Even though summer activities have been keeping me and the kids busy, I finally managed to pull off a small crafty project. It started with a wooden tool box that I transformed a while back. You may remember that I shared the transformation here.
As much as I loved the new look, I always knew it was missing something.
Enter the Mod Podge graphic transfer method. You've probably seen it performed all over the blogosphere, but I saw it explained best by my friend Jennifer over at Town and Country Living. I have struggled with graphic transfer methods for a while now, whether it be onto wood, fabric or otherwise. And I have to say that this one came the closest to what I might call an actual success. You'll need a piece of wood, a laser printed or photocopied image, a jar of Mod Podge and a sponge brush (you can get this at any Michael's or Jo-Ann's or even a hardware store, usually found by the wood staining products).
I started with a French graphic from the illustrious Graphics Fairy. I first printed out the mirror image on my ink jet printer. Then I took that and had it copied at Office Depot on their laser copier. I cut fairly closely around the graphic and was left with this.
Then I took the graphic, brushed the "good" side with a nice coating of Mod Podge and turned it face down onto the tool box. It looked like this.
You can kind of see the print through the paper. Then I brushed a nice coating of the Mod Podge over the back side of the paper as well, pretty much securing it to the box. Then I waited for it to dry. I'd say I waited a few hours, mainly because I had to do something with the kids and just didn't get back to it until then. I've read where it can take as little as an hour to fully dry.
The next step involves a spray bottle. I sprayed water onto the image, soaking it, and then I used my finger to begin gently rubbing the paper off. Up to this point I was like, hey, this is going great! Then I rubbed off a part of one of the letters. Bummer. Beware, it's a fine line between rubbing just right and rubbing too hard. Lucky for me, I'm always going for that shabby chic look and can afford to rub a bit of the graphic off and still be ok. You may have to spray a number of times and rub a number of times until you reach the desired effect. And voila.
Don't those tomatoes and jalapenos look good?
Overall I'm happy with the finished product.
Now I just have to figure out which piece of furniture's next!
Have a great week!
xoxo
