Spring Decor Idea: Magazine Image Transfer Canvases

Spring is finally beginning to burst around here and I decided to celebrate with one of my all time favorite crafts – image transferring! Have you tried to transfer an image before?  If not, it’s time.  Image transfer allows you to take a photo or image and transfer it onto any surface from wood to glass to a canvas.  The possibilities are limitless and for my spring image transfer, I wanted to experiment and try something totally new – transferring an image from a magazine.  I’m excited about the results.  The transfer wasn’t perfect (which I wasn’t hoping for).  Instead the project has a really cool weather, rustic look.

Supplies needed to make your own image transfer canvases:

• Magazine Images (look for thinner pages–the thicker the page more the work you will have to do).
• Canvas (I used mini 3×3 canvases).
• Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium.
• Foam Brush.
• Wet Rag.
• Clear Glaze Spray.
• Satin Ribbon.
• Hot Glue Gun.

First, trim each of your magazine images to the size of your canvas.

Next, using the foam brush, spread the Transfer Medium evenly over the surface of the canvas–making sure to cover every tiny inch.

Then, press the magazine image into the transfer medium, image side down.  Use the pads of your fingers to smooth out the image and ensure that there are no air bubbles or wrinkles. Both of these things will ruin your project.

Allow to dry for 24 hours. After it is fully dry it is time to get to work!

Using a damp rag, gently rub the center of the magazine page until the paper starts to peal off.  But don’t use too much water or rub too hard, as the image may start to bleed (this is the main difference between a regular image transfer like this one and transferring an image from a magazine).

Since the magazine image seemed to be a bit more fragile and easier to rub off than a laser printed image, continue to rub off all of the paper using the pads of your fingers only and only the smallest amount of water.  Be patient, take your time and don’t sweat rubbing off a little bit of the image.  However, if the image begins to bleed, stop and allow it to dry completely before you continue.  The end image should look weathered, and this will add to that look.

One caution–remember how I said to make sure there were no air bubbles under the image?  If there are bubbles the image won’t transfer and you will you have something like this happen:

Oh well–3 out of 4 isn’t that bad!

Finally, I used hot glue to attach each of my spring canvases to a pink satin ribbon.  I plan on hanging them in a vertical row.

And this is what I really love about image transferring–DIY art to bring in the season that I made myself for very little cost.

I can’t wait to hang them in my home!  If you have any questions about this project or image transfer in general please don’t hesitate to ask!

Nancy

Nancy is the play-at-home mom of 3 little ones, ages 3 and under. When she gets a chance she blogs at dosmallthingswithlove.com about the intersection of motherhood and creativity. She has a special passion for embroidery, something she has been doing and experimenting with since she was a girl. A farm girl at heart, she now lives in Minneapolis and enjoys gardening, reading, stitching, traveling and painting. Most any day you can find her with a baby on her hip, barefoot, chasing her kids around the yard and eating beans fresh out of the garden.