Freezer Paper Fabric Transfer Tutorial

A week or so ago I made a ruffled table runner out of a drop cloth.  

I knew that I wanted to transfer an image onto each end of the drop cloth.

There were many tutorials I found when I searched the internet.  After reading many, I followed a combination of the tutorials I found here and here. 

 It was my first attempt at transferring a graphic onto fabric.

I started by taking a plain piece of 8 1/2" x 11" copy paper and spraying it with spray adhesive.  We happened to have ordered pizza in on the night I did this project, so I used the box to protect my countertop.  I cut a piece of freezer paper and put the non-shiny side onto the now tacky copy paper. I smoothed the freezer paper onto the copy paper and then cut off the excess freezer paper.  I then put the freezer paper attached to the copy paper into my printer so that it printed on the shiny side.

I picked a graphic from The Graphics Fairy.  I went back and forth on which graphic to use.  I ultimately decided on something on the simple side to avoid too much smearing of the ink.  Make sure to print out your image in reverse.

Then I took my table runner and first sprayed hair spray on either end of the runner.  I decided to add three coats of hair spray for good measure.  Then I sprayed water on the section that I would be transferring the image.  

After I sprayed the runner with water, I placed my image onto the fabric.  

Then I used a spoon to rub the back of the paper to have the image transfer.  

Be careful not to move the paper to help avoid the ink smearing.

The first side did NOT come out the way I would have liked it.  It was a bit too light.  I think this was because I did not wet the fabric nearly enough (or maybe there wasn't enough hair spray).

I sprayed the other side much more, plus I made sure to really rub hard with the spoon.

A much better result.

Have you ever tried this method?  How did it work for you?

-Judy

Finishing Touches

This weekend my goal was to finish the mudroom.  It was basically done, but there were some finishing touches still needed.

For starters, I spent much of the weekend looking for a new runner for the mudroom.  I searched tons of internet sites and looked in every local store I could think of.  I had already checked in Target, however we have four different Targets in our immediate area, so I decided to check a different one...and there it was, the perfect area rug...and it came in a runner!!  It had all the right colors, plus it wasn't too light (remember 90% of my guests enter through my side door - go figure) and it wasn't too dark.

Another bonus, the price was better than anything else I had seen that would have worked.  It was $89.99 (certainly not cheap), but it's a real wool rug.  I can attest to how heavy it is...I carried it all through the mall after buying it.

The next thing I needed was a bench.  I went to Lowe's to buy the materials to make a bench.  However, once I gathered everything I needed including the legs, the wood top, the piece to attach the legs, the foam, the batting, the fabric and the nail head trim - it was going to cost close to $100.  So I decided to go home and shop my home.  That's what I literally did - I walked around my house seeing if there was anything I had that I could either make into a bench or that would work.

I found these two benches in my finished basement under a parsons table I have at the foot of the staircase.  Nobody, and I really mean nobody, ever sits on these.  These are old - we bought them for our first apartment 18 years ago.  I had recovered the cushions a few years back.  The fabric works perfectly in the new mudroom.  They are also very petite - measuring only 20" x 14" each for a total of about 42" x 14" when they are put together.  Our mudroom is not very wide, so 14" is just perfect.  Most benches are 17" or larger which was why I was going to make a custom bench.  These will work so well, and  since they were already in the house, they won't effect the bottom line cost of this project.

The last thing I needed was some decorative hooks.  I found these at Lowe's.  They weren't in the regular hook department...they were in the closet aisle.  I love them.

Using blue tape, I tried several different configurations.  First I tried an even distribution throughout the wall of board and batten.  My concern was it seemed sort of dangerous to have a hook right above the benches as well as it being totally impractical - no one is going to hang their coat on the hook if it's going to get in the way of the bench, right?

So I ultimately decided on four in a row, centered between the battens, closest to the side door.  Now jackets can be hung without any interference.

Here it is...the completed mudroom.  You can go here to see where this whole renovation began.  I'm thrilled with the outcome.  Let me know what you think of all the finishing touches.  I always love and appreciate your comments.

-Judy