How to Easily Transfer an Image to Wood and FREE Printables

Happy Holidays!

With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner, two busy holidays back to back, it’s nice to have decor that is easy and budget friendly.  This Transfer Image to Wood project transfers a Thanksgiving printable to one side of a piece of plywood and a Christmas printable to the other.  Super easy to make and you can change decor with one flip of the wood.   

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*Before you get started make sure you have your Safety Gear.  For this project I recommend safety goggles, ear protection, and optional N95 mask to prevent breathing wood particles during sawing and sanding. 

TOOLS FOR TRANSFER IMAGE TO WOOD

• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Table saw – I use a Rigid Table Saw
• Sander or sand paper

SUPPLIES FOR TRANSFER IMAGE TO WOOD 

• Plywood 1/4 inch birch plywood 
• Paint – I used a white and black chalk paint
• Mod Podge 
• Paint brush
• Polycrylic sealer – I used this one 

CUTS FOR TRANSFER IMAGE TO WOOD

• 1/4 inch Plywood – 13 x 10.5 inches

*I cut the plywood using a table saw.  I made the plywood cuts large enough to create a 1 inch frame around a standard letter size paper.

STEPS TO TRANSFER IMAGE TO WOOD

Step 1) Once the plywood was cut I sanded the entire piece on both sides. I applied a couple coats of black chalk paint about a one to two inch frame around the board. I did this so when I sanded it later it would show through under the white paint. Then I covered the entire board with a couple coats of white chalk paint. 

Step 2) While the paint was drying I created two printables, one for each side of the board. You can get these FREE Printables in my Resource Library  (for personal use only). Make sure to print the printables in reverse image.  Then I applied Mod Podge to the image side of the printable and placed it face down on one side of the plywood board.  I repeated this process for the other printable on the other side of the board. I allowed this to dry for 24 hours. Mod Podge like magic will transfer the image.  

Step 3) I got a bowl of water and dipped my fingers in the water and wet the printable just enough to peel back a layer or so of the paper to reveal the image.  I did this over the entire printable.  You can also use a paper towel to peel away the paper just be careful you don’t rub the image off. I repeated this about 3 times on both sides allowing it to dry between peeling layers.Step 4) I sanded the edges and tried to remove more paper by sanding. Once I was satisfied with my sanding I applied two coats of a polycrylic sealer.

Now you have a simple project that with one flip of the board you can be ready for the next holiday.   

You can get access to these these printables and tons of other printables, graphics and designs by visiting my Resource Library. If you would like access complete the form below.