Photography, to me, is the best thing … next to Starbucks. I love being able to capture all the small moments in time that will make a huge impact forever. Essentially, everyone in my family is a photographer to some extent; therefore, there are always new ways to incorporate my family’s photos into my home.
Recently, my brother went on one of his many photography excursions and captured a beautiful field of yellow flowers. In one shot he captured a flower that was unique and beautiful. My favorite color is yellow, and is also an accent color in my home; so when I came across the photo, I knew I wanted to blend it into my décor.
The wall my console table is on, which houses our television, has 20 feet of empty space, which stares at me everyday. I have not quite found exactly what I’m looking for to fill in this space, that is, until I came across his photo. It was the perfect shot to repeat and bring life to the wall.
Transferring photos onto wood is easy and the reward is a beautiful result. Decoupaging a photo to wood is obviously quite simple, but I like the photo to appear as if it is part of the wood.
For this project you will need:
• An unfinished piece of wood
• A photocopy of the picture (must be a photocopy)
• Medium gel (can be found around the acrylic paints in craft stores)
• Finishing spray sealant
• Sandpaper (optional)
• Craft paint or wood stain (optional)
• Damp cloth or sponge
• Laser jet printer
First things first, if a portrait is chosen, as in a picture of a person(s), it will need to be printed in reverse mode so it appears backwards. In my case, I am using flowers so it will not matter. Once again, make sure a photocopy is used instead of photo paper.
Taking the photocopy of the picture, apply a generous, thick layer of the medium gel onto the photo side of the print. Make sure all parts of the picture are totally covered. Next press the image, photo side down, very firmly, making sure to work out any bubbles. Do not over rub. This is the hardest part, mainly because of time; and the more precise you are, the better the results.
After working out all of the bubbles, and you are happy with how it lies on the wood, it’s time to wait. The picture needs a minimum of 24 hours to dry. The larger the photo, the more time; but even for smaller photos I allow a full day of drying time.
After the photo has dried completely, take the damp sponge or cloth and slowly begin rubbing the photo paper off, working in small sections. Do not try to overcompensate and wet the entire photo. Work section by section, as this will yield the best results.
After removing the top layer, allow the picture to once again dry slightly, and then repeat the process removing all the paper fuzz left behind. Again, time is the key to the best results.
Once you are satisfied with how the transfer appears, use the sandpaper to rough up the edges of the photo for an unpolished look. If you choose, paint or stain the edges of the wood.
The last step will be sealing the photo. Krylon makes a clear glaze spray that works perfectly. Once completely dried, step back and enjoy your wood photo transfer. This is a great way to mix up a photo display when wanting something other than picture frames.
Some more tips:
• You will need to use a laser jet printer versus an inkjet to keep the color from smearing.
• Make sure it is a photocopy and not on photo paper.
• Do not over wet your image; work in small sections with only a damp sponge or cloth.
• Do not over rub the image or the image itself will rub off.
• Do not be afraid to use “too much” medium gel, just be sure it is dried completely!
This will also work on painted surfaces.
If you are struggling with getting all of the paper off use a furniture polish, like Old English and rub lightly over the entire transfer, then seal once dried.
April Sherrill is a staff writer for the Hamilton County Herald. Contact her at april@dailydata.com. v