DIY Photo Block with an Image Transfer

Use your Instagram images to create this easy wood photo block! You’ll use Mod Podge photo transfer medium to make it happen.

Skills Required: Intermediate. It definitely takes some practice to do a Mod Podge photo transfer. You’ll be applying images to all six sides of a wood block using the medium. I recommend you try on a piece of scrap wood or dollar store wood item first.

If you’ve been around this blog for any length of time then you know that I love my pugs – and if you follow my Instagram stream then you really know that I love my pugs.

So I made this Mod Podge photo block so that everyone who visits my loft will know just how much my piggies mean to me.

It’s especially important because I have so many pictures on Instagram of my Nellie, who passed away in 2012 (and I still miss her!).

This photo block is so, so easy to make and would make a great gift . . . and it uses Mod Podge photo transfer medium. Which is a blast to use. Here’s how this photo transfer to wood is done!

Photo Block DIY

Gather These Supplies

• Wood block – I used a 3 1/2″ square
• Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium
• Mod Podge Hard Coat
• Silicone mat
• Instagram photos printed out on a dry toner printer – 6
• Sponge brush (comes with the photo transfer medium)
• Scissors

First you need to get your Instagram photos off of your phone/photo stream and into a program like PowerPoint or Word so you can print them.

I plugged my iPhone in and downloaded them, but you can send them to yourself as well (via e-mail on your smartphone).

NOTE: If there is text on the image, you’ll need to reverse the image so that the text transfers correctly.

Once they are in the program of your choice and sized to fit the block, you need to print them.

You need to make sure that the ink from your printer is DRY toner so that it doesn’t smear. Laserjet will work, and some inkjet printers.

My printer is an HP inkjet and it works. However, a lot of inkjet printers smear, so you need to do a test.

If the inkjet ink smears, get your photo copied at a FedEx store or other place where you have access to a laserjet printer.

Cut all of the photos out and set them in a pile. You are going to do each photo separately.

Use the sponge brush to apply photo transfer medium to the front of the photo – so much that you can’t see the photo because the image is completely white.

Doing this on the silicone mat makes it easy to pick the picture off (and protects your work surface).

Smooth the image down carefully onto the block. Smooth, smooth, smooth.

Wipe away any excess that comes out the side. Repeat with the remaining five sides and let this dry for at least 24 hours. This is very important!

When the 24 hours have passed, you can get the photos wet. I did this one side at a time as well. Why are you getting them wet? Because . . .

you are going to rub the paper off and reveal the image! Rub very gently or you WILL rub the image off.

Here’s how I do it.

I rub lightly and rub a bunch of paper away. Then I let the image dry so I can see where I need to rub more.

I do it in stages rather than trying to do too much at once. I did all six sides at once, let the block dry and then wet it again where I need to remove more paper.

The finished block will end up looking slightly faded and vintage-y – this is normal. You don’t have to add Mod Podge Hard Coat to your block, but it does darken the photos a bit, which I wanted.

Here’s one side of my finished block . . .

And here’s the finished photo craft again. I love it! It’s proudly being displayed on my bookshelf. I love that this makes a great gift . . . and I was also thinking, a fun end of summer craft too. To capture vacation memories and photos!

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Photo to Wood Block

Learn how to make a wooden picture block using Instagram images and Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium.

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Active Time1 hour hr

Dry Time1 day d

Total Time1 day d 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Yield: 1 block

Cost: $5

Equipment

• Foam brush(es)
• Scissors

Materials

• 1 Wood block(s) 3 1/2" square
• Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium
• Mod Podge Hard Coat
• Silicone craft mat
• 6 Instagram photos printed out on a dry toner printer

Instructions

• Print out the photos on a dry inkjet or laserjet printer. Make sure they are sized to fit the block.
• Use the sponge brush to apply photo transfer medium to the front of the photo – obscuring it completely.
• Smooth the image down carefully onto the block.
• Wipe away any excess that comes out the side. Repeat with the remaining five sides and let this dry for at least 24 hours.
• When the 24 hours have passed, wet the photos and rub lightly to remove the paper. Let the image dry and repeat.
• The finished block will end up looking slightly faded and vintage-y – this is normal. Add a layer of Mod Podge Hard Coat to darken the photos and seal the block.
• Let dry completely before displaying.

If you enjoyed this wood craft, I’d love for you to check out these other photo transfer ideas:

• Photo Transfer to Metal
• Inkjet Photo Transfer to Wood
• Photo Transfer to Canvas
• Easy Photo Pillows