'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/

'GIVEAWAY extended!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy Welcome,

GIVEAWAY  extended until midnight CST Jan 20, 2014. I'm going to be out of town during the original deadline date, yikes!...Checkout the FREEBIE  on this post too! Giveaway.

Giveaway.

 

Thanks for stropping by - and please come back soon.

Peace,

LuLU

'GIVEAWAY - plus Texture Freebie for Your Art Journal!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes


Howdy and welcome!

To celebrate my 4th anniversary on blogger, I'm hosting a long-overdue GIVEAWAY for you! My Blogoversary was in October, but I've been swamped and then had camera glitches.

If you are a scrapbooker or mixed media artist you will love this Giveaway!

GIVEAWAY GOODIES

GIVEAWAY GOODIES

GIVEAWAY GOODIES 

 

  

HOW TO ENTER

LuLu's 4th BLOGOVERSARY GIVEAWAY!

• Join this site to become a Follower. Now open to everyone!
• Post a link on your blog titled
  'LuLu's 4th BLOGOVERSARY GIVEAWAY'
  with a link back to this post.
   
• Add a comment on this post including,  the Title of a 'LuLu-Too-Beaucoup' post  that you enjoy OR the Title of any sidebar link on this blog that you enjoy.
• Enter as often as you like by adding as many comments as you like. But every comment you add must include a different LuLu-Too-Beaucoup post 'Title' OR a different link Title  on this blog that you enjoy.
• Include in your comment (s) the link back to your blog post.

 

ELIGIBILITY

• Open to Followers  everyone worldwide with a postal address.
• You must have a blog to enter.
• Previous giveaway winners are not eligible.

  

DEADLINE

• Midnight CST Dec Jan 20, 2013.2014

 

HOW TO WIN?

 

• I will choose the winning comment on Dec 20 Jan 21, 2013. 2014
• There will be one winner.

  

RESULTS POST

• Results announcing winner's name will be posted by Dec Jan 21st.
• Winner has until Jan  Feb 3, 2014, to contact me via email with their postal address.
• Winner forfeits prize if I don't get an email by midnight CST Jan Feb 3, 2014.
•  In case of forfeiture, another winner will be chosen.
• If no forfeiture, prizes will be shipped by Jan Feb 17, 2014.

LuLu's 4th Blogoversary GIVEAWAY - PRIZES!

• v 1 pre-prepped art journal (4 1/4" x 8 1/4"), 8 folios/16 pages,   (bound by me including a variety of papers - scrapbook, designer, craft)
•  
• v 1 original stamp "LuLu's Lunas" - carved by me exclusively for the winner
•  
• v 1 hardcover book - journal pages altered by me with original tape, washi and masking tape
•  
• v 3 original 3-pocket journal pages (designed  & assembled by me from double-sided pattern cardstock
•  
• v 3 original acrylic charms - painted by me with alcohol ink
•  
• v set of original tabs - cut by me from pattern scrapbook paper 

•      1 Strathmore  'Drawing' paper pad

 

·       1 Basic Grey paper stack, 6" x 6")

 

·       1 border sticker sheet 

 

·       2 original dominoes - altered by my artist friend, Maria Garcia

 

·       2 vintage dice (great for Steampunk assemblages!)

 

·       2 foam stamps

 

·       2 hanks of ruffle yarn

 

·       2 sheets of vellum sentiments

 

·       2 storage tins

 

·       3 monopoly game tokens (great for Steampunk assemblages!)

 

·       5 foam sheets - assorted colors

 

·       5 keys (great for Steampunk assemblages!)

 

·       6 double-sided embossing/texture plates – plus embossing tool (Fiskars)

 

·       misc. goodies (not shown)

 

·       misc. stickers

 

·       misc. die cuts

 

·       misc. die sheets

 

(Basket not included)

 

 

BONUS ENTRY!
For another chance to win, include in your comment the one-word name of a 16 time Grammy winning musician who shares the same birthday week with me. Hint: he's coming to Chicago for a few months for his musical starting in June 2014!

EVERYBODY WINS FREEBIE!
Even if you do not enter the 4th Blogoversary Giveaway above, you can still take this freebie. Great for adding texture to your art journal or altered books! Permission granted to right click and save picture 'Moisture in Mars' - an excerpt of 'Doodles Deux' - to your computer.

'Moisture on Mars'

Freebie -

permission granted by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes for you to copy

COMING SOON!
A new FREE Tutorial is in the works and coming after the holidays. Stay tuned!

