Mod Podge Photo Transfer to Fabric

Use transfer medium to do a Mod Podge photo transfer to fabric. This vintage pillow project is so easy and the results are pretty!

Skills Required: Intermediate. To transfer an image to fabric, I recommend having previous experience with photo transfer medium. This is because fabric is not forgiving and if you mess up, it’s permanent.

Hi there! It’s Shannon from Rosyscription again! After last month’s baby blocks, I thought I’d show you another fun Mod Podge photo craft I made for our daughter’s nursery. With this project you’ll learn how to do a Mod Podge photo transfer to fabric!

Did you know that it is really easy to make a custom pillow for your home with an image transfer? You can buy a plain pillow cover (or sew your own like I did with this easy envelope pillow tutorial) and decorate it in so many ways.

My new favorite approach to decorate a pillow is to transfer a graphic onto the fabric using Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium. It makes the prettiest, vintage inspired home decor!

I found this adorable vintage dress image from The Graphic Fairy and knew it would coordinate with some of the other vintage elements that I planned for the nursery.

With a few simple steps, I was able to take that image and transfer it onto to my pillow. Let me show you how to make this Mod Podge photo craft below.

Photo Transfer to Fabric

Supplies needed:

• Plain, white pillow cover
• Mirror image photocopy of desired graphic
• Cutting mat
• Craft knife
• Brushes
• Wax paper
• Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium
• Squeegee
• Sponge or rag

Print and Cut the Image

Get a photocopy of your desired image made. (It is important to use a photocopy of the image OR print it using a laser printer. Inkjet printer images will not work with this tutorial – they will bleed.)

Use a craft knife and carefully cut out your image. Do your best to trim off any excess white around the edges, otherwise it will also transfer to the fabric.

Apply the Medium

Protect your work space using wax paper. Also, lay a sheet of wax paper inside the pillow cover so that the back of the pillow cover is protected.

Brush a thick layer of transfer medium over the ink on your image. You want to use enough so that the image is obscured – just obscured. You don’t need to glob it on.

Press the Photo to Fabric

Lay the paper image side down on the fabric where you desire it.

Smooth out any bubbles in the glue using a squeegee and clean up any of the medium that extends beyond the paper. Allow the glue and paper to dry for 24 hours.

Remove the Paper

The final step of your Mod Podge photo transfer to fabric is to remove the paper. Using a damp rag, moisten the paper.

After about a minute, use a damp sponge or rag and gently rub the paper off in a circular motion to reveal the image below. The key is to work slowly and carefully so you do not tear or rub the image off.

Once all of the paper is rubbed off, you can add a pillow form inside your cover and enjoy your newly decorated pillow! The fabric cover can be washed cold and hung dry.

The little dress on the pillow is a sweet addition for our baby girl’s room. We plan to use the pillows as décor only and will pull them out of the crib when she is sleeping in there. I love how the dress image coordinates with the other pillows we have in her room.

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Photo Transfer to Fabric

Learn how to transfer images to fabric using Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium! You'll love the results.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Active Time45 minutes mins

Dry Time1 day d

Total Time1 day d 1 hour hr

Yield: 1 pillow

Cost: $10

Equipment

• Cutting mat
• Craft knife
• Paintbrush(es)
• Squeegee
• Sponge or rag

Materials

• 1 Pillow cover white, cotton
• Printout of graphic laserjet
• Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium
• Wax paper

Instructions

• Get a laserjet photocopy of the image you’d like to use in the correct size to fit your fabric.
• Use a craft knife and carefully cut out the image. Trim off any excess white around the edges, otherwise it will also transfer to the fabric.
• Protect the work space using wax paper. Also, lay a sheet of wax paper inside the pillow cover so that the back of the pillow cover is protected.
• Brush a thick layer of transfer medium over the image, and then lay the paper (glue-side down) on the fabric.
• Smooth out any bubbles in the glue using a squeegee and clean up any of the medium that extends beyond the paper.
• Allow the glue and paper to dry for 24 hours.
• Remove the paper. Using a damp rag, moisten the paper. After about a minute, use a damp sponge or rag and gently rub the paper off in a circular motion to reveal the image.
• Once all of the paper is rubbed off, let dry. Add a pillow form inside the cover.

Video

Notes

The key to a successful photo transfer is to work slowly and carefully so you do not tear or rub the image off.

Now that you’ve learn the technique to transfer photo to fabric, I think you’ll also like these projects:

• Photo Pillows with Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium
• Heart Pillow with a Photo Transfer (Free Printable!)
• How to Transfer Photos to Wood
• Transfer Paper to Fabric with This Cool Tutorial
• Mod Podge Photo Transfer to Glass Vases