Gel Medium Photo Transfer On Canvas

Hi everyone I wanted to share the project that I made for my mom and mother-in-law this year for Mother's Day. I had seen this technique a couple of times and decided to give it a try myself, and I have to say I am in love it with and will be making tons more. So what you need for this project is: a canvas your chose in size, a toner based photo copy of the picture you want to transfer (this is the really important part, it must be a toner based copy ink jet will not work. Any copy place can do it for you) some medium gel medium (there is soft gel medium but the medium one works better also you can get it in matte glossy and semi glossy, this is up to you on which one you want I went with matte) a foam brush and something like a gift card or credit card to smooth with.

Step one: cover the canvas with the gel medium, taking care to get everywhere because if there isn't any medium in a spot it will not transfer the ink there. Also be careful not to put to much gel medium on it either because this will cause ridges and bumps that you can't get out and it will transfer those also. Yep I know this form experience :)

Step two: center your photo copy onto the canvas and starting from the center out smooth the paper down making sure to get all air bubbles and ridges out.

Step three: let dry for at least 10 hours. This part is really important you need to let if fully dry so that the ink completely transfers.

Step four: using a spray bottle with water in it, wet down the paper and start to rub it off. Now this is going to take you some time to rub all the paper off and when you think you have gotten it all off you will find when it dries that there is more. Just have some patience with it because it is totally worth it.

Step five: if you would like you can add a coat of the gel medium on top of the canvas after you are done to seal it but it is not necessary.

I hope you all give it a try, these make wonderful gifts and I am going to be putting them all over my house now in lots of different sizes LOL.

Margo

Postcards

I am in a collage melange postcard swap over at the paper pantry and this is what I came up with. The theme for this month was cooking/food/kitchen so of course I had to go for my favorite Tuscan style of these. I used several different things on them, there is a napkin, a couple of images form the Internet, image for wrapping paper, and some fun silver ware and plate from the doll house section at Hobby Lobby.

First I covered the card in the napkin then added all the different images on top of it. I also printed out a quote on card stock to add too. I colored the grapes image with some copic markers and then covered it with glossy accents. I used some rub and buff in gold leave to make the plate and sliver ware look aged, then glued them on with glossy accents.

For the back I just used a flourish stamp to divide the card stock in half like a postcard and found a stamp that looks like it has been through the mail. Then I wrote a little message for each of the ladies that would be receiving the the cards.

I really enjoyed making these and plan to join again next month. I will post a pic of the cards that I receive from the others in the swap when I get them.