Bee Transfer Junk Journal Insert Tutorial

My Etsy Shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/MyPorchPrints
My Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myporchprints

Have you ever transferred printed images to fabric? There are lots of different methods. One quick & easy way is to use Citra Solv. Today, I'll show you how to transfer bee images (from my Bee Mini Books Printable on Etsy) to fabric and use them to create an insert for your junk journal.

Materials:

• Citra Solv
• Toner Printer (Not ink, it won't transfer)
• Printed Bee Images
• Spoon
• Small Paintbrush
• Glass Cup
• Light Colored/White Fabric (nothing shiny, it needs to absorb)
• Distress Ink (If Desired)
• Cheesecloth
• Brown Kraft Paper
• Botanical Wildflower Printable

Step 1: Print Image BACKWARDS

I began by printing my image using a toner-based printer. Ink doesn't transfer. If you don't have a toner-based printer, you could try taking it to a printer or library and copying your image. Some copiers are toner-based. 

It's important to print your image backwards so when you transfer, the words & images will look correct. You can use an image manipulation program for this (like Photoshop). Or, if you have Word, you can insert your image into Word, size it to fit the page and then choose "Rotate/Flip Horizontal".

Step 2: Tape Image
Next, cut your printed image as desired. Also cut your fabric to size. If it needs ironed, do that NOW. Place image upside down on fabric and tape into place. CAREFUL not to cover any of the image with the tape, or it won't transfer.

Step 3: Transfer Image

Pour a small amount of Citra Solv into your glass cup (not much!) and using your brush, apply the citra solve to your taped-down image. The image will show through the paper. 

Step 4: Rub with Spoon
Hold your image in place with your hand, and use the back of your spoon to rub the image. This is how it will transfer to the fabric. You'll need to push pretty hard. Also, DO NOT MOVE the image or it will not transfer nicely. I like to work from the corner I'm holding with my hand all the way to the opposite edges.

Also, don't expect the image to transfer perfectly. It can be quite blurry depending on the fabric and how well it is transferred.

Step 5: Create Insert for Journal
Now that your image is transferred, you may want to wash your fabric. Definitely wash your hands as Citra Solv can irritate them. Once dry, you can begin cutting your images to use in your project.

 I like to fray my edges to give it more of a worn, vintage look.

Next, I tore pieces of brown paper & inked the edges using Tim Holtz Distress Ink and a makeup sponge.

I also cut pieces of cheesecloth and inked those.

I glued my brown paper, cheesecloth and printed bee images to a background as shown.
(Background image is from my Botanical Wildflowers Printable Kit.) You could also sew these.

Last, I added more of my transferred bee images to the top & bottom of my insert. All done!
Thanks for stopping by.

"Bee" sure to follow My Porch Prints on Etsy, Pinterest, YouTube & Facebook. :)

Fall Farmhouse Tea Towel Pillows

 

It's almost fall, ya'all! What better way to celebrate the season of cool breezes, crisp apples, colorful leaves and plump pumpkins than with some cozy farmhouse style pillows?

Step 1: Tea Towels

I bought some awesome white towels from Walmart in the kitchen towel section. They are Mainstays

brand Flour Sack Towels in white. The fabric has an awesome farmhouse look and feel. The first step is to IRON your towel. They are very wrinkly, which isn't a bad thing since the look I was going for was casual, but I wanted my image transfer to be crisp.

Step 2: CitraSolv

There is a handy, delicious smelling orange cleaner out there called CitraSolv. It is heavenly! And it's awesome for transferring inkjet printed images onto fabric! **This transfer method does not work with laser printers. Only inkjet. Grab a little glass jar and a small housepaint brush for this.

Step 3: Print your picture... backwards!
I always mess up this step. I printed the entire image on four different sheets of paper before I realized I had forgotten to flip it. I use Photoshop to create a document the same size as my pillow. (In this case, around 22x22 inches). Then I crop each section to fit an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and print them, line them up and tape them. I'm sorry if this is confusing. You may want to start with an image that can fit a standard sheet of paper... just don't forget to flip it backwards! If you don't have Photoshop, you can do this in MS Word by inserting Word Art, choosing Rotate and Flip Horizontal. You can do it with pictures, too.

