One technique I have never been a fan of is the transfer. You get an image (could be patterned paper maybe, a book page, something printed on laser/photocopy machine…) and instead of just using it, you stick it into something else then WAIT for it to dry. Then you use water to rub away all paper leaving a faded mirror image – aka image transfer.
It takes time. It doesn’t always work. I can never figure out why I’d not just use the direct image.
that is, until I took a class from Claudine Hellmuth! For the first time EVER I had successful transfers and she taught us a way to do it instantly too. This is my favorite of the methods because I don’t have to wait. I can just GO! Here are the steps [adapted from RangerU curriculum]:
Supplies:
Steps:
1. Cut a piece of sticky-back canvas + paper to same size
2. Remove paper backing from sticky back canvas, take patterned paper and press printed side to sticky side of sticky back canvas (note: if double sided paper use the side you WANT down).
3. Burnish the paper. [rub it in a lot of directions, firmly. You’re sticking the image here!]
4. Spray the paper with water (saturate!) – or use a small tub/bucket and do this in it. Whatever you do: don’t dump paper pulp down a sink!!! It will clog and be a hot mess. Rub until the paper is gone. use pads of your fingers, the paper will ball up and roll away.
5. Use a little gloss multi medium over the surface- rub it in (like you were applying lotion to skin). This will get rid of any remaining bits of paper particles and seal it up.
NOTE: You will see that I used 2 different papers in the photos below. I’m working on a few things here in the studio, and I took some pics of the process with my book paper, some with my scrapbook paper.
Now what? Well you could use it onto a project as you would any bit of paper! Perhaps you would like to die cut it as I have –
I really like that I can have patterned paper on canvas texture. YES, I could also just print a digital paper pattern onto my canvas. Similar result just less faded. Where are my crown accented flowers headed? Well I’m working on that, and I’ll be back to share the results very soon!
