Have You Tried Express Transfer Solution?

Decoupage Technique

has been familiar to us all for a long time and remains a favorite. It has been popular for a long time thanks to its simplicity, but the technique itself has been around for much longer. Transferring motifs from napkins to furniture and other objects is especially popular because the result looks like a hand-painted design with a touch of patina. It’s even more exciting when you discover how easy this technique is to apply.

Things get even better with photo transfer solution. Its availability and easy application mean you’re no longer limited to motifs from napkins. With this transfer solution, you can transfer any photo, black and white or color, printed on regular white laser printer paper, onto a smooth surface such as wood, fabric, or even rubber.

What Do You Need?

In addition to the solution itself, you’ll also need a surface to work on. It should be clean and smooth. Wood must be clean and smooth, so remove all dust thoroughly before you begin. If you’re using fabric, clean it well too. To apply the solution, you’ll need cotton swabs, a wooden spatula or stick (such as a wooden popsicle stick or a medical tongue depressor). Also have a cloth and, of course, your printed motif ready.

You can use your own photo, but never use the original. Always make a copy on paper first. Or choose a motif or photo from the internet and print it. As mentioned, you don’t need any special paper. If you have a printer at home, regular printer paper will do, and the same goes for paper from a stationery store. Just choose a motif you like that will fit on the surface you want to decorate. If you’re transferring it onto fabric, you’ll need one more tool: an iron. To keep the paper from moving while you apply the transfer, use masking tape.

Transferring to Wood

Cut out the printed motif, removing any blank areas that could get in the way during application. Place the motif directly on the surface you want to decorate (in other words, place the photo on the object you’re decorating and apply the transfer to the back of the paper). Tape down the edges of the paper so it moves as little as possible while you apply the transfer. Dip a cotton swab into the transfer solution. If you think it has picked up too much solution, wipe off the excess with a cloth.

Apply the transfer to the entire surface of the paper using smooth strokes. As you dampen the paper, you will see the motif gradually appear on the side of the paper where you are applying the transfer. Once you have covered about a quarter of the paper, pause and run a wooden spatula over the section you have already treated to make sure every part of the motif has transferred to the wood.

Then apply the transfer to the next quarter and repeat the process. Once you have covered the entire paper with the photo you are transferring, gently remove the paper from the surface along with the masking tape. You will see that the whole motif is now on the decorated surface, with the patina effect typical of decoupage.

Transfer to Fabric

If the item you are transferring the photo onto has two sides, such as a T-shirt or a bag, remember to place cardboard under the fabric so the motif transfers only where you want it. The process of applying it with a cotton swab and wooden spatula is the same, but when transferring to fabric, you will also need to iron over the area at a low temperature after using the spatula. Then apply another layer of transfer, go over it again with the spatula and iron, and only then remove the paper and iron the surface once more. Remember to turn off the steam function if your iron has one.

As with any creative technique, practice makes perfect. The key is to apply neither too much nor too little transfer to the swab and to gauge the pressure of the wooden spatula correctly. If there is too little transfer on the swab, the wooden spatula will simply add pressure and help transfer the image to the surface. That is why it is important to use the right amount of transfer. Start with smaller areas so you can get the hang of the process, then you can easily decorate furniture or larger pieces of clothing. Wooden items do not need a final protective coat, while ironing sets the transfer on fabric.