'FREE TUTORIAL: Image Transfer using Contact Paper!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

Here is another free tutorial. This tutorial I wrote describing my process for an IMAGE TRANSFER. There are many, many different image transfer processes out there in cyber space. This is one of the processes that worked well for me.

 
Note: Soft Gel medium (gloss) was not used for the image transfer - but soft gel medium (gloss) was used to adhere the contact paper to the artwork after the image was transferred.

SUPPLIES LIST:

• clear contact paper (I got mine either at Target or Menards - don't recall which)
• inkjet image to take to copy shop (I prefer to use copyright free artwork - for example, antique images, my own artwork or my own photos)
• toner copy of above image from copy shop (reversed, if it has text you want to preserve as readable in final art piece)
• shallow container of hot water, larger than image
• soft gel medium (gloss) or other 'plastic-to-paper' glue, like '3-in-1' (Beacon)
• clear gesso or soft gel medium (matte) - optional
• palette knife, old credit card, or sponge brush to apply soft gel medium
• paper towels (dry and slightly damp)
• wet wipes (optional)
• workable fixative  (optional)

Note: Skip the copy shop steps if you print a toner copy of your image on your home laser printer.

Note: You can also skip the copy shop step if you 'fix' your inkjet image by spraying  it outdoors with 'WORKABLE FIXATIVE' (Krylon). The disadvantage of using WORKABLE FIXATIVE spray is that it can only be used with ventilation in specific temperatures and specific humidity's. I live in Chicago. So I'm limited to spraying  WORKABLE FIXATIVE outdoors in 5-7 months a year. But I can take my inkjet image to the copy shop all year... 

Important: The reason we do not use an inkjet printed image directly in our wet artwork is that the ink will smear. Inkjet printer ink is water-soluble, therefore it will smear with moisture. However, if you WANT your artwork to have smeared images then you do not need to use WORKABLE FIXATIVE or a toner copy...

PROCESS [over several days]

My clear contact paper transfer process follows, which I accomplished over several days: 

1. scan antique color image into computer and reverse image using image editing software (I scanned it first because I want to keep this image on my computer)
2. print reversed color copy on home inkjet printer
3. take color inkjet image to local copy center and have them make a 'toner' color copy (also the copy shop can reverse the image if you prefer them to reverse it)
4. 'fussy cut' toner image out of paper leaving small margin all around the image (leave about .25 inch)
5. cut contact paper a little larger than the image
6. apply clear contact paper to toner image and burnish contact paper (I let image set overnight after burnishing)
7. fill a shallow plastic 'Tupperware style' container with very hot water
8. plunge image to soak for a minute or two, until paper is saturated
9. remove image from pan and lay it onto a paper towel -  paper side up to absorb excess water on bottom.
10. rub off wet paper with finger, gently - rub and rub. Moisten paper with drips of water if it dries in this step. Don't rub too hard! WHen all the paper is rubbed off there will be a slight white film.
11. dry overnight [or longer] after all paper is removed. (I made a whole batch of image transfers on one day. When they were all dry, I stored them in a drawer labled 'Image Transfers: READY'...)

TO USE IMAGE TRANSFER

• When you want to use the transfer apply a very thin layer of soft gel medium (gloss)  on your artwork and on the back of your contact paper image with old credit card or foam brush.
• Lay the contact paper image, dry side up / wet side down, into the medium on your artwork. And, starting in the center of image, gently press out any air bubbles with your fingers towards the outer edges [several time]. Before each pass, with a wet wipe, remove any medium from your fingers. Carefully blot up any excess medium if it squishes out the sides with slightly damp paper towel. Dry overnight.
• Because the contact paper is slick, you'll have a glossy image on your artwork. If you don't want glossy, apply a thin layer of clear gesso or a thin layer of soft gel medium (matte) to the transfer, or to your whole art piece, as you like.

TEST, TEST, TEST!

  

I tested this transfer process (and many other image transfer processes) before using it on my 'good' artwork.

CONTACT PAPER VS. PACKING TAPE? WHICH PRODUCT TO USE?

Packing tape and Contact paper made identical image transfers in my tests. So you might ask, why use clear contact paper instead of using clear packing tape? Which product you choose to use depends on the size of the image that you want to transfer. 

• clear packing tape is useful for small images
• clear contact paper is useful for larger images.

My test results of various image transfer techniques, including inkjet print on deli paper, showed that the contact paper and packing tape images came out the best (clearer and crisper).

LET US SEE YOUR IMAGE TRANSFERS!

Would love to see your results if you try my Image Transfer Contact Paper process. In the comments of this post, please send me a link to the post on your blog.

Would love for you to comment on this post.

Thanks for visiting and please come back soon.

