Are you sick and tired of outdated cushion designs and fabric? How about doing a design yourself? You might be surprised how easy it is to create an original photo transfer design on your decorative pillow. If you’ve been doing DIY projects for a while, this intermediate endeavor will fit your taste for sure. Select the desired image, prepare your tools, and get crafty!
Materials for a Photo Transfer to Fabric Project
First things first, look around your home and determine what accent colors you can use in your cushions photo transfer to fabric project. Once you’ve picked the desired shades and pictures for your project, roll up your sleeves and prepare the following materials close by:
- Plain, white pillow cover
- Mirror image photocopy of the desired graphic
- Cutting mat
- Craft knife
- Brushes
- Wax paper
- Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium
- Squeegee
- Sponge or rag
How to Handle This DIY Cushion Project
First of all, you have to print the desired image. Here, it should be mentioned that you need to use a photocopy of the image or print it via a laser printer. Inkjet-printed pictures won’t do the trick, as they can bleed on the fabric, creating a less appealing look.
Once the image is ready, apply a craft knife to cut it carefully. Put wax paper on your workstation and continue to the next step – brushing the image with a thick layer of your transfer medium. Don’t glob it, and make sure you have enough (and even) amount of transfer medium on the entire image.
Next, it’s time to print the photo on your fabric. Place the image side down on the cushion, making sure that it’s centered, or aligned left/right, depending on your preferences. Remove any bubbles in the glue with the squeegee. Also, make sure to remove any excess product that appears on the edge of the image. Let dry for at least 24 hours.
Once the glue has dried up, moisten the paper with a damp rag. Don’t apply too much liquid, as it can result in dissolving the paper all over the design (meaning you have to start all over again.)
Let sit for just a few minutes before rubbing the paper off. Use a circular motion to reveal the brand-new image on your cushion fabric. It’s important to remember that the pillowcase can be washed cold. Don’t put it in the dryer because it’ll ruin the design.