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May 8, 2012

Freezer Paper Transfer

Look what I was playing with last night. 

Image Transfer to Fabric with Freezer Paper

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.

Image Transfer to Fabric with Freezer Paper

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.

Image Transfer to Fabric with Freezer Paper

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.

Image Transfer to Fabric with Freezer Paper

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

Image Transfer to Fabric with Freezer Paper


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.

Image Transfer to Fabric with Freezer Paper

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.

Image Transfer to Fabric with Freezer Paper

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.

Image Transfer to Fabric with Freezer Paper

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.

Image Transfer to Fabric with Freezer Paper

Image Transfer to Fabric with Freezer Paper

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

Image Transfer to Fabric with Freezer Paper

Image Transfer to Fabric with Freezer Paper

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.

Image Transfer to Fabric with Freezer Paper

~~~~~

I'm linking up here this week!

84 comments:

Patti said...

Can you use this technique to apply a design to wood?  This looks so easy and yours turned out amazing!

Shirley@motivatedmommyoftwo said...

WOW this is awesome. I really like how it turned out. Stopping by from Terrific Tuesday's Link party 

heather said...

This is absolutely wonderful!  I am going to try to do this ASAP!  Precious!  Would love to have you join in at my linky party!  {stringtownhome.blogspot.com}

Have a great week!
-heather

BarbSteadman said...

Thank you, I'd love to!

BarbSteadman said...

I'm pretty sure you can. I'm hoping so because that was what I was going to try next - a transfer onto a wooden chair seat.

Rachel said...

I've never seen this before. I already have some freezer paper, so I really want to try this. Pinned!  Thanks for sharing at Terrific Tuesdays.
Rachel
adventuresofadiymom.blogspot.com

Rene said...

I haven't tried this yet...but I will!!!
Thanks,
Rene'

Fonda73 said...

I can't wait to try this. My daughter is coming this weekend and I think we'll have a transfer party!!

Peggy~PJH Designs said...

Thanks so much for the wonderful tutorial.  I love the image you chose and it looks so pretty.

Alicia said...

Like a fabric temporary tattoo. Great idea!!

Jillian @ Hi! It's Jilly said...

That is awesome! Any idea if it would work with a laser printer?

BarbSteadman said...

I've read that a laser printer will get too hot and melt the wax so I'm not sure. I would print something on a regular piece of paper first and see how hot it gets. Good luck! Let me know if it works!

BarbSteadman said...

Ha! Hopefully it will stay around though!

BarbSteadman said...

Thank you!

BarbSteadman said...

Sounds like fun! And watch out - you'll get addicted!

BarbSteadman said...

I couldn't believe how easy it was!

BarbSteadman said...

You're going to love how easy it is!

Cami said...

This looks awesome, Barb!! It looks tedious...but the result looks amazing :)

BarbSteadman said...

It really isn't! The hardest part was finding a graphic I liked (I should have gone to Graphic Fairy). Once it was printed it only took a few minutes!

Christina said...

That's so cool! I've never heard of this technique, but I've got loads of freezer paper left from my stenciling, so I might just have to try this out!

castebner said...

This sounds very doable.  Thanks so much for sharing.
~CAS~

Thejunknest said...

this is a neat way of doing this. I wonder what the difference between this and the iron-on version is?

Thanks for sharing!

Deanne said...

Wow , this is fabulous, thanks for sharing!

Cyndismith1 said...

I've used this on wood (http://bluestarantiques.blogspot.com/2012/03/paint-and-aggravation.html) but didn't know it would work on fabric!  Score!  I've got a chair that needs a cushion.  My wheels are turning...

BarbSteadman said...

I'm glad to hear it works on wood - that's what I wanted to try next!

BarbSteadman said...

Thank you!

BarbSteadman said...

I think the iron might be more permanent. Now that I have the paper I can't wait to find out what I can do with it!

BarbSteadman said...

I couldn't believe how easy it was - I'm so addicted!

Janis@All Things Beautiful said...

Oh wow!!!  Love this idea!!  Thank you for the excellent tutorial!!  

Isafrenchy said...

Super cool! I would love if you link this to the French party on Monday!
Follow me back please!
xo

Cynthia Sanchez said...

Great idea to use the spry glue! I used double sided tape and it was kind of a pain. 

Melanie said...

Fantastic idea, must try it, it looks great.  Thanks for sharing.

Kind regards,

Melanie

Christina at I Gotta Create! said...

Looks great. Is it washable? Thanks so much for linking up at I Gotta Create! <3 Christina

Donnas_Daze _ said...

Brillant!  I can't wait to try it.

BarbSteadman said...

It's so easy - I can't believe I didn't try it earlier.

BarbSteadman said...

I hear that it's not, but I don't know. I pre-washed the material so hopefully I won't need to until the ink is set right in.

BarbSteadman said...

I can imagine!

BarbSteadman said...

I hope you have as much fun as I did!

Kate Hill said...

Pinning this!!! :) 

Lauren Steinkuehler said...