Step 4: Transfer the image.
Once you have your (backwards) image place it on the tea towel so the ink is touching the fabric. Make sure it's centered. Tape the corners in place. Then lightly brush the CitraSolv onto the back of the image. Use a tablespoon to rub the image and transfer it to the fabric. After rubbing the entire image, gently lift it to be sure it transferred. It's very difficult to line it up again. I've never been successful doing it.


Step 5: Sew & stuff your pillow! And then repeat and make a few more! :)



 

 

 

 

The files for these designs are available on my Etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MyPorchPrints

 

Resize as needed and remember to FLIP them so they are backwards before you print! :)

 

 

Transfer Images to Flower Pots

 

Transfer Images to Flower Pots
I recently saw a tutorial on transferring images using Mod Podge and I wanted to try it. The perfect opportunity came in the form of three old terra cotta flower pots that I found on sale at a thrift store. They already had a pretty, timeworn quality, but I was looking for more white and less red. 

Paint
So, I began by painting them with a thin, dry-brushed layer of white. After that I added another layer of gray--just here and there where the red was still poking through.

 

Applying the Graphic
After they were dry, I printed some Graphics Fairy (see link in sidebar) images backwards and then cut them out. I sponged over them with Mod Podge (matte finish) and stuck them to the pots. I messed this part up just a little. I should have cut the paper around the graphic, not just in square, straight lines. I figured this out on the last one.

 

Dry Overnight
The tough part came next: letting them dry overnight without touching or peeking.

Lightly Wet & Peel
The next day I took them to the sink and lightly dampened the paper with water until I could see the image through it. Then, ever-so-gently, I peeled it away and also rolled it. Peeling seemed to want to take off the image, but rolling away the paper little by little worked, leaving the image behind and (mostly) intact.

The finished product turned out very pretty and has a kind of shabby, vintage, French look that I love! Can't wait to pot some herbs in these pretty planters!

 

 

Wire Basket

I also found this cutie patootie wire basket. It wasn't much to look at, but a quick coat of white paint (leaving some black showing through for that chippy look) makes it perfectly shabby!

 



Vintage Image Stockings

 

We've had the same stockings for years. And while they have some charm and nostalgia for us, I would never pick them out in a store today and say, "Oh, these are beautiful!" Nope. I would say, "What a ratty, nasty old thing. Does Santa really put edibles in THAT!"

They don't match. My husband's is about eight feel long and super skinny. And green. With a pompom. My daughters' stockings were both made by their aunt. And while I love the home-sewn style, they are red and green, which sounds like it would match all things Christmas, but really doesn't because I very rarely do up the house in traditional colors. My stocking is red. I think. And made of satin. Or did I switch to white last year? In any case, it's obviously not memorable.

Plus, my style has changed. It is always changing. Right now I'm in a vintage/shabby/French country mode. I like all things chippy, shabby, burlap and grain sack and decided my stockings should reflect that style. 

So, I got to work making these awesome vintage image stockings. They have cute little vintage graphics on them, ranging from a pic of Santa, to sheet music for Silent Night, to old Christmas ads and even part of "A Visit From Saint Nicholas" by Clement Moore (often called "Twas the Night Before Christmas"). I wish I could tell you where I found them, but I often collect images as I come across them, then use them later. But any similar images would do. I transferred the images to the stockings using Citra Solv. You can read about how to transfer printed images here.

The how-to was pretty simple. I downloaded an oversized stocking pattern from online and traced it onto some excellent grain sack-style fabric. Then I just sewed around the edges. Twice for durability, leaving the top open. My brood can get pretty rough on Christmas mornings. And sometimes poor, old Santa is a bit frantic while filling those things in the dead of night, too.

Once sewn, I frayed the edges by hand. This was very time consuming. I also added burlap, lace and other frills to the top along with a handmade chalkboard tag for the names. I think they turned out pretty sweet. Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

Want MORE Christmas ideas? Check out my blog post for a Woodland Christmas Mantel.

 

Pretty Little End Tables

Here are a few end table makeovers from earlier this year. Of course, I'm notorious for forgetting to take "before" photos, so you'll just have to use your imagination on the French table. :) Enjoy!

This table got a fresh coat of black & white paint, then I added the graphic & sealed it for durability. Pretty!
~What's On My Porch

Two ugly little end tables "before".  ~What's On My Porch

Two pretty little end tables "after". ~What's On My Porch

Love how the layers of paint and wood come through during the distressing/sanding!
~What's On My Porch