Here we go! This is what you'll need. Mod Podge, Elmer's washable glue, and a piece of cardstock.
Step 1: Brush the Elmer's glue onto the cardstock in a nice smooth layer.
Make sure you cover the area where you will be printing. Let it dry.
Step 2: With an inkjet printer, print an image onto the glue side of the cardstock.
Step 3: Brush a smooth, thin layer of Mod Podge onto the wood.
Step 4: Stick your image face down onto the wet Mod Podge. Press and smooth to make sure the image has good contact with the wood. Let it dry OVERNIGHT. Don't peek too soon!
Step 5: Soak it. You can dunk it in water, run it under a faucet, or squirt it with a spray bottle. Let the cardstock get really wet and soft. Gently peel off the cardstock. I held this under running water while I peeled it. You can gently rub the image with your finger tip to loosen any remaining paper pulp.
83 comments:
Oh my god, your a genius! I can't wait to try this! It looks great!
Awesome! We'll all just need to make sure we print all our words backwards so they show up the right way on our wood ;o)
I think you are the smartest woman I know! I can't wait to give this a go!! You just set me up for all the Christmas presents I'm going to give this year! Thank you! Thank you!!
Thank you thank you! And, YES, print backwards. Oops!
Wowza!
I know what I'll be doing this afternoon - thanks for sharing!!!
Gorgeous. I was wondering if it would be similar to the packing tape transfer method and it somewhat is. Definitely much cooler, of course, but now I won't be so nervous to try it! Thanks, Katie!
This is amazing!!!!! I can't wait to try it. I have the perfect project to try it on. Thanks, Katie!
Wow. I just found your blog and am SO GLAD I DID!! What an awesome trick!! Thanks for sharing!! :)
That looks awesome! Thanks for sharing, I can't wait to give it a whirl.
Wow!!! Brilliant!
OK - I've tried this twice now - my results haven't been great. The image is rubbing off with the paper pulp. I'm rubbing very gently. What do you think the problem is? Should I use a thicker layer of modgepodge? Maybe more glue on the paper? I let it dry for an agonizing hour before I removed the paper - should it have been longer? Any tips you can give me would be great! I'll keep trying. . .
Kim, did you print directly onto the glue? You don't need a very thick layer of mod podge, but the wood has to be coated really well. Make sure you really stick the paper on there well, really press it down hard. And everything (the elmers and the mod podge) has to be extremely dry. I let my mod podge dry overnight. And then get the paper extremely wet and soggy. Like right now when I rub my wood block under the water, no ink will come off at all. Post again and we can troubleshoot some more if you need to.
Katie, you rock! Wouldn't it be adorable to make a set of building blocks for kids, with houses and trees and dogs and people on them? And words? So cool!!!
Ok, guys, I added in the tutorial to let it dry overnight.
Thanks Katie! I'm going to set some new ones up now and let them dry overnight - I'll let you know tomorrow how it turns out! I just can't wait! Thanks!!
Hoo boy!
I'm moved to de-lurk (un-lurk?) on account of the AWESOME!
This is a totally a hand-crafted Christmas present game-changer, and really masculine friendly. I'm seeing key chains and perhaps even something man jewelery-like. Thanks heaps for the sharing!
Katie! I love this. I would like to repost this on my blog. I feature Mod Podge inspiration. If you have time, please come see me.
You rock! Seriously I am drinking your crafty kool-aid and bowing down! I cannot WAIT to try this! But I have to wait...I still haven't had time to tackle sewing that squirrel. lol Very soon though! If I can convince my husband to let me run glue coated paper through his printer, that is. Good work oh Goddess of Craftiness!
Haha my husband was the same way about the printer. He freaked when I said I ran glue covered paper through it. But I showed him the cardstock and how smooth and not gloppy it was. You can hardly see anything on it once the elmers dries. Then he was okay with it.
You guys are all awesome by the way. Each and every one of you. Uh oh, here comes the barfing drunk sorority girl...hold my hair back!
(Amy! I emailed you!)
this is even better than i thought. janets reply up there has me laughing. i second the goddess of craftiness crown goes to you!
OK - I hope I'm not being a pill:) - I let it dry overnight and the ink is still smearing when I soak the paper off. I'm wondering what ink setting you used on your printer? Draft, Text/Image, Best Image? I used text/image and maybe the ink is too thick? I'm going to let the other ones I prepared last night dry for the rest of today too before washing the paper off. Maybe it has to dry even LONGER. Oooo it is soooo hard to wait!! I'll keep you posted on the progress if you want.
