Freezer Paper Transfer

Look what I was playing with last night. 

Wanna know how I did it?

First you'll need freezer paper. Apparently you can get it all over the US but the only place I've found it in Ontario is at Metro grocery store. I ended up with a huge 50' roll for ~ $6. It's 18" wide so it's going to last me forever. You'll also need a piece of printer paper and some spray adhesive. I used a pre-washed painter's dropcloth for my fabric.

Cut a piece of freezer paper to slightly larger than 8"x11". Take a plain piece of printer paper and spray glue it to the non-waxy side of the freezer paper. Trim the freezer paper down to size.

Find an image that you like - I chose a postmark - and edit it however you wish. I changed the colour of mine to be a bit browner instead of pure black and I lightened it a bit so it would look faded on the material. Flip your image so it's backwards.

Put your paper in the printer so that the image will be printed on the waxy side of the paper. Print your image.

Lay out your fabric (or whatever surface you're transferring to) and moisten it a bit with water. I just took a wet washcloth and dabbed it all over the material, but a spray bottle would work too. I did read later that if you spray the fabric with hairspray before you wet it you'll get a better transfer with less running. I'm going to try that next time.

Place your image face down and rub all over the back of the paper with a smooth object. Some tutorials say to use a spoon - I used the lid of the spray glue can and also an empty glass votive - 'cause I was too lazy to go downstairs and get a spoon. Make sure that you don't move the paper while you're rubbing the image or it will smudge.

Lift the paper carefully and you should have an image that is right side around. On fabric it transfers a bit unevenly which is perfect - you want it to look old and worn.

You can then take your damp cloth and wipe the freezer paper clean to be used again. Mine left some lines on the paper but they are permanent and won't transfer.

I loved this so much that I did it again with a Kailua postmark and then with a "Paris" image.

I had intended to make pillow covers with them, but now I'm thinking of recovering a foot stool I use all the time. The one limitation is that the material cannot be washed as is or the ink will come off. I've heard that if you wait 24 hours you can then wash it and it will only fade a little. I've also heard that you can iron it before you lift the paper (put a cloth in between the paper and the iron!) and that will set it.

This was so easy that I had trouble making myself stop. Tom's going to come home one day and find graphics on everything.

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I'm linking up here this week!

Weekend Recap and Giveaway Winner!

I can't say that I got a lot done this weekend.  The weather was beautiful 

and I couldn't stop laying around in the hammock or on the bench on the deck.

I finished painting the bathroom vanity and reattached the doors, 

but Tom has now decided that he'd like to replace the faucet...so I have no pictures.

I sewed two more pillows for the deck furniture...but I have no pictures.

We laid sod down in the backyard to cover the mud pit 

the dogs won't stop digging in...but I have no pictures.

I found an old pallet by the side of the road on Saturday, 

dragged it home and took it apart to make a sign.  

Right now it's just a pile of boards...so I have no pictures.

And I started working on a gift for my mother-in-law, 

but since she sometimes reads this blog...I'm not posting pictures.

I did run 10km on Sunday, but you don't want to see a picture of that. 

I'm sure it looks something like this:

via pinterest

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However, I did choose a winner of the $30 Fashion to Figure Giveaway!  

Using random.org, the entry chosen was #4 - Carolyn Stamper!  

Carolyn said, if she could, she would choose the Knot-Front Maxi Dress, 

and I have to agree that it would be wonderfully light and breezy for summer.

Congratulations Carolyn and thank you to everyone who entered!

I'd also like to thank Fashion to Figure for generously sponsoring this giveaway!

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Mirror, Mirror

The main floor powder room is slowly coming together. I've already shared the new paint colour (and new toilet!) with you. As well as how the light fixture & other (accessories? Is that what the toilet paper & towle rack are called?) were given a coat of Oil Rubbed Bronze.

Last weekend we framed in the mirror. It wasn't until the whole thing was hung that I realized - this is one huge mirror! I wanted a substantial frame for it and I guess I got one.

I never remember to take "before" photos but here is the best I could find:

For the frame, I had Tom cut down some 1x3 pine boards and router out a groove in the back of each one for the mirror to fit into. I wanted the frame to have an old barn-board, weathered feel so I took a hammer and several screwdrivers to the boards, adding dents and scratches until I was satisfied.

While I didn't get any shots of the routered edge (or much else of the building process) Tom did snap a few of me beating on the boards. I'm thinking of making this one my new profile photo.  Serious renovator...or serious serial killer? :-p

We then glued and stapled the mitered edges together and left it to dry. I planned to use a combination of steel wool and apple cider vinegar to "weather" the boards to a grey colour. This method is all over the internet so I won't give a step-by-step here. Also, it didn't turn out this time so I am definitely not one to mimic. However the wood on the worktable beneath did turn a gorgeous grey colour. What the heck? I had practiced this before and the colour came out perfectly so I don't know what went wrong. The wood ended up an interesting purpley-brown colour that I don't hate, so I waxed it and called it a day.

This is the most accurate picture of the final colour.

Tom then glued the mirror into the frame. Yep, glued. He said he didn't want the mirror to slip out if the dogs slammed into the wall. 'Cause they do that (no they don't). So that mirror isn't going anywhere. Ever.

We hung the mirror in the bathroom and I really do love it. With the frame added we had to move the mirror up a couple of inches and it's now too close to the light above, but I want to change that light anyway for something smaller so it won't always be so crowded.

I might wax the frame again to make it even darker. The base of the vanity is going to be a dark espresso brown and I don't want too many different shades in there. I also might have to take it out and bang it around some more as the marks aren't as noticeable as I was hoping they'd be.

This week I painted the vanity and hung some artwork.  Once the vanity doors are back on I think the room might be done! Can't wait to show you a complete before and after!

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I'm linking to these parties this week!

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** Don't forget - there is still time to enter the Fashion to Figure Giveaway!  I'll be announcing the winner on Monday - get your entry in and it could be you! **