Transferring a Graphic onto Wood-Turning a $6 Investment into a Cute Piece

 

 

Since I started working a few years ago, my crafting has been limited, but recently I decided to use some new graphics (purchased on Etsy for $1) and transfer them onto a little dresser.

 

 

I started with this $5 garage sale find.  Sorry, I thought I took a good 'before' picture, but didn't...  But, you can probably figure that the drawers looked just like the rest of the piece.

 

 

We sanded down the entire piece.

 

 

 

 

 

I  took a mirror image of a laser copy (if you only have an ink jet printer, just take it to Kinko's or a similar place and get a copy made--they use laser copiers).  I printed off three copies-one for each drawer.

 

 I taped the graphic on each of the drawers.  I barely dabbed Citra-Solv on the paper.  (I found Citra-Solv at Whole Foods)  If you put too much Citra-Solv on, it'll smear.  I rubbed a piece of plastic very carefully over the graphic, but again, I tried not to smear it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I carefully lifted off the paper and let each drawer dry.

 

 

 

 

I put MinWax Pre-stain over the entire piece, as pine tends to get blochy if you don't.  After that dried, I applied a MinWax Natural Stain.

The original drawer pulls were wood.  I worked and worked to sand them down, but they stained up too dark.  I took some brass pulls and painted them black.

 

I've moved it in a couple of different places to see where I'm going to use it.  I think it turned out pretty cute! 

 

Thanks so much for your visit!

 

Pam

 

 

 

I am linking to the following parties:

Elizabeth and Company

  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House 

Welcome Sign

I made this Welcome sign using a birdcage graphic from  The Graphics Fairy, Citrasolv, a fence board that I aged and a piece of metal from Hobby Lobby.

I started with a fence board that my husband glued up.  I sanded it, but not too well.  You will see later that I should've sanded much better to get all of the glue off!

 I lightly applied Citrasolv (purchased at Whole Foods)  with a tissue until the graphic showed through.  I then used the back of a spoon to rub it into the wood.  (I've used Citrasolv on several projects and have found it to adhere most clearly when applying it lightly, then using the back of a spoon to rub it in) 

I rubbed apple cider vinegar on the board with steel wool.  It took two coats to look nice and aged.  You can see my original post about aging wood HERE.   You can see the light spots here where the vinegar would not adhere to the wood due to the glue spots.

I kept trying to sand those spots off, but it just wouldn't work, so what's a girl to do???  Turn the board over and try again!

My husband made a frame for it out of a fence board as well.

I added this metal "Welcome" piece I found at Hobby Lobby, but wanted it black, so painted it first.

I added hooks and wire to the back.

I screwed the Welcome piece onto the front and was done.

Thanks so much for coming by!  

Pam

I am linking to the following parties:

Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesdays

Italian Alphabet Tray

 

I am having fun with Citrasolv projects again this week!  I found this neat Italian alphabet graphic at The Graphics Fairy.

 

I flipped the image in Picnik by going to the Rotate Tab.

 

Did you notice that there is not a "J" or a "W" in this?  Hmmm....  :)

I used Citrasolv (purchased at Whole Foods). I put gloves on and did the project in the garage so it wouldn't smell up the house.

I taped the graphic to a pine board my husband had glued up for me.

Because this wood was very smooth, the graphic went onto the wood without any problems by just using a paper towel to apply the Citrasolv to the paper.  I still used the plastic tool to rub it, but almost didn't need to. The right side looks really smudged in these pictures, but doesn't look that bad in person.

 

I let the piece dry for a couple of hours so the graphic would be set in the wood.

I then applied Puritan Pine stain with a foam brush.  I wanted to stain it before assembling it so I wouldn't have any missed spots. 

 

You can see where the stain looks a little different in some spots.  I was ok with that because I wanted some 'character' on this piece.  With soft woods like this pine, to get an even application, you should first use a wood conditioner.  

 I stained the edges before they had the final cuts.  The one really long piece was cut to size once we put the piece together.

Some wood glue, a finish nailer and this framing contraption got it all into place.  If you don't have a framing contraption, you will be fine! 

I used a foam brush and applied this clear satin polyurethane to the whole piece. 

I let it dry for a couple of hours then attached the handles on the sides.

And here's the finished product:

Thanks so much for coming by.

Pam

I am linking to the following parties:

 Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesdays