Gel Medium Image Transfer

Sometimes I wonder why I can't leave well enough alone. I mean, do I have to alter everything?  It's a good thing I'm not a graffiti artist.

So, there I was with two little containers I didn't see any point in recycling when I could make them cute and use them instead. One was a baking soda can and the other was a little coffee tin. They would be perfect for paperclips and thumbtacks that I knock onto the ground all the time!  I went to The Graphics Fairy to search for a pretty image of a label and found one with a butterfly and a rose--I loved the colors!

I used a transfer technique using gel medium (I use Golden Gel Medium in matte).  I've mentioned it before as a great adhesive.  I'd used this technique before on canvas and wanted to try it on these containers. 

This transfer technique leaves a scant, kind of ethereal image--it's not strong and solid so whatever is behind the image will show.  That means no starkly painted, straight edges unless you're going to line them up to the edge of a straight- cut graphic.

This method also reverses the image, so if you have words on it, print it in reverse.  I printed a 3x5 image onto regular copy paper using an ink jet printer--nothing fancy.

I taped the metal edges and primed the metal tin with spray primer.  Then I painted a background color on each container but left a white space where the image would be. 

After painting, I brushed a coat of Mod Podge over the top. Sometimes it makes it easier to rub the paper off the image if there is a layer of Mod Podge underneath, especially if you use a little water.  Let the layers of paint and Mod Podge dry completely. 

Here's the fun part.  Put the gel medium onto the surface where you're going to transfer your image.  I just scoop some up with my finger and rub it on.

Then press the image onto the gel medium (get it straight!) and rub it and burnish it on really well.  I use a brayer and then hotel key cards.  Hotel keys are the best multi-use craft tool!

Pull the image off before the gel medium gets too dry or your paper will stick and that's just ridiculously messy.  The gel medium pulls fibers from your paper anyway and makes it look a little fuzzy.  Rub off any excess color or image you don't want. You can use a little water if you need. Don't be like me!  I was watching TV or talking (maybe both?) and rubbed too much off the pink can and I have a big white space! I guess that's why it's good that the image is not perfect.

Pretty office or crafting containers!

This is a quick and easy transfer method and the possibilities are endless.  I used another image from The Graphics Fairy for the background in these photos.  It's a fun, fancy frame I used for a trompe l'oeil effect.

 I would love to know what you're up to lately.  Drop me a link!