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Transfer an Image to Furniture

Do an image transfer on furniture using a vintage style graphic and a unique medium!
Active Time2 hours 30 minutes
Dry Time1 day
Total Time1 day 2 hours 30 minutes
Yield: 1 project
Cost: $10

Equipment

Materials

Instructions

  • Start by cleaning off the table from dust and dirt.
    Table before refinishing
  • This step is optional, but I highly recommend it, even if your furniture is unfinished. Use sandpaper to smooth out your surface and/or rough up the old paint.
    Hand sanding a wood table before a project
    • Read my article on how to prep furniture for decoupage.
  • Choose your main color and paint your table. You’ll want to paint several coats – I did three. Let the paint dry between coats, and let it dry completely when finished.
    Painting a wood table with link pink chalk paint
  • Paint your second color on the legs or other portions of the furniture project that you would like to accent. Give these areas at least two coats of paint and let them dry.
    Painting details on the table with a light blue chalk paint
  • While your table is drying, print out the image of your choice on an inkjet printer. Make sure it fits your table (or other piece of furniture) and then cut out completely. Don’t leave any white areas around the edges as those will transfer along with the image.
    Cutting out an image with scissors
    • If you select an image with words on it, you need to reverse the images before printing, so that when the image is transferred, the words will be going in the right direction.
  • Use the foam brush to spread photo transfer medium completely over the front of the image – you want to spread enough so that you can no longer see the image.
    Once the image is covered, flip it over and smooth onto your table or other piece of furniture. Smooth thoroughly and leave to dry for 24 hours.
    Applying Mod Podge photo transfer medium over an image with a foam brush
    • If any photo transfer medium comes out from under the edges of the image as you are smoothing, simply wipe it away with a wet cloth.
  • Use water to dampen the image and start rubbing. Keep rubbing portions of the paper away and the image beneath will be revealed!
    Use medium pressure when rubbing – you want to use enough pressure so that the top layer of paper is removed, but not too hard. You don’t want to rub off the image underneath! Once you are done removing the top layer, let it dry.
    Hand rubbing the paper off an image transfer
  • Use Mod Podge to seal the table top. Add at least three coats and let dry.
    Mod Podging over the top of an image with a paintbrush