Image Transfer in 4 Easy Steps!

It’s not everyday that I make a project that brings my family to tears in my bathroom.  Yep, you heard it right.  At least they are closer to the tissue.  A couple of months ago we changed the colors of our bathroom and I bought some towels that I love.  The towels are teals in three shades that create a hombre effect in my towel closet.  With brown walls I feel like I’m at the beach in the sand and the waves.   To add to this feeling I decided I wanted to capture an image of my kids at the beach when they were young by transferring a photo to a wood board and sanding it to look like weathered wood.  Yes, this is where the crying comes in.  They are so cute when they are little.

I loved the way these turned out and the directions of how to create them are below.  Of course all the supplies can be purchased at your local Craft Warehouse.  I hope you have fun.  I know I did.

Supplies Used:

Decorating Your Life Vinyl
Americana Décor Chalky Paint Treasure & Primitive
Americana Décor Image Transfer Medium
2 Sierra Pacific Wood Canvas’
Sand Paper
Foam Brushes

Directions:

Step One-Prep the Board:  When the photo is transferred to your board, the board will show through any places on your photo that is white or light in color.   I decided I wanted the wood grain to lightly show through my photo.  To do this I coated the bottom layer of my Sierra Pacific board in Primitive Americana Décor Chalky Paint and let it dry.  (This paint is amazing.  I kept coming back to the board to pet it.  It was so soft. ) Then I placed my Decorating Your Life vinyl saying on the layer of Primitive and then mixed Treasure Americana Chalky Paint and Primitive Chalky Paint to match my towels and painted over the vinyl  to layer the words under my photo for a weathered look.  Then I sanded the board with some fine-grained sandpaper to get a distressed look and see the wood grain.

Step Two-Prep the Photo:  You will need to print your photo on regular copy paper on a toner printer.  Make sure to reverse your image so local landscapes or words do not appear backwards after transferring.  You can easily print these photos at your local office supply store.  Lastly, trim the photo to remove any of the unprinted white edges.

Step Three-Transfer Photo:  Lay a thick layer of the Americana Décor Image Transfer Medium over your project and your photo.  You want to make sure every piece of the photo touches the medium.  Then lay your photo face down on the medium on the board and smooth out your photo making sure not to puncture your photo and to get out any bubbles.  I used a rolling pin then rubbed it down with my fingers.  Wipe away any extra Transfer Medium from the edges with a damp rag.  (Don’t forget to wash your tools)  Let dry overnight.

Step Four-Remove Backing and Apply Finish:  It’s time to get messy.  (After looking at my floor, I should have taken this outside for this step.)  Get a wet rag and lay it over your project until the paper is wet enough to start seeing the image then carefully rub the back off your photo.  If you want a distressed look, feel free to use an old washcloth.  If you are going for a clean picture with no nicks or scrapes use your fingers and carefully rub it off.  You may have to repeat this several times to clean off all the backing.  After you gently remove all the paper backing and your vinyl, sand if desired and coat the project with one more layer of the Americana Décor Image Transfer Medium to prevent scratches.

Step Five-Don’t Show Your Mom:  If you do, you may end up making two sets…

 

- Elizabeth 

This Week Chalkboard Message Board

Stay organized as you head back to school with this Chalkboard Message Board! Keep notes of what is coming up "this week" with chalk and add appointments to the chicken wire with clothes pins! It is the perfect way to rein in the chaos! 

Supplies:

Chicken Wire Chalkboard
Chalkboard Clothes Pins
"This Week" Vinyl
Bistro Chalkboard Markers
Drawer Pull
Chalk
American Decor Chalky Finish Paint
Foam Brush
Eye Hooks
Ribbon

Directions:

1.  Apply Chalky Finish Paint to wood on the front of the chalkboard. Let dry.

2. Apply vinyl to the chalkboard according to package directions. Carefully season the chalkboard around the vinyl using the chalk flat on the surface going in one direction - then again in the opposite.

3. Screw in the drawer pull upside down to create a chalk holder.

4. Use a bistro marker to write on the chalkboard clothes pins and attach to the chicken wire.

5. Screw small eye hooks into the top of the frame and slide the ends of the ribbon through both hooks and tie a knot.

Hang and enjoy!

*Chicken Wire Chalkboard $12.99 (reg $19.99), Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint $6.88 (reg $8.99), Mini Wood Chalkboards 3 for $10 (reg $3.99), Bistro Chalk Markers $2.99 (reg $3.99) on sale until August 24th, 2014

Distressing with Americana Decor Wax Finish

Create your own antique look with Americana Decor Creme Wax. Due to the porous nature of Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paints, the Creme Waxes literally fuse with the paint to provide a super strong layer of protection against daily use!

