Artsy VaVa: Easy Printed Image Transfer

When I came across these packages of 4" winter signs at a discount store, I bought several packages. I've done quite a few projects where I cut 2x4 boards into 4" squares. So, I knew these blocks would make future projects easy.

After having these for awhile, I finally decided to recreate a project that I did in 2016. You can see that post HERE.

In this new version, I painted the blocks with 2 coats of Dixie Belle Paint Company's chalk mineral color, Buttercream. I left the ski graphics on the other side of the blocks in case I want to use them in the winter. Once dry, I stained the side with Dixie Belle's Voodoo Stain using the color, Tobacco Road.

I used a damp rag to add a little of the stain to the front of the blocks to give them an aged look.

I found 3 bird images on The Graphics Fairy that I wanted to use. I resized them to fit the blocks, then printed them using my laser printer. If you use an ink jet printer, the ink will bleed. If you don't have a laser printer, you can print your image with an ink jet printer, then take it to an office supply store to make copies. They typically use laser printers, but check to make sure first.

If your image has writing on it, make sure to mirror the image or your finished product will have backward writing.

I covered the blocks with Dixie Belle's Satin Clear Coat, then laid my bird images printed side down onto the wet blocks.

In the original post, I cut closely around the bird, then coated the paper with clear coat. But in this version, I cut the images in squares approximately the size of the blocks. I also coated the block with the clear coat instead of the paper.

I waited overnight to make sure the image was transferred, then placed a wet paper towel over the paper. I let it sit for about 30 minutes to make sure that the paper was fully saturated. Then I started rubbing the paper away. I added a little water whenever it felt as though the paper was getting dry.