Patterned paper image transfer!

Heya! Hope you’re having a great Friday! I’m really jazzed because I finally had a chance to try something that I’ve always wanted to: transferring an image on wood!

Usually people use photocopies to do this, and you can find a ton of tutorials online all about it  — like this one from photojojo. I decided to try it using patterned paper since I had a bunch of scraps sitting on my desk from when I made a card for my guest spot in Online Card Classes’ Pattern Play class.  BTW, if you haven’t signed up yet for class you still can! Some awesome projects so far. Just sayin! :)

I started out by gathering my supplies — I thought these Studio Calico wood veneer butterflies would be perfect for it! But any wood shape will work.

Gathering supplies.

Next I put a coat of Claudine Hellmuth gel medium on each butterfly and adhered it to a paper scrap, so that the pattern-side and the wood were touching. Then came the hard part — I let it dry overnight. So hard for an impatient girl like me to wait!

This morning I ran the dried butterfly under some water and let it sit for a few minutes to allow the water to really soak in to the paper. Then I rubbed the paper off and ta dah!

transferred

Here’s a quick little video I took with my iphone to show how I rubbed off the paper — it really transfered to the wood. How cool is that!?! I mean, my jaw was hanging open while I did it. It’s like magic!

And here’s the finished card! I trimmed off an edge so that the butterfly could really seem to fly!

All done!

Another little trick — I made the butterfly’s body and antenna but wrapping a piece of twine around her and then tying a knot at the top. Love how this turned out, and can’t get enough of the gray divine twine my sweet friend Maile sent me. I got the idea for trimming the sequins from her too. She just rocks. (Thanks again Maile! xo)

Trimmed side.

Gonna have to try this again soon with more wood shapes.

A closeup!

And I have to say, I can’t get enough of this American Crafts glitter tape. So awesome. Oh and sequins! I’m really on a sequin kick right now too.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Supplies:

32 Replies to “Patterned paper image transfer!”

  1. Lisa, this is so awesome!! Thanks for the inspiration. Going to give this a try!

  2. It is so cool! I have a question….Do you put the paper pattern side down on the wood? or pattern side up?

    1. Hi Laura! You put it pattern-side down — so that the pattern and the wood are touching. Great question I’ll update the post!

  3. EEEEP!! could you be anymore talented my friend, WOWSERS!! love this and so will be trying it too!! Big hugs!

    1. Joy! You gotta tell me when you try it! I know whatever you do will rock — just like you! xo

      1. Ha!! when I get time to play that is :)

  4. Ahhhh! That is the neatest thing!! Way to go, Lisa! You must have been so excited when ya rubbed off the paper! I love your card – it’s fabulous! Hugs! :)

  5. Wow! The butterflies look awesome. I love it. Got to try it. Thanks for sharing the technique, Lisa!

  6. barbara lassiter says:

    Lisa, this is so awesome. I can’t wait to try this. Thanks and your instructions are so clear too! The card is so pretty and spectacular!

  7. GAHHHH!!! I freakin’ love this!! I’m totally doing this tonight. So awesome!! Your card is amazing and the technique is right up my alley. Love this and YOU! ♥

  8. I’m almost on Social Security ;-O and forgot this technique from my younger yrs! Your card is super duper!

  9. It is Magic! Wow. I love how the wood picks up such detail. Okay just added Claudine Hellmuth gel medium to my shopping list! I can’t wait to give this a try. Thank you for sharing.

  10. Beautiful! I’ve got all the supplies, thanks for the inspiration. :-)

  11. Angel Estes says:

    Oh, my! So very lovely! I’m completely in love with the patterned paper transfer you did. I’ll definitely be trying that soon!

  12. that’s just plain awesome.

  13. This is brilliant! Thanks for the enabling. :)

  14. janet Wilson says:

    Oh my, this looks amazing -trying it immediately – I don’t Claudine’s Gel Medium, but one by Faber Castell. Hopefully it is the same sort of product(fingers crossed! Thank you, Lisa :)

  15. janet Wilson says:

    Errrr, sorry Lisa – in my fascination, I forgot to mention how gorgeous your card is, love all the details!

  16. love everything about these adorable butterflies; such ‘eye poppin appeal’

  17. Barb Ghigliotty says:

    What an awesome technique! Your card is amazing, Lisa…thank you so much for sharing this with us, I can’t wait to try it out :-)

  18. OMGosh, this is the best technique I’ve seen in a long time!!! NEVER would have guessed it could be done. Thanks so much for sharing Lisa!!!!

  19. You rule!!! Happy to see you put the twine to good use my friend. :)

  20. super cool!! thanks so much for sharing this, Lisa!

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