MIY Photo Transfer Decor Project
C r e a t i o n s  & I n s p i r a t i o n s
"f o r   t h e   p u r e   j o y   o f   m a k i n g   t h i n g s"

       
Miycreations Project article and photographs
by  Madeleine M Langlois, MaddyLane Designs

These images are for keeps: Lamination is fast and simple. Decorate
anything from wooden stools, business card boxes, coat racks to various
furniture pieces

Make gorgeous lasting impressions with your favorite photos. Laminating
images and artwork is a minimalist treatment that allows you to create eye-
catching decorative accessories in just minutes. This is an idea way to revamp
and spruce up plain wooden decorative items that you have around your
home. Decorating assorted wooden items from step stools and boxes to
serving trays is as blissfully simple as picking an image and ironing it on.


Hands-on time: Less than 2 hours.
Total time: Add drying time for the paint finish. Two to three minutes with an
iron to laminate an image to a wood surface.
Skill: Easy.
Project cost: : Less than $15 for the materials. They can be used to make
several other projects.

Materials & tools:
• A wooden step stool, old or new, (any wooden surface of your choice,   
unpainted wooden items are available at craft retailers)
• Sandpaper and tack cloth
• Acrylic paint and paintbrush
• Varnish
• Images from computer color printouts or colored photocopies on high
quality  paper, illustrations, watercolors, wall paper, posters, magazine and  
newspaper images or clippings can also be used (Note: images on glossy,  
embossed or photo paper are not recommended)
• Wood-X-Pressions, laminate sheets by Bienfang
• X-acto knife
• Steel ruler
• An iron and a silicone cloth

(Material are available at art and craft supply stores)


I used an old step stool that had a weathered finish and I liked it exactly as it
was, especially its apple green color. Therefore all I did was clean it
thoroughly. I also made use of a plain recipe box, which I painted silver; I will
now use it as a business card file box.

Sand a wooden item to prepare the surface, and wipe with a tack cloth. Paint
the wooden item in a color and finish style of your liking, let dry and varnish.
Wait a few days before applying the laminate.













Gather and select images to laminate on to your wooden item. Use images of
a specific theme, scan, download or use digital images, enlarge or reduce as
needed. Illustrations, watercolors and poster images also create great results.
Use an X-acto knife and a steel ruler on a cutting mat for precision cutting and
trimming of your images. Trim around the outline of the images or leave a
small border.

The idea is to assemble your images into a sandwich format with the laminate
sheet, which is identified with red Xs on the back liner. Peel off the liner and
set it aside for now.

Place the sticky side up of the laminate onto a clean flat work area. Place the
image face down directly on the sticky surface and rub lightly to smooth into
place. Place the adhesive sheet on top of the image. You now have an image
sandwich.

Flip the image sandwich over. The image is now facing right-side-up. Smooth
out the surface to remove any bubbles.

Pre-heat the iron on the highest setting, but do not use steam. To prevent the
image sandwich from moving during the trimming step, position it face-up,
place the liner sheet - the one with the red Xs - over one corner. Press the
corner with the tip of the iron for five seconds; this will tack the sandwich
together. Trim the excess laminate and adhesive to the size of the image.
Position the image sandwich in place on the surface of the wooden item.
Cover another corner with the liner paper and again press the tip of the iron
for five seconds to tack it to the wood surface. It will keep the image in position
during the ironing step.

Cover the image with a silicon cloth and iron using even pressure in a steady
and circular motion. Iron for two to three minutes, especially around the
edges. Check to see whether the laminate is sticking. If needed, replace cloth
and continue for another minute.

Once the laminate step is complete, let the newly decorated item cool
completely.

Decorate your item further, if desired, with rubber stamps, stencils or hand-
painted designs of your choice.

Variations: Coat racks, picture frame borders, kitchen stools and assorted
boxes like recipe boxes, jewelry, and tea boxes, plus so many other furniture
items can be adorned with laminated keepsake pictures.

Laminating images can make use of all kinds of fun accessories found in a
child's room in order to brighten it up with a given theme, like teddy bears,
butterflies, sports or fun geometrics. It's also a great way to preserve awards,
newspaper clippings and all sorts of treasured images - like your child's
artwork. Simply apply them all around their toy box or to such furniture items
as a night table, bureau, peg rack, wooden chairs, even a growing chart.
Simple & Stylish floral
designs; Add simple and
fresh spring blossoms to
your decor for a touch of
chic elegance. Sometimes
less is more.
• Going
Green; utilize
green leaves
to embellish
your floral
arrangements
can give
your
presentations
extra
panache.
© All Rights Reserved
Photos and miycreations projects are copyrighted 2008
~by MaddyLane Designs~
Register for the
Miy NewsLetter  
and Receive
a special
MIY Project
of the month
FREE!
Your name:
Your email address:
Donate!
Show your appreciation for
miycreations.com and support
future development by Donating
Thank you...MaddyLane
Copyright, All rights reserved Maddylane Designs /  Miy Creations.com 2008
“Miy Books"
MIy Store
Creations
by
MaddyLane

More Miy Decor Projects

Romantic lamps

Stylish Screen
Need creative content
for your Newspapers
or Website.
To Purchase MIY
Creations Home
Decor Craft Content
by MaddyLane
Designs...Click Here

Looking for some great products to add style to your home? Do you need wall fountains or water fountains to make your garden an oasis? Are fountains your passion or a large part of your home decor or look? Do you need some fashionable garden fountains ? The garden can be the most inspirational of places. It can be a your special place of relaxation, love, or thinking. Shop at Specialty Living for all your fountain and garden needs!