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.

DIY photo to wood block

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!

Gather These Supplies

Screen shot of Power Point

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.

Painting photo transfer medium on top of an Instagram image

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).

Hand smoothing an image down on a block

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!

Wetting the image down on the block

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 . . .

Wiping away the wet paper

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.

Adding Mod Podge Hard Coat to a wood block

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.

DIY photo on a wood block

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

DIY photo to wood 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!

Transfer a photo to a wood block
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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
Active Time1 hour
Dry Time1 day
Total Time1 day 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield: 1 block
Cost: $5

Materials

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:

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22 Comments

  1. This is rather brilliant. Can’t wait to try it! First I’m gonna need a pug, though.

    Did you do anything to the block first or is it just unfinished wood? Will it work on a painted surface?

    Also, one of the paid links under this article says, “New Cream Makes Chin Appear Tight and Toned” and I had to pause for a second to realize that it wasn’t a new use for Mod Podge. Mod Podge Facelifts! We’ll be rich!

    1. Hi Sara! It was just unfinished wood 😀 And yes, you can do it on a painted surface – however, the transfer is slightly transparent, so dark colors may make it so that the transfer doesn’t show up.

  2. Loved reading about Nellie, live in a household with one(belongs to a friend)she is the same color as your girl. Such a sweet dog. Loved seeing your baby’s name as Nellie was my mother’s name and she was born in May. Really adorable box, might have to make for my friend. Thanks for sharing.

  3. I was wondering do I use the mod podge photo transfer to adhere the photo to the block and then use the mod podge hard coat after it has dried for 24 hours? And after peeling, use the mod podge hard coat again to make the image darker? Thanks!

    1. Hi there! You’ll use the photo transfer to adhere the picture to the block, peel the paper off, and then use the Hard Coat. So it sounds like you’ve got it right! 😀

  4. This is super cute! I just purchased some transfer medium for another project so I actually have that on hand. Would another type of Mod Podge work for the top coat? Like Mod Podge Matte rather than Hard Coat? My local craft stores have a poor selection of Mod Podge and I hate having to wait for things to come in the mail!

    Saw your link on Today’s Creative Blog. Thanks for sharing and feel free to stop by!

  5. Do you use photo paper to print the photos, or regular paper-or even cardstock…..that is the only part I was unsure of, otherwise I cannot wait to do this project, we actually have 6 pets, perfect for this project!!

  6. Can I photo transfer my T- shirts using Mod Podge Gloss? Or I need to use the photo transfer medium, specifically? Thanks!!!

    1. Hi Janymk! There are some tutorials out there with photo transfers using Gloss – but I don’t know how to do it on fabric (you’d have to Google a tutorial to see if you can find one). But the photo transfer medium specifically works on fabric 😀

  7. Hi Amy! This is such a neat idea! I also want to try this on my own but couldn’t figure out where to get the wood block square that you’ve used. Can I ask where you got it? Thanks!

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