DIY Image Transfer

How To Do It

1. Trim the photocopied or laser-printed image.
2. Place it face up on a flat working surface.
3. Cut out a piece of packing tape slightly longer than the size of the image.
4. Place the strip of tape across the part of the image to be transferred.
5. Rub the tape down in both directions with your thumb or use the long edge of a ruler, eliminating any bumps and bubbles.
6. Apply more strips of tape where desired overlapping each strip by 1/8 inches. Be sure to press firmly down the two overlapping edges. Repeat if necessary.
7. Before soaking it, trim the picture by cutting carefully around the taped image.
8. Soak the taped image paper-side down in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes.
9. When thoroughly soaked, vigorously rub the paper side of the image under running water in a circular motion with your thumbs to remove all the paper. NOTE: If no running water is available, rub the paper off into the bowl of warm water/
10. Blot the image dry with a dry, clean tea towel to reveal the transferred image. Examine the back of the image to ensure that all the paper has been removed. If you notice some paper, rub it out under warm running tap water. Dry again.
11. The tape will still be somewhat sticky, so you can directly apply it to any plastic, ceramic, metal, or vinyl surface. It can also be relatively easy to remove once the occasion or holiday is over. Save these transfers by sticking them on a sheet of wax paper to be reused when needed again.
12. The transfer image can be adhered to paper or card stock but note that this makes the transfer permanent as it will not be possible to remove the image without damaging the paper surface.