Peace,
LuLu
http://www.lulu-too-beaucoup.blogspot.com/

'Freebie Collage for Scrapbooking, Art Journals, ATCs - plus Retreat Info!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Greetings!

I found a sponsor for the meetup.com groups that I founded for scrapbooking and crafting.
Did not have to close down our 'Scrap-A-Holics of Chicagoland' groups, thanks to new sponsor 'HP Dance Fitness'!

FREEBIE

Freebie (vintage ephemera)
ok to use - with permission from LuLu Haynes 2014

RETREAT INFO

• 2014 Crafting and Scrapbooking Retreat - Nov 28 - 30, 2014, near Chicago, IL, USA
• 3-day weekend retreat, $50 through Nov 21, 2014. Lodging extra.
• Late Registration fee is $70 USD processing fee) after.
• Details at www.scrap-a-thon.com
• 2015 Retreat scheduled for Oct 30 - Nov 1, 2015.
• Early Bird registration for 2015 retreat coming soon!
• Mark your calendars now.

YOUR WASHI TAPE STASH?

What's your washi tape collection count/inventory to date? How do you organize/store your tape stash?

Thanks for visiting! Come back again soon!
LuLu
www.lulu-too-beaucoup.blogspot.com

'WOYWW - 2014/09/02 - New Project, A Mess, New Website, Plants & Freebies coming Soon!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes



Howdy and Welcome,

This week for WOYWW, my worktable is a mess.

But in my defense, I'm in transition to a new project. I just got another commission to create another art/journal/scrapbook/fatbook for a new client! She found my shop on eTSY.com!

So this is how my creative space looks just before the big cleanup.

I also just launched my jewelry website. I've been paying for the url address for years - and finally finished all the pages. Included is a Calendar page with my new jewelry classes listed.

I taught a DIY Washi Tape class this past July to an AJ group I joined on Facebook. In 2015, I will be teaching another DIY Washi Tape class in my studio. If you happen to be in the Chicago, IL area, I would love for your to take a class with me. www.nuvoclassic.com

 

LuLu's DIY Washi Tape Class - Samples

 

Before summer wanes, have a look at the lovely coleus that I planted this Spring. They have really grown bushy - isn't their foliage gorgeous? Nothing survives in this shady spot except the coleus. It's a kitchen garden designed by previous owners of our house. But the sun only shines here for a few hours. So it's not sunny long enough to support herbs, flowers or veggies.

YOUR TURN
How do you transition between art projects? Do you do a massive cleanup, to start with a clean and tidy table?

Here are more artists studios from Julia's blog WOYWW - click here to go visit.

Thanks for stopping by. Please become a follower, leave a comment and come back soon. Some FREEBIES are coming later this month to celebrate my birthday!

Peace,
LuLu
www.nuvoclassic.com

'Layers - Assemblage and Collage with Art Journal - Wish me luck!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

Finally - here are photos of the art contest I entered earlier this month. Wish me luck!

Back of Display Pedestal -

Top Shelf with Art Journal / Assemblage,

and Bottom Shelf with Assemblage

 

Front of Display Pedestal - Top and Bottom Shelves

 

Top Shelf - Side - Assemblage and back of Art Journal

 

 

Top Shelf - Back - Art Journal

 

 

Bottom Shelf - Assemblage

 

Photos courtesy of D. Daruszka for Creative Media Wizards

 

YOUR TURN

Have you ever created an assemblage? Please leave a link - I'd love to see it!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by - please leave a comment and come back soon!

Peace,
LuLu

'WOYWW - 9 July 2014 - Down to the Wire Mixed-Media!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome,

I'm in the final stages of an art project for a contest with deadline rapidly approaching!

Vintage and foreign book pages for making 'oil papers'.

Compartmental box for Joe Cornell 'homage'.

 

I got a lot to do yet, including finishing 2 art journals - so I better skedaddle!

 

Thanks for stopping by - please become a Follower and comment, too! Come back soon.

 

For more artists digs, click here to drop by Julia's WOYWW blog hop!

 

Peace,

LuLu

 

 

''Our Anniversary Road Trip in June 2014 - Weber House and Garden in Streator IL!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Here are some pix from our road trip during our 38th anniversary weekend. We toured the home and gardens at the Weber House and Garden in Streator IL. Open to the public. If you like gardens this place is a must see.

They have a couple special event tours coming in August 2014!

This storybook cottage is my DREAM home!!!

 

Ornamental Vegetable Gardens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statuary: The Seasons

 

 This outbuilding would make the

PERFECT art studio for me!

Lulu - Bride of 38 years!

 

My handsome hubby, Dave, was the photographer on this tour of the Weber House and Garden.

 

 

YOUR TURN
Have you ever been on a house and garden tour? What is your favorite place to visit on a 90 minute road trip? Have you ever been to Weber House and Garden in Streator Illinois?

