Design for Any Item
Our generator creates high-res files that work perfectly for mugs, bottles, bags, and more
Create Design →Where to Get Items Printed (If You Don't DIY)
Print-on-Demand Services
Printful
- Excellent for: Mugs, water bottles, tote bags, phone cases
- Quality: High
- Pricing: Mid-range
- Best feature: Integrates with online stores, mockup generator
Printify
- Excellent for: Wide variety of products
- Quality: Varies by print partner
- Pricing: Competitive
- Best feature: Multiple vendors to choose from
Vistaprint
- Excellent for: Mugs, pens, business items
- Quality: Good
- Pricing: Budget-friendly
- Best feature: Frequent sales and discounts
Custom Ink
- Excellent for: Bulk orders, team gear
- Quality: Excellent
- Pricing: Better with volume
- Best feature: Great customer service, design help
Local Options
- Screen printing shops: Often do embroidery and promotional items too
- Sign shops: Excellent for vinyl decals and stickers
- Copy/print shops: Many now offer sublimation mugs and promotional items
- Embroidery shops: Specialize in hats, bags, and sewn items
Cost Comparison: DIY vs. Outsourced
Mugs (Sublimation)
DIY Costs:
- Initial investment: $500-800 (printer, press, supplies)
- Per mug after setup: $3-5 (blank + paper + ink)
- Break-even point: 100-150 mugs
Outsourced Costs:
- Per mug (small quantity): $12-18
- Per mug (bulk 50+): $8-12
- No upfront investment
Water Bottles (Vinyl Decals)
DIY Costs:
- Initial investment: $250-450 (Cricut + vinyl + tools)
- Per bottle after setup: $8-12 (blank bottle + vinyl)
- Break-even point: 40-60 bottles
Outsourced Costs:
- Per bottle (small quantity): $18-25
- Per bottle (bulk 24+): $12-18
Tote Bags (Screen Print or DTF)
Outsourced Costs:
- Small quantity (12-24): $12-18 per bag
- Bulk (50+): $8-12 per bag
- Setup fee: $25-50 (screen printing)
Product Bundles: Creating Complete Packages
Popular product combinations for teams, events, and businesses:
Sports Team Package
- T-shirt (base item)
- Water bottle (hydration for games)
- Tote bag (carrying gear)
- Stickers (helmets, water bottles, laptops)
- Hat (optional upgrade)
Family Reunion Package
- T-shirt (for everyone)
- Mug (keepsake)
- Tote bag (for reunion materials)
- Stickers (kids love them)
Wedding Party Package
- T-shirt (getting ready/bachelorette)
- Tote bag (practical gift)
- Tumbler with straw (reusable drinkware)
- Stickers (fun add-on)
Business/Corporate Package
- T-shirt (employee uniform)
- Mug (office use)
- Tote bag (conferences/events)
- Water bottle (wellness initiative)
- Pen (practical branded item)
File Preparation Tips for Best Results
Resolution Requirements
- Mugs/sublimation: 300 DPI minimum
- Vinyl cutting: Vector format (SVG) preferred
- Screen printing: Vector or high-res PNG (300 DPI)
- Embroidery: Vector format, simplified design
Color Considerations
- Sublimation: Full color (CMYK), works on white items only
- Vinyl: Solid colors only, choose vinyl color
- Screen printing: Each color = additional cost
- Embroidery: Thread colors, limit to 2-3 for cost
Conclusion: Expanding Your Ampersand Brand
Your ampersand design doesn't have to live only on t-shirts. By understanding the different printing methods and choosing the right items for your audience, you can create a complete branded experience that keeps your design in front of people every single day.
Whether you're a coach outfitting a team, an event planner creating reunion keepsakes, or a business building brand recognition, expanding to mugs, water bottles, bags, and hats creates touchpoints that shirts alone can't achieve.
Start with what makes sense for your budget and audience, test what sells or gets used most, then expand from there. And remember: the same bold, simple design that works on shirts is exactly what makes ampersand designs perfect for these products too.
Ready to create designs for all your products? Start with our free generator →