Photo Transfer Medium.
The process was pretty simple, so I thought I would share with you how I did it.
First, what do you need?
Mod Podge Transfer Medium (found at Micheal’s and it comes with the needed foam brush), your photo of choice (make sure if it has lettering on it, you print it in reverse. It should be printed from an ink jet printer on regular paper, not photo paper), scissors (cut away and white space of your printed picture), parchment paper and your wood board (mine is actually the cover of an old hamper found at a yard sale. Almost anything will do, even new wood that you painted and distressed – just make sure it has time to “cure”.) Not pictured is regular Mod Podge in matte finish, a sanding block, sponge and dark wax (I used Miss Mustard Seed’s).
STEP 1: Prepare and place the photo on the wood.
Cut off a piece of parchment paper and place your photo – face up – and cover it fully with a medium level of the Mod Podge Photo Transfer medium. You shouldn’t really be able to see the photo through the medium. The parchment paper is not necessary but makes clean up and placement a little easier.
Use the parchment paper to lift up the image and place it face down on the wood. Clean up any extra medium around the picture.
Here is the important and hard part – LEAVE IT ALONE FOR A FULL 24 HOURS!
STEP 2: Remove the paper.
Using a sponge and water, wet the whole paper so that the picture shows through – leave it alone for 2 minutes.
Keep wetting and rinsing your sponge and begin rubbing off the paper – the image stays behind. Take your time, keep rinsing and keeping it wet. You want to make sure you get all the paper off.
Step 3: Distress the Image
Using a sanding block, rub all over the piece to dull the image. Really work on the edges and the bumps and character areas. The goal is for it to look “blended” into the wood.
Add a coat of dark wax over the top in a thin coat. You can see in the image below where I have added it through the center. It take away the dullness, darkens it and pulls it together with the wood a little more.
Step 4: Seal the overall piece.
Add a heavy coat of matte finish Mod Podge (original). Follow the directions on the bottle for drying time.
And you are done and ready to display and enjoy your new piece of rustic art.
If you would like to watch a video of the whole process, here is a great one to watch. The show you that you can use that Mod Podge Photo Transfer medium on many different surfaces, including fabric. It is a simple and easy way to customize anything in your home, clothing, acessories or as a gift.
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This post was written as part of a campaign with The Blueprint Social. All opinions are my own.
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Thanks so much for reading and have a great day!
If you would like to see other project using the Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium, click on the links below.
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Beautiful, Laura! I just pinned this to my Arts and Crafts board on Pinterest. I am going to give it a try! Thanks for sharing.
This is a fantastic piece, I love it!
Cynthia
Beautiful project. I would like to try this but what is the dark wax? I see this mentioned all the time as the final step in painting with chalk paint. I can’t find whatever it is!!!
Laura…fantastic project!…Taking this project to the next Crafty Chicks!!!….love the print!
Laura, this is really a beautiful piece, I love the rustic part of it! So I need to figure out where I need something like that in my house, or many somewhere’s
Turned out great. The dark wax adds so much to the rustic look.
So very pretty!
Love how this turned out, I always forget how fun mod podge can be
So beautiful Laura! Love it! I will definitely be trying this.
Heather
Great project!
One question…is the photo printed on reg white cheapo copy paper or photo paper?
Thanks!
Thank you for this tutorial! My friend wants to make something like this and asked me to find a great how-to and this is it!! Your picture turned out beautiful too!
I just found your site through Pinterest and love it! Is there anyway I can find out where an item was purchased from one of the photos? I was particularly interested in the throw and pillow on the sofa in the January winter mantel decorating blog post. Thanks!
this is soooo beautiful – I’m especially enamored with the fact that you used Trash as your base product….so great!! happy almost spring!
I love how it turned out, Laura. So pretty!
Love the vintage look. Hydrangeas are one of my fav flowers. Great seeing all the different ways to use the photo transfer medium.
Absolutely love this – such a great idea!