How to Heat Transfer onto Furniture

We will be showing you step by step the way we paint and heat transfer our furniture.

We found this beautiful coffee table at a garage sale perfect for the heat transfer.

First we did was take it apart for a better sanding, this is optional.

We use 150 grit sand paper, also 220 grit sand paper for that smooth finish.

Ones I cleaned the piece with a damp cloth I proceed to paint a Turquoise color, and then distress with 220 grit sand paper to give it that aged look and that smoothness.

Then I proceed to stain and wax with Howard Citrus-Shield Mahogany Premium Paste Wax it is a two in one product, which I like.

(Note: The other option is using stain and Minwax Paste Finishing Wax to seal it).

Heat transfer onto wood tops

First thing I do, I go to my favorite vintage image website The Graphic Fairy to choose my images.

(Note: The image needs to be mirror image to do the transfer, you can use Microsoft Paint for it).

Using Microsoft paint I have scale the image onto pages

(Go to page setup then onto scaling you can choose Fit to by pages)

I then print the vintage image using a laser printer.

Chocolat Paris image from The Graphic Fairy

Rose Engravings – Godey’s image from The Graphic Fairy

Then I trace the lines using a ruler and a pencil  make sure they are straight, then cutout with scissors.

Ones I have the image together I proceed to tape it with Scotch Blue painters tape, cutting small pieces of it making sure I don't tape over the image. 

Then I centered the image taping the edges of the paper as you can see below,this will prevent the heat from separate my image.

I get my heat transfer tool using the pattern transfer tip.

 (I use Weller it's a 15-piece wood burning and hobby kit).

I then began to heat my image in a circulation motion lifting the paper to make sure it's transferring right, it takes time but believe me it's worth it.

Below is the transfer of the images.

I then stain the wood using Early American 230; also I gave it 3 coats of polyurethane to seal it. 

Ones it's dry I use P1500 sand paper using a little bit of water to smooth the top.

And here is the final product.

Before and after pic.

                                  Below I am posting other heat transfer projects we have done.

One of our projects was featured at The Graphic Fairy it was this Pig heat transferred on wood top. The graphic fairy is the best site for vintage images and one of our favorite stops. So you can imagine how proud we were when they chose our project to be featured on the site. "Some Pig" 

DIY Decoupage Coffee Table!

One of Our most popular pin on Pinterest is this decoupage coffee table.

We will be showing you guys a step by step tutorial on decoupaging a coffee table.

We found this wonderful coffee table at a garage sale.

Before paint I prep the piece using;

150 grit sand paper and to give it that smooth finish a 220 grit sand paper.

After I have sanded the piece I clean it with a damp cloth before I start painting it.

I paint the coffee table using Teal tone by Benjamin Moore (leaving the top unpainted)

 I distress the piece with 220 grit sand paper to give it that perfect aged look.

Before staining and waxing I have cleaned the piece with a damp cloth.

After is dry I stained it using  Minwax Early American 230 and Minwax Paste finishing Wax to seal it.

Decoupaging the top

 I've use this music book we found at a garage sale, removing the sheets by using an xacto knife.

Using Microsoft paint I have scale the image onto pages 

(Go to page setup then onto scaling you can choose Fit to by pages)

I then print the vintage image onto the sheets of music using a laser printer.

Then I trace the lines using a ruler and a pencil  make sure they are straight, then cutout with scissors.

It should look like this.

After I have centered the image I go straight to decoupaging using Mod Podge Antique Matte, what I do is glue the base then place sheet by sheet and smooth it with a gift card or you can use the mod podge tool.

 I let it dry then proceed to sand the edges with my 200 grit it works wonders.

After I am done sanding the edges I proceed in decoupage the top with my mod podge antique matte giving it two coats (note: do not worry about the bubbles just let it dry they will go away).

Then the following day I gave it two coats of polyurethane to seal it. 

And here is the finished product.

You can see how the mod podge gave it an even more aged look.

Before and after pic.

Below I am posting other decoupage projects we have done.

(Note: you can find the vintage images at The Graphic Fairy website)

Leather was removed to decoupage with music sheets.

Decoupage with Sears catalog.

Dresser turn kitchen island with decoupage drawers.