Photo Transfer LO - by by Belle (Michele)

Wow!  These last six months have flown by and here we are in December where you are seeing our last project of this term as Crop Chocolatiers.  If you have been following along I hope you had as much fun with all these talented ladies as I did and if you learned some things too so much the better!!

You may already know that our theme this is Reflections of {YOU} and you may even know that I do not love having my picture taken so it took a great deal of thought and lots of searching to come up with the project I wanted to do to show you a great photo transfer technique.

You will need:  a canvas, gesso, paint brush, photo copy (color or black and white), pencil and spray bottle with water.

I used a 12x12 canvas and a smaller photo copy because I knew I was going to do some embellishing.  Place you photo where you want it  on your canvas and lightly trace with a pencil.  Paint your marked area with gesso making sure to just cover your pencil  lines.  Use a good thick coat, then place your photo face down into the gesso.  Press your photo into the gesso all around and work out any bubbles.  Let dry completely, I waited overnight.  Those of you who know me understand the waiting is the hardest part for me…

Once your gesso is all dry spray the photo with water.  Make sure you saturate is good but do not drench the photo.  Let it soak in for a few minutes and then VERY carefully start rubbing the paper in small circles to peel it away.  Make sure you do not rub too hard or for too long or you will take off the photo.  Once you have removed the paper let it dry for a few minutes.  I wanted my photo to look aged so I coated it with a layer of Crackle Paint in Clear Rock Candy.  Once that was dry and crackled up I used a sponge applicator and added Distress Ink  in Walnut Stain.

Additional items from Crop Chocolate:  EP This and That Christmas, Authentique Essential, EP For the Record 2, Crackle Paint-Clear Rock Candy, Distress Ink-Walnut Stain and Shabby Shutters, Stickles-Crystal.

Other items:  gel medium, spatula, TH Tattered Garland, Tattered Floral and Type Set dies, TA Glimmer Mist, mod podge, Xyron Sticker Maker, chicken wire template and VLVS! chicken wire stamp and UmWow Studios floral spray.

Using the chicken wire template I randomly speared some gel medium for texture, let that dry completely (more waiting…)

I used the same template and inked over it for texture, stamped with my chicken wire stamp, splattered glimmer mist and inked around the edges.  Using the EP wood paper from This and That Christmas I cut a picture frame with mitered corners and distress the edges and scratched up the face with scissors and aged with ink.

Not only as a crafter but as a person I am always changing, growing and creating myself so when I decided on what I wanted to say on my canvas I cut out all the letters in the same wood paper, made them into stickers, laid out the words, stuck them down and coated over the letters with Mod Podge.

Of course I had to add embellishments and you know I love flowers!!  Cut, distress, laid out and glued down…viola.  Hope you will try this photo transfer technique!!  And of course share you work!

Thank you all for stopping by and for all the support these last fantastic six months!!

Until next time...get INKY often!!