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How to Make Bunny and Cat Phone Cases

Written by Mercy Lilian

Published on July 25, 2025

Modified on November 4, 2025

Reading time for 5 min

Having a cat or a bunny phone case is a great way to express your personality while having a cute case that protects your phone. Sometimes you just can't seem to get the exact design you want, or you prefer one with your pet on it. The HTVRONT phone case heat press makes it very easy for you to customize a design and press it onto your Android or iPhone phone case.

After ironing, you can later attach some floppy ears, tail, or whiskers to the vibrant design to make it look even more alive through 3D. But before we get to that, I will share a detailed, simple guide to make bunny and cat phone cases using a phone case heat press, and answer a few FAQs on the topic to help you on your next project.

Quick in

The Materials and Tools You Need Process to Design and Press the Phone Case Step 1: Design and Print Bunny or Cat Designs Step 2: Power on the Heat Press Machine Step 3: Input the Correct Pressing Settings Step 4: Place the Fixture in the Heating Chamber and Adjust the Size Step 5: Start Preheating the Heat Press Step 6: Stick the Lens Pad on the Case Step 7: Attach the Phone Case to the Fixture Step 8: Place the Printed Film in the Heating Chamber Step 9: Start Ironing Step 10: Peel off the Sublimation Paper Frequently Asked Questions

The Materials and Tools You Need

The HTVRONT phone case heat press

Sublimation film – A4 size

Tweezers

Lens pad

Phone case fixtures

A pair of heat-resistant gloves

A sublimation printer and ink

A computer or mobile device

LOKLIK Idea Studio

A bunny or cat design

A blank sublimation-ready phone case

Heat-resistant tape

Optional tools

Ears, tails, and whisker attachments

Hot glue and a low-temperature gun, or E6000 glue

Clear acrylic spray

The picture shows the materials needed to make rabbit and cat phone cases.

Process to Design and Press the Phone Case

Let us get started!

Step 1: Design and Print Bunny or Cat Designs

First, you need to design and print a bunny or cat pattern on the software.

Step 2: Power on the Heat Press Machine

Connect the heat press to a power source, and press the blinking power button. Next, start inputting the pressing settings.

The picture shows step 1 of making bunny and cat phone cases.

Step 3: Input the Correct Pressing Settings

The temperature button sets the temperature for both the upper and lower heating plates, as well as the preheating and pressing temperatures in either Celsius or Fahrenheit.

The picture shows step 2 of making bunny and cat phone cases.

You can change between these settings by double-clicking the setting button, then adjusting the numbers using the plus and minus buttons.

Phone Case Material	Temperature (°C) For the base and upper plates	Time (Seconds)	Preheat Time
Hard Plastic	190°C	300 Seconds	2 to 10 Seconds
Faux Leather	160°C	250 seconds	2 to 10 Seconds
Silicone (coated only)	185°C	300 Seconds	2 to 10 Seconds

If you would like to reuse the exact settings in your next project, ensure the device is in memory mode before you start keying them in.

Step 4: Place the Fixture in the Heating Chamber and Adjust the Size

Align the phone fixture’s dowels with the holes in the heating chamber to secure it in place. The filler blocks on the fixtures are movable to adjust the size to match the phone case. Use tweezers to remove the filler blocks for smaller cases.

The picture shows step 3 of making bunny and cat phone cases.

Step 5: Start Preheating the Heat Press

Close the heat press and press the start button to preheat for 5 minutes. After the green light comes back on the start button, place the printed film, with the matte side facing up, on the heat press for 10 minutes. This helps the ink dry up for better results.

Step 6: Stick the Lens Pad on the Case

Next, stick a camera protector pad on the phone case using heat-resistant tape. The lens pad helps protect the camera cutout shape from the extremely high temperatures. Without it, the area around the camera may distort or warp.

The picture shows step 4 of making bunny and cat phone cases.

Step 7: Attach the Phone Case to the Fixture

Wear your heat-resistant gloves and mount the phone case on the fixture. Ensure you press firmly on the lower left for the fixture to contract and fit easily. A loose fit might result in bubble formation during pressing due to an uneven surface.

The picture shows step 5 of making bunny and cat phone cases.

Step 8: Place the Printed Film in the Heating Chamber

Cover the heating chamber with the film, with the printed side facing the phone case. Use the print as a guide to align it with the phone case outline.

The picture shows step 6 of making bunny and cat phone cases.

Ensure the film does not move around as you close the heat press lid.

The picture shows step 7 of making bunny and cat phone cases.

Step 9: Start Ironing

Wait until the set temperature is ready before pressing the start button. Avoid opening the lid or pressing any buttons while pressing is in progress, unless it's an emergency stop. Keep a close eye on the heat press throughout the process, especially if it has no trigger alarm.

Step 10: Peel off the Sublimation Paper

After the time countdown gets to zero, the start button changes from red to green to show that the process is complete.

The picture shows step 8 of making bunny and cat phone cases.

Open the lid and peel off the Sublimation Paper while still hot(What is Hot Peel). Only remove the phone case from the fixture after peeling the film.

The picture shows step 9 of making bunny and cat phone cases.

Place the case on a cool, heat-resistant surface and leave it to cool for a few minutes before removing the lens pad.

The picture shows step 10 of making bunny and cat phone cases.

Your design is ready!

The picture shows step 11 of making bunny and cat phone cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does attaching 3D ears and tails to the phone case damage it?

No. To be safe, use hot glue at a low temperature setting or B-7000 glue instead of superglue, which causes discoloration and brittleness on the phone case. I recommend using lightweight materials such as pom poms, felt, EVA foam, or faux fur for the attachments.

2. Is it okay to apply a sealant on the phone case after pressing?

Yes. Sealant will help protect your bunny or cat design from scratches, UV fading, and moisture. You can apply two light layers of clear acrylic spray in matte or glossy, or epoxy resin to seal the design.

3. How can I add ears, nose, and whiskers without covering the ports?

Start with a well-planned layout for the design before printing, with the headphone jack, charging port, volume and power buttons, and the camera and flash, clear of any additions. After pressing, use thin, flexible materials as the attachment. Glue the nose and whiskers on the center, away from the camera.

4. How do I prevent bubbles from forming on the cover after pressing?

Ensure the phone case is free of grease, dust, and other coatings before ironing, and use the right settings.

5. Why is the design dull on the sublimation film?

Colors in the sublimation inks are activated by heat. It is normal for the printed design to appear faded before printing. The colors will appear more vibrant after pressing on the phone case.