Graphic Image Tutorial

 A while back, I attempted a graphic image transfer onto a buffet.  It took a few attempts... but I finally got it.  Today I did this little dresser, and I took step-by-step photos to share with all of you how its done.







But first, here is the before and after.

 

Now that we have that under our belts, let's take a look at how we got there.

First, sand, prep and paint the piece.  I used 'Grain Sack' by Miss Mustard Seed.

Sand that puppy down.  I used an orbital hand sander on the flat surfaces, then used a piece of 120 grit around the finer detail.  Finally, I sanded the whole thing down by hand with 220, to make it nice and smooth.
 

Choose your image.  As always, I use the Graphic's Fairy.  Her images are free and large enough for such projects.  I go to Staples, and they print it out on 11" x 17" paper, using a laser printer.  They use Adobe to convert the image to tile mode.  There's a really nice young girl who knows me by now at the Staples in Center Mall on Barton.  She really knows what she's doing.

Make sure you get it printed out in mirror image!!

I then cut the image out, and tape it all together.

Too bad I'm not Miss Mustard Seed - Frog Tape would be paying me for this post!

Make sure not to cover any of the image with the tape.
 

 The next step is to fit it onto the piece.  Tape it down.

Dig out the varsol (paint thinner) out of the garage.  Our jug has seen better days.
 

Wear gloves to protect your dainty paint-covered hands!
 

Dip a rag in varsol, and saturate a small portion of the image.  You want to really rub that varsol in, making sure the image is completely soaked.
 

Using a hard, blunt object, rub the image onto the piece.  I use an edge of a credit card.  If it doesn't work well, try different objects and use whatever works for you.

Scissors work well, too.
 

Do not underestimate how much hard rubbing you will have to do to get the image transferred.  It will take you a few hours to complete the project.  Hold that image in place, and plug away at it.  You can peel back the paper to see how you're doing.

The parts you missed, just re-soak it in varsol, and rub it even harder.  RUB baby, RUB!!!
 

And if you stick with it, you will succeed! 
 

Such a beautiful, French typography dresser.

Wouldn't this be cute as a front entryway table?  Or as a side server?  Or as a change table?
 

Oh yes, on the hardware I use Annie Sloan's silver guilding wax.

That's it!  Pretty easy.  As always, let me leave you with an adorable shot of my twins this week, playing the piano.

Pictures like these make me excited for life with them :)

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