Supplies:

Americana Decor Creme Wax
Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint
Bristle or Foam Brush
Brush or Lint-Free Cloth

Directions:

Step One

1. Wipe down project with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or dust.

2. Use a bristle brush or foam brush to apply chalky finish paint. Usually only one application is necessary.

Step Two

1. Use a brush or a lint free cloth to apply Creme Wax. Wipe back excess.

2. Buff to desired sheen when dry.

* 30% off regular prices on Wax Cremes and Chalk Paint on sale for $6.88 (reg $8.99) comes in 29 colors until August 24th, 2014

Americana Chalky Paint Lamps DIY

Transform mismatched lamps into a matching pair using our new DecoArt Americana Chalky Paint! No priming or sanding just paint.

   
 1. Start by cleaning both surfaces with a damp cloth.

2. Paint your first layer of a chalky color of your choice. I used "Relic" Chalky Paint. 

3. Dry brush a second color of chalky paint to add dimension. I used "Serene" Chalky paint to complete step 3

    

* Americana Decor Chalky Paint $6.99 in 29 colors (reg $8.99) until June 22nd, 2014

6 Father's Day DIY Gift Ideas

Great DIY gifts for dad on fathers day!
I'm so excited to share 6 different gift ideas even your kids can make.

#1. Transform a simple pane window into a photo holder.

Choose from our new selection of Americana Deco Art Chalky Paint! It adheres to almost any surface without sanding or priming!

Directions:

1. Tape off window pane with painters tape. 
2. Paint frame with Chalky paint 1-2 coats.
3. Sand areas you would like to rough up to give it a weathered look or put a matt or gloss sealer over the top for a cleaner look.
4. Place vinyl on the front of the glass by Decorating Your Life.
5. place 8x10 photos behind the glass and use 8 mini magnets to hold photo in place. 4 magnets on the front and 4 behind the glass for each photo.

#2 Personalized photo frame

 Not Everyone has artistic handwriting so here is a great way to create this project stress free!

Directions:

1. Start by painting the unfinished frame with Chalk Paint.
2. Print out what you would like to say on a word document.
3. Place tracing paper under your word document and trace over each letter or image with a pencil.
4. Lift up paper and you should have an out line of your image.
5. Use a Bistro Marker to fill in your image.
6. Last take a white piece of chalk to season your frame.
7. Wipe off extra chalk and you are done!

#3 Chalky Frame "I love that you're my father"

Get The Chalk Board Look With Out Chalk!

Directions:

This is super easy! Just paint your frame with black acrylic paint, add "I love that you're my father" vinyl, then season your frame with white chalk!

 #4 Decorative Pails

Dad Loves Treats! Create these mini pails with treats and personalized gifts!

These are very fun to make, some of the ideas we used were:

"Daddy's Stache" - filled with chocolate

"We are Nuts about you" filled with peanuts

"We love you to pieces" filled with Reeces Pieces

"Dad, good for 1 round of golf" filled with golf balls and markers

#5 Customized Shadow Box Frame

Directions:

1. Choose a 5x7 or 8x10 shadow box.
2. Take out the white matting and replace it with scrapbook paper of your choice.
3. Add a sticker or embellishment plaque to the front of the frame.
4. Place in your favorite photo and close up frame!

#6 Wall plaque with mini plaques



Directions:

1. This wood plaque comes unfinished with 3 hanging mini plaques.
2. Choose a acrylic paint color and paint the plaques.
3. Once dry cut down photos to fit and glue on plaques using Beacon 3in1 glue.
4. For the center plaque we used Decorating Your Life Vinyl "Family Holds it all together"

Paper Bow using We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board

 

 Once I made one bow I was sold! This is such an easy project and I love that I can use my punch board for other things! Thanks to our Gresham store that had this figured out the moment they got the board. Here I have listed simple steps on how to create your own paper bow!

Supplies:

• We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board
• Paper Cutter
• Scrapbook or Cardstock paper
• Beacon 3in1 Glue

 Directions:

1. Collect everything on your supply list.
2. Cut paper into 3 strips: 1 - 1"x6" and 2 - 1"x5" strips
3. Match up your 6" strip to punch board at the 3" mark and punch.
4. Flip over and punch the other side.

     5.  Take the ends of the paper and trim edges like shown in photo 5

     6.  Repeat steps 3-5 for one 5" strip

     7.  Repeat steps 3-4 for the other 5" strip. Then punch a notch in each end shown in photo 7

     8.  This is what your pieces should look like in photo 8

 

    9.  Place dot of glue on the back side of large strip, then fold over to adhere paper
   10.  Repeat this step for the smaller strip
   11.  Glue one bow on top of the other and glue paper strip to the bottom
   12.  A perfect bow!