Kim, I used my epson inkjet printer and epson ink. Does the ink come off entirely? I'm not sure what's happening. Oh hey I just thought of something. The first time I tried it, I stuck the paper down onto the wet mod podge and it accidentally slid a little bit and the edges of the image looked smeared. I redid it and pressed it really straight down and used less mod podge so it wasn't too slippery.
email me: matsutakeshop@yahoo.com
we'll figure it out!
Brilliant! Can't wait to try it.
How have I never seen your wonderful blog?? I'm adding you to my link list right this minute :)
You are a crafting Genius!!! I can't believe this I've always hated the little rim from the iron transfers.
I'm so trying this and then probably featuring this on my blog. Everyone should hear about it!
Kim, make sure it's not a laser printer that you're using. I'm sure you're not, but I've found that sometimes it creates a much wetter, less set ink.
Katie-
We were wondering if you'd be interested in doing a little trade....some blog attention for blog attention. We love your cute decorating ideas, crafts, and diy stuff, and would like to invite you to do a Sunday guest post on our blog. We think our readers, mostly mothers of younger kids would really love your ideas. In exchange, we would just ask that you do a little post on your blog telling your readers, to come see your post and check out our blog... because our blog rocks!
Check us out at www.oneshetwoshe.com
Jessica and Mariel
I found your blog via Bloesem Kids. You are a genius. I, of course, had to go back through all of your past posts.
I've never made anything with wood before. I'd love a basic tutorial on how to get started!
You are amazing. Thanks for sharing your craft with the rest of us.
Katie--this is brilliant, you know--right? Also, I am so happy you are gaining all this following--you totally rock and the rest of the blog reading world should know it. I cannot wait to get home and find an application for this...I know there HAVE TO be christmas gifts that will grow out of this technique.
This is just fantastic! Thank you for sharing this. K
We dont have Elmers glue down here in Australia do u have any other suggestions??
Kelly - I'd think any kind of washable glue should work. Some kind of white craft glue that washes away in water. I can't believe you don't have elmers! We used to pour out a blob in our desks in elementary school, let it dry, and cut fake fingernails out of it.
This is awesome. I am going to link to this project early in November from Dollar Store Crafts. Now I'll have to break down and finally buy some Mod Podge (the only craft supply I DON'T have) to do this!
How brilliant! You are so inspiring to me. Thanks for sharing your gifts with the world! I'll jump on that Kool Aid train! :)
fantastic, I can't get mod podge or elmers so I will have to play around with the local stuff. Thanks.
Brilliant tute. Thanks!
Thanks, guys! Jojoebi, just make sure that one glue is washable and one is not washable. That's the key.
wonderful! I love it :) thanks for sharing!
How completely cool! I cannot wait to give this a shot!
ahhh right, thank Katie
I wonder if Kim's problem doesn't have something to do with the type of ink her printer uses -- dye vs pigment ink? http://www.oddparts.com/ink/faq19.htm
Really cool trick though -- can't wait to try it!
Kelly, I'm pretty certain that Elmer's is just stock standard PVA glue, you should be able to find that pretty much anywhere :)
Great technique, I shall have to give this a try!
I can't get over how brilliant this is! You have earned yourself a new fan.
Hello again! I'm posting for the second time because I came up with a solution that I think everyone will find useful. I too was having a hard time getting the paper off without losing some of the image. (I let it dry overnight and I'm using Epson quality inks as well) Here's what I did...
I coated a TRANSPARENCY with the glue, printed on that and then adhered it to the mod podge. This worked awesome because:
1) I didn't have to wait overnight - only long enough for the Mod Podge to dry.
2) It peeled right off the transparency! No soaking no rubbing.
3) Since it's a transparency, you can see where you're placing the image on the wood and you can see any air bubbles that need to be smoothed out.
4) You can use the transparency over and over again.
This is such an incredible technique. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing it!
Thanks, Dawn! That's a great idea. Maybe I should make a video to show me peeling the paper off.
This is fantastic! I'm going to use this technique this weekend. Thank you so much for sharing!
Awesome, I can't wait to try this myself. (Day job really cuts into my play time.)
That.is.cool. Thanks for sharing!
This is truly amazing!! I've worked with transfers before, but nothing comes close to this one.
Okay, found you via Modge Podge Rocks, AND what a find!!
We a magician gives away the secret to their trick, we can't help but smile hugely.......You've just put a HUGE smile on my face.
I just came over from Mod Podge Rocks and this is a fabulous idea and tutorial. Thank you for sharing - I can't wait to give it a try!
Chelsea
I also followed you from Mod Podge Rocks and I am so excited to have found you and this marvelous technique! I can't wait to try it out! If I do, I'll blog about it and I will let my readers know about your terrific tutorial!
Molly
http://mollylee.etsy.com/
http://mollyleecards.blogspot.com/
awesome technique - will try this weekend!
