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Home » DIY » Easy DIY Decor » Tips for Using Photo Transfer Medium on Fabric

February 27, 2018

Tips for Using Photo Transfer Medium on Fabric

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Make designing your dream room a breeze with my Printable Room Planner.

Photo transfer medium is cool. I feel like there are a ton of possibilities with the stuff that I haven’t even thought of yet.

While I was making my vintage style galvanized buckets, I was also working on another project.

I wanted to see if photo transfer medium would work of fabric. Today I’m sharing the results of that experiment and some tips for using photo transfer medium on fabric.

photo transfer medium collage

This post is sponsored by DecoArt. DecoArt provided me with paint for this project, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. I would never recommend products that I wouldn’t buy or use on my own.  

Photo transfer medium is used to transfer images to fabric.

How to Transfer Images to Fabric

This post contains affiliate links. By purchasing an item through an affiliate link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Supplies

  • DecoArt Decou-Page Photo Transfer Medium
  • Foam Brush
  • Fabric
  • Image (scroll down for a copy of this image)
  • Wash cloth
  1. Print your image out with a laser printer. If you’re using an image with words, make sure that you print a mirror image.
    Get tips for using photo transfer medium on fabric. Make your own cute vintage style feedsack pillow or printable!
  2. Trim around the image. You want to remove as much white paper as possible.
  3. Protect your work space. I taped a piece of freezer paper to my desk where I would be working to prevent the fabric from adhering to the desk. If your fabric is double something like a shirt or pillow cover, apply a piece of freezer paint between the layers of fabric.
    Get tips for using photo transfer medium on fabric. Make your own cute vintage style feedsack pillow or printable!
  4. Apply a generous coat of the photo transfer medium to the front of the image.
    Get tips for using photo transfer medium on fabric. Make your own cute vintage style feedsack pillow or printable!
  5. Apply a generous coat to the fabric. Fabric is absorbent, so be extra generous.
    Get tips for using photo transfer medium on fabric. Make your own cute vintage style feedsack pillow or printable!
  6. Place the image on the fabric. Rub the image to adhere it. If extra glue seeps out, wipe it off with a damp wash cloth. I rubbed the whole image with the damp wash cloth to make sure that it was on nice and good.
    Get tips for using photo transfer medium on fabric. Make your own cute vintage style feedsack pillow or printable!
  7. Let it dry for 8 hours.

Removing the Paper from the Image Transfer

  1. Use a wet washcloth to soak the image paper.
    Get tips for using photo transfer medium on fabric. Make your own cute vintage style feedsack pillow or printable!
  2. Start rubbing the paper off. A circular motion works well. Add more water if necessary. Rub until as much of the paper is gone as possible. 
    Get tips for using photo transfer medium on fabric. Make your own cute vintage style feedsack pillow or printable!
  3. Let it dry and use your fingers to gently rub any extra paper away.
    Get tips for using photo transfer medium on fabric. Make your own cute vintage style feedsack pillow or printable!

The results?

DIY feedsack inspired pillow

The image transferred to the fabric, but it’s stiffer than I thought it would be. All of the “white areas” are stiff with glue.

close up of faux feedsack pillow using image transfer medium

I washed the fabric to see if it would soften it up, but no luck. It aged the image a bit, which I like. If perfection is your thing, this probably isn’t for you.

But for a seasonal, decorative pillow cover, photo transfer medium on fabric is a fun option.

paper all over fabric from not using enough photo transfer medium

Want to see what happens when you don’t use enough photo transfer medium? The paper peeled away and left no image transfer. I had to start all over. 

Want a copy of my vintage style feedsack image?

Click the link to download the image.

Vintage Feedsack

You might also like:

  • DIY Snowflake Pillow
  • How to Sew a Zipper in a Pillow

Pin for Later!

photo transfer medium on a pillow
Emy Flint

Emy is a vintage obsessed mama of 2 DIYer who loves sharing affordable solutions for common home problems. You don’t need a giant budget to create a lovely home. Read more…

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Filed Under: Easy DIY Decor, Fabric and Sewing DIY, Freebies and Printables Tagged With: budget friendly, farmhouse, printable, throw pillows, vintage style

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Comments

  1. cassie bustamante says

    February 27, 2018 at 7:19 pm

    i wish i had an ounce of your craftiness!

    Reply
  2. Tammy says

    December 21, 2021 at 6:27 pm

    I used this product on tea towels and I also had a problem with the fabric being stiff. Did you figure out a way to soften up the finished product? Was great to use except for this stiffness.

    Reply
    • Emy Flint says

      December 28, 2021 at 10:16 am

      Sorry, I never found a way to make it softer.

      Reply

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