| Heat Transfers |
This is probably one of the coolest projects
I have done in a long time. I actually made
this for a Christmas present back in 2006.
I think it's a pretty neat gift for the guy who
has everything or for a very hard to buy for
person. I definitely plan on making more in
the future and will take step by step photographs
when I do.
This is a very easy project and a pretty low cost project as well.
Items Needed to Complete Project:
- Slab of Wood - Access to Color Laser Printer
- Photo - Heat Transfer Tool (Versa-Tool)
- Sheet of Copy paper - Masking Tape
1. Find a piece of soft wood with a tight grain. I used one of those
basswood slabs like you get at the craft store. Many craft stores put
out a 40% off coupon every week, so if you buy it with a coupon, it's
a reasonable price. Otherwise, wait until they go on sale.
2. Sand the wood smooth using a fine grained sandpaper.
3. Find a picture that you like and make a photocopy of it on a color
laser printer. It also must be a laser printer for it to work. Ink jet
printers will not work with ordinary paper, although I believe they
make special heat transfer paper for use with ink jet printers. I
scanned this photo into my computer and enlarged it so that it would
fit the size wood that I have. If you take digital photos, that's even
easier to print out. If you don't have access to a color laser printer,
check out your local office supply store. They can make a copy for
you for less than a dollar. If there is writing on your photo, or it's
important that it be going in the same direction on the wood, then
have it printed in reverse. Remember you are transferring the image
to another surface, so it's like a mirror. It will be going in the opposite
direction when you are done.
4. When the picture is the size that you need, you should tear the
edges away on all four sides. This gives your project more of an aged
look. Of course, this is totally up to you.
I have done in a long time. I actually made
this for a Christmas present back in 2006.
I think it's a pretty neat gift for the guy who
has everything or for a very hard to buy for
person. I definitely plan on making more in
the future and will take step by step photographs
when I do.
This is a very easy project and a pretty low cost project as well.
Items Needed to Complete Project:
- Slab of Wood - Access to Color Laser Printer
- Photo - Heat Transfer Tool (Versa-Tool)
- Sheet of Copy paper - Masking Tape
1. Find a piece of soft wood with a tight grain. I used one of those
basswood slabs like you get at the craft store. Many craft stores put
out a 40% off coupon every week, so if you buy it with a coupon, it's
a reasonable price. Otherwise, wait until they go on sale.
2. Sand the wood smooth using a fine grained sandpaper.
3. Find a picture that you like and make a photocopy of it on a color
laser printer. It also must be a laser printer for it to work. Ink jet
printers will not work with ordinary paper, although I believe they
make special heat transfer paper for use with ink jet printers. I
scanned this photo into my computer and enlarged it so that it would
fit the size wood that I have. If you take digital photos, that's even
easier to print out. If you don't have access to a color laser printer,
check out your local office supply store. They can make a copy for
you for less than a dollar. If there is writing on your photo, or it's
important that it be going in the same direction on the wood, then
have it printed in reverse. Remember you are transferring the image
to another surface, so it's like a mirror. It will be going in the opposite
direction when you are done.
4. When the picture is the size that you need, you should tear the
edges away on all four sides. This gives your project more of an aged
look. Of course, this is totally up to you.
5. Place the picture upside down onto the wood, centering it as you like, and tape one side to the wood with masking tape. Now
you are ready to heat transfer the image to the wood. Your iron should be fully warmed up. Check your instructions for the
amount of time that your iron will need to heat up. You should be using the flat round tip that comes with your Versa-Tool. Place
your iron on the paper and work it paper to see if the image has transferred to the wood. If not, you need to heat the paper
longer. If you start burning the paper, either the iron is too hot or you are leaving it in one spot too long.
6. After heating an area, you must lift the paper from that area or it will stick when it cools down. If a section sticks, just re-heat
it and it should lift off for you. Continue this process until the entire image has been transferred to the wood.
7. When finished, embellish the item to your liking. Since this piece was for a fisherman, I used some antique fishing lures and
bobber. I hung it from a branch that had been trimmed from a tree in my yard. A drill was used to pre-drill a hole in the wood
and leather was strung through eye hooks that were added to the wood slab.
Here are some Christmas ornaments using the same technique.
The edges were burned adding to the vintage look.
you are ready to heat transfer the image to the wood. Your iron should be fully warmed up. Check your instructions for the
amount of time that your iron will need to heat up. You should be using the flat round tip that comes with your Versa-Tool. Place
your iron on the paper and work it paper to see if the image has transferred to the wood. If not, you need to heat the paper
longer. If you start burning the paper, either the iron is too hot or you are leaving it in one spot too long.
6. After heating an area, you must lift the paper from that area or it will stick when it cools down. If a section sticks, just re-heat
it and it should lift off for you. Continue this process until the entire image has been transferred to the wood.
7. When finished, embellish the item to your liking. Since this piece was for a fisherman, I used some antique fishing lures and
bobber. I hung it from a branch that had been trimmed from a tree in my yard. A drill was used to pre-drill a hole in the wood
and leather was strung through eye hooks that were added to the wood slab.
Here are some Christmas ornaments using the same technique.
The edges were burned adding to the vintage look.
| Last Updated on March 11, 2009 |
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