Wow! I had been trying to think of a way to do something like this and was considering using decal transfer paper or temporary tattoos... but this looks amazing, and inexpensive!
THIS is BRILLIANT! First time here… Thanks so much for your instruction. I can't wait to try this—just in time for Holiday Gifts!
oh, i have to try this! i hope i'll find similar products in germany ...
A.MAZ.IMG. I WILL FOLLOW YOU ANYWHERE, NOW....well, almost, I'm a Wisconsin girl, so I gotta keep it on this side o' the river in regards to my loyalties....but you get the picture!
THANKS FOR THE AWESOME IDEA!
I got Brett Favre to cross over. He did it for the mod podge.
OMGosh that's so freakin awesome! I don't know how you ever figured this out but I'm glad you did. This will make giving homemade baby gifts, custom picture frames and so many other things SOOO much easier! Thanks
You are brilliant!
I'll definately try this one out for sure!
I LOVE this! Thank you so much!
You Rock!
Sheila
Hi Katie, I'm back. I just wanted to tell you that I spoke of your tutorial on my blog and connected it to your blog.
http://halohill.blogspot.com/2009/10/very-cool-tutorial-ink-jet-transfer-to.html
Thanks again for the wonderful lesson!
Sheila
OH MY GOSH - where were you a year ago when I needed this for a Christmas present??? I purchased this ridiculously expensive transfer paper that was "supposed" to transfer to wood - and no such luck. I CANT WAIT to try this!!! Thank you for being so smart :)
Whhhaaaaattt? How cool is this? This would be pefect for....oh my goodness, too many things to name. Thank you for sharing this awesome idea!
Another Aussie here. Can you help me with what Mod Podge is? I've googled and found that its PVA glue, but I'm also finding that Elmers is PVA too. Are they the same type of glue jsut in different thicknesses? Or is one a paste (if so which one please!)We have something called Clag paste here which is a wheat starch paste. Is that it ?
I'd really like to try this.
Gosh darnit, I would love to try this if my silly printer would actually do it's purpose and PRINT. Anyway, thanks for the sweet tip, I've played around unsuccessfully with Mod Podge transfers before and I think your trick with the Elmer's Glue (and waiting overnight!) would help a great deal. Thanks again for the write-up! I love folks like you who share their experiences so others can learn! I'm all misty-eyed.
dear katie,
please could you tell me, do you think i can use elmer's washable glue sticks also? it's the only "size" i could find in germany ...
thank you
Hey you guys outside the US! The main difference, I think, between the two glues I'm using is that one of them washes off in water (the elmers) and one is waterproof when it dries (mod podge). So I'd say play around with whatever products you have available to you as long as one is waterproof and one washes away. I don't know if glue stick would work, because I think it might be too gummy when you print on it? I'd hate for you to foul up your printer trying this.
Best of luck. Please post a comment if you find good products in your countries that work for you!
Amazing.
Love it! Can't wait to try it out! Cheers, Julie
Hello Katie, thank you for the great technique! I linked to your blog here: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/456884
For all the Australian crafters - Mod Podge is easy to find here. Go to google, input "mod podge .au" (without the " "). There are 100s of listings.
The same search works for Elmers too, but it's simpler to use PVA.
Brilliant idea Katie.
-R
katie, thanks for a great tutorial. i can't wait to try it! if the wood will be handled alot would it be a good idea to seal the ink with another coat of modge podge? or would that mess up the image?
This is SO COOL!
Can't wait to try this.
thanks
Pure genius!! Where did you ever learn this trick?! I see some fabulous personalized puzzles in my family's future...
href="http://livegreen-savegreen.blogspot.com/>Live Green, Save Green: a sustainable blog
That is so cool! I'm a follower!
Dena
This is great! I am thinking a Nativity scenefor the holidays or pictures of family and friends for a child.
This sounds absolutely amazing, but I have a laser printer instead of an ink jet. Any idea if that will work? I'm worried about the glue mucking up the printer -- even if the glue is completely dry, the laser printer uses heat to fuse, I think.....
Regardless, I'm bookmarking this for future reference. Thanks for a great tutorial!
Can you use a photo? Or just clip art images for this?
How do you prep the wood? Is there a stain or sealant on it?
So...the ink is water resistant, then? Amazing...can't wait to try this!!
Just a quick note to say that I too am in Australia and I have found Mod Podge at my local craft shop and at Lincraft and Spotlight.
It looks so great! I was thinking of making a Nativity scene out of blocks. I'll try this method. Thanks.
This is incredible, thank you, thank you for figuring this out. I'm a photographer who sells photo cards and souvenirs at tourist shops in my city... for me, this is very exciting!
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