Thanks for stopping by. Please become a visitor and comment. I love your comments. Come back soon!

Click here for info about visiting Weber House and Garden in Streator IL.

Peace,
LuLu

'Art Journal Workshop - and OTF Mixed Media Classes!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes


Here are some photos from the art journal workshop I attended in mid-June. This event was hosted by the organizer of our Art Journal Enthusiasts group at her art-filled home. In addition to working on my current art project, I taught several, quick, little mini-classes, all on-the-fly(OTF):

1. Aging/Distressing paper
2. Oil paper
3. Acrylic glazes
4. Gesso tinting
5. Gesso Frottage
6. Under-writing
7. Collage composition

 MaryLee and Linda

 

 

 a palette - and a piece of my embossed and painted

 metal tape (upper right corner)

 

 

 Gelli plate (left)  with pulled packing tape prints (right)

 

 

 The kitchen island-worktable was also my makeshift OTF 'classroom'

 

 

I loved the textures and colors of dried up paint on this stamp (right)

 

 

Harriet and Debbie and Dahlia

 

 

MaryLee was a delightful hostess. We were all incredibly inspired during our play day. I was pooped by the time I got home, but I had a won-der-ful time!

 

Next month, I officially teach my DIY Washi Tape class to our AJE members!!!

 

 

 

YOUR TURN

Do you make art journals? Have you ever attended an art journal class, workshop or mixed-media class? What are your 3-fave mixed-media or art journaling techniques?

 

Thanks for stopping by today. Please leave a comment - and come back soon!

 

Peace,

LuLu

 

 

 

'WOYWW - 38 years, Washi Tape class and Box o' Art!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome,

Yes - it has been ages, for-ev-er, since my last WOYWW post. So much has been going on in life - medical issues with both me and my husband (we're ok now), in addition to technical difficulties. Which apparently will never be resolved - thank you, Google.

Google no longer supports the browser I use on my desktop computer. So now, to upload my pix or post to my blog, I must share my hubby's laptop computer. Egads! Which is hard, because he uses his laptop all day. 

Speaking of hubby, this Thursday we celebrate our 38th wedding anniversary - with a local overnight road-trip! It will be good for us to get away from Chicago and see more local flora. We're visiting a nearby mansion and their famous gardens! My hubby loves gardens and his veggie gardens on our 'estate' are growing incredibly. For our anniversary dinner, I hope to have sushi, too - and maybe a movie this weekend. Can't wait!

Anyway, while hubby is out today, I'm taking the opportunity to commandeer his laptop and upload a photo of my worktable. It shows the genesis of an art project. I hope to complete this piece before the contest deadline and enter it. Wish me luck! I have grandiose ambitions for this project and not enough time.

'Box O' Art'

Spray painted multi-compartment box with some ephemera ideas

Also, I've been invited, by my Art Journal group, to teach a class on DIY 'Washi' Tape! Woo-hoo!!! That's scheduled in a few weeks. I've already developed the Supplies list and description - so I'm on top of it. Hopefully, I'll have photos to post here from the class.

Meanwhile, I would love for you to visit my youtube.com video - it's my Paris art journal accompanied by music from the rock band I led for a 'hot minute'. Please LIKE it and comment!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBhmKB4OtRU

YOUR TURN

Have you ever made a shadow box? If, so did you construct it from scratch - or did you use a 'found' box? What bits and bobs did you use for the contents? Did you use any cold joins? What was your fave adhesive?

Thanks for stopping by - please leave a comment, become a Follower and come back soon!

For more artist's digs, click here to see Julia's WOYWW blog hop.

Peace,

LuLu

'Technical difficulties..and youtube video!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome,

I'm having technical difficulties for while with google. Will start publishing great posts again when issues are resolved.

Meanwhile I would love for you to visit my youtube.com video - LIKE it and comment! Many thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBhmKB4OtRU

Peace,
LuLu

Archivers Closing Nationwide - and Custom Carvings

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome,

Archivers, our fave scrapbooking store, closed nationwide on Saturday Feb 15. I was at the final Mania (crop party) with 2 other ladies in my Scrap-A-Holics group.

I carved these 6 stamps while I was there. We sure will miss Archivers and especially the Naperville and Orland Park, IL stores.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by. I would love for you to become a Follower while you're here.

 

Peace,

LuLu

'Art Journal Pix - and The GIVEAWAY Winner Is!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and welcome,

I just found some great pix today of an art journal I made a while back. These are really great close-up shots. What do you think?

Also, stop by my YouTube channel to see the Paris Art Journal I completed for a commission last winter! And there's more info about components and supplies at my eTSY shop...

Front Cover

Top

 

Front fan

And now the winner of my 4th Blogoversary GIVEAWAY is....