Visiting from Tuesday Time Out at Reasons to Skip the Housework. I'm co-hosting this month and will be featuring your post on this Tuesday's party. It's too great not to share! Hope you will stop by! Lauren @ Insidemypresent.blogspot.com

jayne said...

How about spraying with white vinegar to set the transfer?

Rosesweethome said...

What an awesome idea.  I love how it looks. Thanks for sharing this @ The Sunday Round Up. 
Hope to see you again next week.
Rose
http://www.arosiesweethome.com/

Katie goldsworthy said...

That turned out really cool! 

Thanks for sharing it!--Katie @ Creatively Living

Condensedlovehome said...

Hi, Barb!
New follower here!!!
Thank you so much for the step by step tutorial!
I had read about this before but not well explained like yours!
I also live in Canada, in BC!

Kathe Burke said...

Oh I need to join the freezer paper club! What kind of printer did you use?  Was it inkjet or laser? I'd love it if you shared this at my Tuesday linky party at
http://www.kathewithane.com/

Have a beautiful day ♥

Stacey said...

Very nice tutorial - thanks for sharing this week!
Stacey of Embracing Change

Tanya said...

Hi Barb, this is awesome, I love how wonderful and aged the fabric looks with your method.  What a great idea! I am a new reader, creating over at http://twelveoeight.blogspot.com

beberouge said...

Great tutorial really well explained have wanted to do this for ages going to pin yours to keep.

Ann said...

Your transfers look wonderful. And, your how-to was perfect. I've been wanting to try this method. My drop cloth awaits!

Ashlee Prisbrey said...

I love it!!!  I'm totally going to try this out!  I'm featuring it on Topsy Turvy Tuesdays so thanks for linking up!

Kadie Arrington said...

OOOooooo, I love this!!  I didn't know it was so easy to do the image transfer.  I'm pinning this so I can do it later.  Thanks for sharing with us at Link It Up Thursday.

Verymerryvintagesytle said...

Very cool. Love the weathered look of it! 
Mary

BarbSteadman said...

Thank you for hosting!

BarbSteadman said...

Thank you for featuring me!

BarbSteadman said...

Thank you! I hope you have as much fun with it as I did!

BarbSteadman said...

Thanks!

BarbSteadman said...

I used an inkjet. I've heard that a laser printer gets too hot and can melt the paper.

BarbSteadman said...

Hi! Thanks for following! I hope you give the transfer a try - you'll love the results!

BarbSteadman said...

Thank you!

BarbSteadman said...

I've never heard of that - I'll have to look into it! Thanks!

BarbSteadman said...

Thank you!

BarbSteadman said...

Thanks!

Carrie said...

What a great idea!! Another great use for freezer paper. Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday! I hope you are having a great week!

polkadotpretties said...

Thank you for linking up !!

Hope you will stop by today and link up another great project.

Claire x

Ann @ StylishOnceAgain said...

Thanks for sharing, I featured this on Restyled Sundays, I hope you will stop by and link up again.

BarbSteadman said...

Thank you for featuring me!

BarbSteadman said...

Thanks for hosting!

BarbSteadman said...

Thanks!

Kim@madeinaday said...

Great tutorial! I have a bunch of graphics I won from a giveaway! Are you editing above using Picasa? I can't figure out how to flip the image...I didn't think of Picasa though...did you do it in there or when you printed it?
Thanks for linking up last week! I ahope to see you there again tomorrow!
Kim~
http://madeinaday.com

BarbSteadman said...

I answered you in email, but for anyone else - you can use PicMonkey to flip the image easily.

Cydne said...

This is very cool, can this be incorporated into wallpaper or gift wrap?








 

BarbSteadman said...

I think that would be an awesome idea - very personalized!

Sandra said...

Ok now that is an amazing Barb! I want to do this but am really really tech challenged, wouldn't have a clue where to go to get the image and how to change it to what I want, ie, the darkness flipping it around etc.
Mmm, maybe you would share with me?

www.serendipitoushome.blogspot.com

BarbSteadman said...

Hi Sandra,

I posted a step-by-step on Wednesday - I hope it helps!

Jo said...

Hey Barb,  I read a blog post this morning that made me laugh.  The blogger stenciled her kitchen island, and her hubby asked her for the stencil so he doesn't come home and find everything stenciled.  As a joke when he went to bed she stenciled the toilet.
Check it out
http://suzyq-vintagous.blogspot.ca/2012/08/parisien-butcher-block.html

BarbSteadman said...

Love that!

Melanie said...

Fantastic idea, must try it, it looks great.  Thanks for sharing.

Kind regards,

Melanie

BarbSteadman said...

Thanks!

Barb @ Turtles and Tails said...

I love love love this! Thanks for the awesome tutorial! ~M.

http://redesignedbym.wordpress.com/

Barb @ Turtles and Tails said...

Thank you so very, very much for your excellent directions and fine pictures!

Barb @ Turtles and Tails said...

This is really neat. Your instructions are very good as well. Thank you for linking up to Tips and Tricks. Also, I love the name of your blog! Kathleen @ Fearlessly Creative Mammas

Barb @ Turtles and Tails said...

Hi. Have you washed any of these items? If so would you mind sharing your results?

Barb @ Turtles and Tails said...

I haven't washed any of them yet, so I haven't found out if it's colourfast. I'll have to remember to try it on one that I wouldn't be upset to ruin.

Barb @ Turtles and Tails said...

will it work with a laser printer instead of ink jet?

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