As always, I'd love for you to comment on any of my blog posts.

Thanks for stopping by - and good luck!

Peace,
LuLu

'My 2nd Commission - a Paris Adventure!

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

Exciting news! This past Friday I officially accepted my 2nd commision. Yeah!

For this commission I'm creating a custom scrapbook of a client's Paris vacation! I've been given carte blanche - total creative freedom! The base of the book is a Brag Book by Fancy Pants that I'm altering.

I'm ecstatic!

Here are photos of my scrapbook that I presented to land this commission.

YOUR TURN

Have you ever made  or personalized a custom scrapbook to order? What were your specifications? How long did it take you to complete the order? How many hours did you spend on the project?

Thanks for stopping by. Would love for you to become a Follower while you're visiting. Stay tuned - my '100 Follower Giveaway' is coming SOON!

Peace,
LuLu

Giveaway! Giveaway! 7 days and counting! Giveaway!

Only 7 days until Spring Giveaway for followers ends! Don't forget to comment!

Multiple ways to enter. Ends May 6, 2012.

You must comment to be eligible to win.

Go to link below for info and to enter.
www.lulu-too-beaucoup.blogspot.com/2012/03/giveaway-giveaway-awesome-artists.html

'Time Flies - Watch parts for Art Journals and Altered Book Pages!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

Last Friday, Mar 25, I started deconstructing a bunch of antique and vintage watches that I'd bought ages ago. Used my hubby's precision screwdriver set and my jewelry magnifying lamp. Also, took apart a couple of broken kitchen timers.

These are the only parts I could unscrew - the screwdriver set I used was way too flimsy. So I ordered a different precision tool set online which should arrive shortly. Had a great time taking the watches apart! Planning to use the parts on my art journal pages and AB pages.

Would love to see your comments about this post. Have you ever disasssembled watches, timers or clocks?

Thanks for stopping by - and stay tuned for my 100th post Giveaway coming very, very, very, soon!

Peace,
LuLu

'...till the sun grows cold...' Altered Book!

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes


Howdy and welcome,

'...till the sun grows cold...'

 

Ingredients: Altered book from recycled calendar/photo album, gessos, acrylic paints, glazes, ink, image transfers, markers, gel pens, glaze pens, colored pencils, tissue tapes, ribbons, acrylic tags, rub ons, stickers, vellum sentiments, embossed aluminum tape

For this past Christmas, I gave my hubby an altered book I worked on starting on Sep 30, 2010 and finished on Christmas Eve. The title, '...till the sun grows cold...', comes from a line in one of the poems (not mine) I added to this book.

Altered Book Covers



This is my 1st time using photobucket.com albums. I'll post more pages from this altered book later as I load them to photobucket.com. Meanwhile, click below above to see the covers.

I'd love your comments about this post - and I encourage you to become a Follower, if you're not already.

Thanks for stopping by - please come back again soon.

Peace,

LuLu

P.S. The book I altered is called 'MyBook Adaptable Planner' by Per Annum. These planners come in 2 sizes. Mine is the smallest version ($20), 4"x6" and I used my 3"x5" photos in it. (I have my FILM processed offsite and have them add the white border  so I don't need to do any matting, unless I want to add more. Although I also use digi camers, for the majority of my photography I use my Canon Sure Shot film camera. Works fine for pmy purposes.)

'WOYWW - Makin' a mess!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

For WOYWW this week, my workspace has some altered books that I'm prepping to be travel journals.

"Makin' a Mess" -
vintage kids books, gessos, wax paper, deli paper, rubbermaid containers

Left book is an old hardcover Golden kids book. Right book is a softcover kids book. Over the past few months, both books have been slathered with multiple layers of gesso (tinted, clear and white). This was after pages were removed and alternate pages adhered together for more support. Page corners are decorated with my 'homemade' embossed aluminum tape. Just finished another gesso layer and they're going to dry overnight.

Some of the rubbermaid containers were a failed idea. A while back I mixed several colors of tinted gesso. The few that I covered with plastic wrap  before putting on the lid all dried out. Oh, well - you live and learn. At least they didn't all dry out!

Have you tried your hand at altering old books yet? How do you prep your books? Do you spend a long time in the 'PREP' phase like I do?! I'd love to see some of your 'prepped' works in progress.

Please comment about this post - or any of my other posts. Here's a peek at more artist spaces at the WOYWW blog hop.

Thanks for visiting and please stop by again soon.

Peace,
LuLu