Sara UT!!!

Congrats, Sara!

To receive this  spectacular prize package, send me your postal mailing address - click Contact page. Thanks to every one who participated.

Fun Prize Package for 4th Blogoversary Giveaway!

 

Thanks for stopping by - and please join my blog as a Follower. Would love for you to leave a comment, too.

Peace,
LuLu

'WOYWW 2014/01/15 - Happy New Year Giveaway, Haul, Commission, Tutorial & Giveaway!

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Happy New Year to all,

I'm back with a lot of news.

HAUL
Here's my recent haul from a local Archivers scrapbooking store that, I'm sad to say, is closing next month.

Haul from Archivers store closing

 (ink pads, ink sprays, Distress stains,

SNAP & Brag Book photo albums,

 SNAP page protectors) - yeehaw!

COMMISSION
I just got a rush commission late  last week for a set of invitations - carte blanche to design, print and assemble, stuff envelopes, address and mail. When I get a rush job like this, I charge the client a 'rush' fee in addition to the project fee...

In progress assembly for 2 components of invitation commission.

I stamped and signed the back cover first.

 

 

Over the holidays, hubby and I went on a road trip to Paducah KY. We wanted to visit the National Quilt Museum (awesome and overwhelming) and also research real estate in conjunction with the artist relocation program Paducah offers to artists. Before we left I cobbled together a collection of custom Travel Valet Trays. Did not have time or money to buy valet trays - plus, store bought trays are all too heavy for my 'travel light' experiment. (I wanted to practice 'packing light' in anticipation of our trip to Paris - someday).

 

The first picture shows the Travel Valet trays I made from Duck tape and/or Shelf Liner Paper. They are connected using (scrapbooking) brads. (In the top left corner of the scoring board are box lids I made from folding squares of paper origami style  - as experiment samples. I decided to use duck tape instead of folded paper because of durability.

 

This tutorial is for the trays I created when we returned from KY after testing the duck tape trays.  The duck tape trays with brads took too long to assemble when we got to our hotel suite in KY. So upon our return to Chicago, I developed trays using inexpensive chopping mats (dollar store) which are flexible - attached with rubber bands that stretch. These trays can be opened flat for packing and setup quickly with a rubber band upon arrival at my destination. Eventually, I plan to adhere the PARIS pattern duck tape to the chopping mat trays!

 



Purpose of trays: corral chargers, jewelry, lozenges, hair pins/barrettes...

 

TUTORIAL - Travel Valet Trays



Paper (unused) and Duck Tape (used) trays -

 Prototypes

 

Chopping mat package (from DOLLARTREE - 2 for $1 USD) + 

completed Travel Valet trays

 

Top - Travel Valet tray (assembled)

Bottom - Rubber band +

 inside of Travel Valet tray (unfolded, disassembled)

 

Top - Travel Valet tray (assembled),

Bottom - Rubber band + outside/bottom of 

Travel valet tray (unfolded, disassembled)

 

Supplies:

1. Chopping mat (dollar store 'DOLLAR TREE' - set of 2 in package)
2. Scoring Board (I used Martha Stewart)
3. Bone Folder (included with M.S. Scoring Board)
4. Craft knife (I used Exacto)
5. Cutting mat (I used Fiskars Rotary Cutting mat)
6. Ruler (prefer metal edge)
7. Rubber bands - thin (office supply)
8. Scissors (I used Tim Holtz Tonic scissors)

Directions:

 

1. Place chopping mat, frosted/matte side up (that is, shiny side down), on cutting mat.
2. Using craft knife and ruler, cut a square or rectangle 2" larger than the size tray you want (most of mine were cut 5" square for final size of 3" square).
3. Place square or rectangle on scoring board, and using bone folder, score 1" on each of the four sides.
4. Using Tonic scissors, cut a 45degree angle into each corner from outside edge to scored edge.
5. Using Bone Folder, lightly fold and burnish lightly each side towards center.
6. Using Bone Folder, heavily fold and burnish each angle cut towards it's corner.
7. Cut a small triangle into the center of each of the folded cut 45degree angle corners. (This is the notch where the rubber band will secure the closed tray)
8. Attach the rubber band, starting from  from any corner, sequentially around the outside of  tray by sliding rubber band into each notch. (I also tried an experiment with elastics (from a scrapbooking website) but the elastics were too 'fiddly'. The rubber bands worked quicker to setup the trays)

Let me know if you try these Travel Valet Trays. They can be used at home, in studio too of course!

 

GIVEAWAY

Ends January 20, 2014. Please enter on Giveaway post with a comment - and spread the word!

 

Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment.

 

You can visit more artists ateliers at Julia's WOYWW site - click here.

 

Peace,

LuLu