'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/

'My Top Ten Pix of Twenty Twelve! Art Journals, Tips and More!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

Happy New Year!

Here's a peek at my fave pix of the past year, plus a few tips - enjoy!

 'Top Twelve + 1 and

Timely Tips of Twenty Twelve Review!'

Full Frontal Fan

Interesting composition I created for this background spread -

light, glowing middle within dark borders around the edge.

 

I practiced doodle 'stacking' on left page

using a gray pigment chisel tip marker

(writes over everything  just like a Copic alcohol marker,

but no stinky fumes)

 

Just love the color gradation (spray ink), stencil,
 and gold (my acrylic paint concoction) that I painted on the back
cover of  father's day brag book / altered book / art journal!

P.S. Spray ink and paint are VERY messy.
I use a store bought spray box to protect my studio somewhat -
but it splatters everywhere if I'm not careful...

Reminder to myself!
This image is also layered behind the lovely lass
on my blog banner above.

 

Top view Fan

 

 Printed pattern tissue paper!

 

Makes a great blotter on the art table.

This is Tim Holtz - comes on a roll like wax paper - various patterns.

Clean your bushes and test paints, medium, tapes etc.

When it's filled up and all grungy, tear it up and use in collage,

 backgrounds, art journal pages, altered books.

Makes a geat layer because it's translucent when glued down

with wet ashesive. Also use it with dry adhesive 

(run it through my 5" Xyron to take in travel supplies).

Easy peasy!



First prize I won in 2012 -
1st Place in a scrapbook LO contest!

Backgound page laying on a grid blotter.

This huge grid desk blotter was a gift last year.
That's more grid blotter in photo below.
When I used up all the blotter pages I switched to the
Tim Holtz tissue paper now on my table.

 

  Cheap 'watercolor' brushes.

 

The best travel tool for details with watercolor paint I found

are  kids watercolor brushes by Crayola.

They are refillable with your own watercolor paint recipes,

diluted arylics, paint glazes, India ink - or even diluted medium!

I found a cheap set of these brushes at Michaels.

Cheap plastic 'putty knife' from the hardware store!

Best tool for applying Yes! Paste -
I slightly trimmed the right and left sides of the putty knife
with Tim Holtz Tonic scissors so that the
 putty knife would fit down into the paste jar.
Putty knife is also great for spreading gesso and other texture medium.
Same concept as the plastic hotel key / old credit card - but
 I wanted a tool with a handle....

P.S. I use Yes!Paste mostly for laminating/gluing 2 facing book pages together -
Yes!Paste is acid-free/archival and makes the paper very stiff and
no wrinkling of paper. Buy Yes!Paste at Michaels.

 

 Lots of layers.

 

Tim Hotltz tissue paper, deli paper,

metal tape (from hardware store) that I embosed a painted with acrylics -

 over lined pages of a small, store bought diary/journal.

 

Great dimension - wow!

My first assemblage for a journal cover.
Collections of game tokens, dice, watch parts, 
foreign and vintage coins, keys,
calculator guts - all adhered with
soft gel medium - gloss (by Golden).

Outstanding tool! Papermate EAGLE ballpoint pen.
Great for writing over gook on art journal pages.
When ink is gone, this makes a great stylus for
scratching textures into wet gesso, too!

What are your fave pix on your blog? 

I would love to see your faves! Please leave a comment including a link back to your blog.

And if you're a mixed-media artist or art journaler, check out my Giveaway in sidebar!

Thanks for visiting - please come back soon!

Have a great art-filled New Year!

Peace,

LuLu

'Water Brushes a.l.a. LuLu!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes


Howdy and welcome,

Have you seen the neat portable water brushes? You can find them in craft stores and online.

Last week, I saw a new water brush by Tim Holtz (Ranger). Looked like it would be a useful addition to my stash of art supplies - or would it???

Elmer's Paintastics!
Paint brush?! - or - water brush?!

At a cost of $10 for one brush, for a couple bucks more, you can buy a set of 10 brushes by Elmer's! I found a set of Elmer's Painsticks in my studio (bought the set at STAPLES office supply 2 years ago).

Just disassemble, empty out the paint (paint a quick backgound page in your art journal until empty) and fill with water. Or in my case, I fill with matte medium, or tinted acrylic glaze. Great tools for painting or embellishing in art journals on the road.

Pam Carriker talks about the water brush tool in her new DVD, too!

Have you ever used water brushes? Do you use them with water, as intended? How many different water brushes do you own? 

How many different solutions do you use in your water brushes? 

Do you fill them with water? Paint? Medium? Glue?

Another view of my main work station -
bright Northern exposure!

Would love for you to comment on this post - or please comment on any of my other posts. 

Shhhhhh! Can you keep a secret? My new Spring 2012 Giveaway is coming later this month!

Thanks for stopping by - come back again soon.
Peace,
LuLu