Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

How to Transfer an Image using a technique with acrylic paint

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Image transfer techniques can be used to transfer an image from one surface to another, and they can be a fun and creative way to add a personal touch to your projects. One image transfer technique that is similar to silk screening is image transfer with acrylic paint.  

Here are some more detailed instructions to help guide you.

To do this, you’ll need a printed image, some acrylic paint, and a surface to transfer the image onto (such as canvas, wood, or paper). You’ll also need a brayer or roller to apply the paint and a scraper or credit card to smooth out the paint and remove any excess.

Here’s a general outline of the process:

Apply a thin layer of acrylic paint onto a surface, card stock, wood etc.  This will form the background for your image, If you are using a black and white photo then the white paper will remove and reveal the background, leaving behind the black image. 

Next place the image onto the paint. Image side up. 

Allow the paint and image to dry completely.

Once the paint is dry, gently peel the surface away from the image. The image should now be transferred to the surface.

This image transfer technique is similar to silk screening in that it involves applying paint to an image and then transferring the image onto another surface. However, unlike silk screening, this technique can be done with just a few basic supplies and does not require a special screen or press.

You can see the original tutorial here with lots of photos to guide you: tutorial on image transfer with acrylic paint.

I bet you could make a cool set in all different colors of paint with the same image and it would look like an Andy Warhol.

If you are also looking for Andy Warhol resources, then check these Andy Warhol books out.

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Time Flies — And Sometimes It Has Wings Made of Vintage Paper and Buttons

Have you ever been to the cuckoo clock shop at Tamborine Mountain? It’s like stepping into another world — a charming, ticking wonderland filled with thousands (yes, literally thousands) of clocks. Some are grand and ornate, others tiny and tucked away like secrets waiting to be discovered. I remember walking through the shop with my kids, completely enchanted by the whirring gears, dancing figurines, and the joyful chorus of chimes. It was one of those places where time feels like it both stops and flies.

That same feeling came flooding back when I stumbled across this adorable craft project from Teawagon Tales called Time Flies. In true vintage style, it’s a whimsical little DIY that combines scraps of fabric, old paper, buttons, and clock faces into sweet butterfly-like creations — a beautiful mashup of memory, imagination, and just plain cuteness.

It reminded me that crafting is a little like walking through that clock shop. Each piece holds a story, a tick of nostalgia, and the joy of noticing small details. You don’t need much — just some leftover fabric, maybe an old book page or two, and a few bits from your button tin. And suddenly you’re creating something that feels like it fluttered out of a fairytale.

So if you’ve got a stash of pretty paper or vintage bits and bobs you’ve been saving for “something special,” this might be the perfect project to give them new life.

Take a look at the full tutorial and soak up some serious inspiration:
Time Flies – Teawagon Tales

And if you ever find yourself near Tamborine Mountain, do yourself a favour — pop into that cuckoo clock shop. It’s pure magic for anyone who knows that time isn’t just measured in minutes, but in memories.