My Go-To DIY Gift

One of my favorite gifts to make is transferring photos onto wood slice ornaments. These gifts are super inexpensive, don’t take much time, and are personalized! It is great for those people that you just don’t know what to buy, like your boyfriend’s family. To learn how to make your own wood photo transfer, read below!

Wood photo transfer

Get the Supplies

For this project, you only need a handful of items. 

• Wood piece → You can get small wood slice ornaments for super cheap, like this 10-pack from Walmart for about $4.

• Photo → Choose the image you want to transfer, can be either color or black and white. 

• Wet cloth → Lastly, you’ll need a small hand towel or cloth too. 

• Mod Podge → I use Mod Podge Matte or Gloss and it works without issue, but if you want to be fancy you can use Mod Podge Image Transfer.

If you’re unsure about what Mod Podge is, I broke down the product and its uses in last week's blog. Check that out to learn a little more about that product and how it is essential to your craft closet. 

Now that we have everything we need, let’s get started!

Transferring the Image (and my knowledge)

As I mentioned before, this process is super easy. It takes about 24 hours to complete, though, so plan accordingly!

1. Prepare your image → Size your photo to fit your wood and mirror your selected image. There are lots of sites online you can use, like this one. 

2. Print it → Other tutorials say laser printers are better, but I've also used an inkjet without issue.

3. Mod Podge → Add a thick layer of your Mod Podge to the surface of the wood slice using a brush (I like using a sponge brush), then place the image face down on top.

4. Smooth it out → Make sure there are no bubbles, otherwise the image will not transfer in that spot.

5. Wait → Set your project aside and let it dry for at least 24 hours.

6. Rub off the paper → Take your damp towel to wet the paper, then using your fingers or towel, slowly start rubbing the paper off until only the image is left.  

7. Finish it off → This is optional, but I like adding a coat of Mod Podge to seal it and writing a message on the back as seen below.

   
   

   

   Wood ornament that says "Merry Christmas"

   
   

Your beautiful new wood photo transfer is now ready to be gifted or hung up for yourself!

My Tips and Tricks

When rubbing off the paper, be careful with it! It’ll reach a point where it is mostly the picture left, so if you rub too hard, you may remove the image. If this happens, do not panic! It adds to the rustic look of the project and can enhance the final product. To quote Bob Ross, mistakes are just happy accidents. If you really don’t want this, just be very careful once the majority of the white paper is off. 

Additionally, when you start removing the paper, as it dries you’ll see the whiteness of the paper return. But, when you wet it again, that whiteness disappears and the image looks fantastic. The whiteness won’t be as prominent after adding the sealing coat of Mod Podge. Again, no need to panic, the project is not ruined and also adds to the rustic effect.  

Wow Your Next Gift Recipient

This is my favorite gift, I make it for everyone when I have no idea what to do. It is super affordable and easy to make, and the recipient typically doesn’t realize how little time and money it took. At the end of the day, it is a heartfelt gift that shows you care, and that’s what makes it my favorite craft to give.

Do you have a different go-to DIY gift? Share it in the comments below, maybe I’ll discover a new favorite! Happy crafting!