Techniques for Experimenting

Happy Sunday to everyone!    Did you remember to set your clock appropriately?   Arizona never changes time, as we get enough sunshine already!  BUT this week we got HAIL, yes in Sunny Arizona! 

 
I wanted to share some Transfer Techniques, some you may have seen.  I think it's always fun to see other works that may have just that one little bit of info to inspire us!  

All of the images below are on cream cardstock as a base, mists of various colors were sprayed on and in some cases I also use ink direct from pad to help age and enhance.  
When using mists or water soluble inks, you may want to heat set your base with a heat gun or hairdryer before proceeding.   You could dilute the inks if not heat set. 

The first transfer is done with good old packing tape, you may have done this one.   Print an image on copy paper.    Cut a piece of packing tape a bit larger than the image and adhere the image to the tape, (sticky side on the image).   Burnish with a bone folder or the back of a spoon.   Moisten the paper and begin to rub with your fingers which removes the paper payer, leaving the image behind.
Brush a layer of gel medium or clear adhesive onto your base and adhere the transfer.    
This one also shows you a TIP to think about...
When an image has text on it, you will want to print it as a mirror image, otherwise the text will be backwards on the finished item.

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This may be one of my favorites, due to the subtlety of the image.    Again, using an inkjet printed image (inkjet does not absorb deeply into the paper, as there is no heat used in printing it, therefore it can easily be transferred).   
This lovely lady was printed NOT ON PAPER but on TAP, a tool for transferring to most any surface.
Once you have your base prepared and dry, simply place the TAP image face down and using a HOT, DRY iron, simply iron it onto the base.  It is heat set and permanent.  This woman was wearing a Fur coat which I positioned over the blue misted area.   You can use TAP on fabric, paper of all sorts and TAP comes with written instruction for use of various surfaces.   

 

Next up is use of Lazertran sort of a temporary tattoo type product.    Again print your image on the product, cut it out and leave a small border around the image.   Imerse the printed paper into a cup of water and allow it to sit for approximately 15-30 seconds until the image starts to fall away from the backing.  (it will curl up and then release)  

Carefully slide the backing off the image and place it onto your prepared surface.   As you can see some of the background color peeks through creating a nice vintage feel.

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The finale is actually an "error" or OOPS  but we all know sometimes they are the BEST.   This process is a bit more invloved.  Cardstock was misted, dried and them had gesso applied over the mist. An Image was inkjet printed  on standard copy paper.   
And now we are going to get Citrusy!  Have you ever used Citrus based cleaners like Goo-Gone or CitraSol?   I have a recipe I will share with you to make your own at home!   First we will learn the process for the image.  

Apply the citrus product to a cottonball or makeup pad and rub it onto the gesso.   Place the image face down on the gesso and rub more Citrus product onto the paper.   NOW the work begins.   You will burnish like mad and the image will transfer for you.   Add more citrus if you feel it is needed.   The gesso was forming more of a resist than planned therefore the image did not come through completely after about 5 minutes of burnishing BUT I liked it.  I think it is ethereal and mysterious.    I could have kept going but my hand got tired!   Metal spoons are great for burnishing as well as bone folders

Below is TAP on Fabric applied as specified above. You can make it as big as  you want, even  8.5 x 11. Remember that the more texture your base has, the less an image will transfer evenly. 

RECIPE - Use a glass jar, maybe a salsa or spaghetti sauce jar (heaven only knows, we never use prepared products, it's all made in Grandma's Kitchen over a steaming stove top!)  This is a great way to take advantage of the waste we would throw away.

In the clean jar, add only the rinds of peeled oranges (or lemons or grapefruits) pack them into the jar as tight as you like.  Then pour enough white vinegar over them to completely cover them.   Place the jar in an out of the way location or on a kitchen window sill.   Turn the jar upside down (making sure the lid is tightly sealed) every other day for a week or two.   You will see the liquid begin to thicken.  It is the citrus oils being drawn out by the vinegar.  You can open the jar and test it to see if it's working.   Non Toxic, but watch your eyes, it is citrus and vinegar after all.    No need to buy any! 

Hope you enjoyed the techniques and the recipe!