First Time with Artisan Enhancements Transfer Gel: Easy and Not So Easy

Good morning all!

It is darn cold here, and we had more snow falling yesterday, even though spring is technically almost here. (Didn't that groundhog predict an early spring? Ha! This guy needs a talking to!)

I recently visited Michelle Gallant's lovely store, Diamonds and Toads, in St. Thomas, Ont. (She doesn't have a website, but you can visit her on her Facebook page.) Michelle is a retailer for Annie Sloan and she also carries the Artisan Enhancements line. You can read about their products here. I was dying to try their transfer gel!

This was my first attempt, an inexpensive candle plate I picked up at the thrift. It was gold and rough looking, but I gave it a makeover with ASCP cream. It looks as good as new now!

The White Pear Tree

Then I picked out this lovely graphic from who else, the Graphics Fairy!

To transfer an image with AE gel, it needs to be printed with a laser jet printer. Don't forget to reverse the picture to a mirror image if it has words or it needs to go a certain way, like the sewing machine further down.

Apply the transfer gel to both the paper and to the object where you want your picture. Then, put the paper in place face down and smooth it out. Let dry overnight or for several hours. Then with a spray bottle filled with water, wet the paper and let sit for a few minutes. With a sponge or a cloth, rub the paper away.

I was lucky right off the bat with this picture. The transfer was nice and crisp! It seems to be easier to transfer on light or white paint, as it doesn't leave as much of a "halo", which is the gloss left behind by the transfer gel. You could see a little bit of a halo on this piece, so I brushed a bit of cream paint to cover it. Once dry, I applied clear wax.

This is the second piece I applied a transfer to.

I acquired this cute piece at auction. It was in the same lot as a magnificent Art Deco vanity and bench.

The White Pear Tree

The White Pear Tree

 It's a lovely little sewing cabinet to store all your sewing notions and supplies. I imagine it's somewhat old and it is in very good shape.

The White Pear Tree

I painted it in Provence. I felt it needed a fun, happy colour. I found a lovely vintage sewing machine picture at the Graphics Fairy. So fitting, don't you think! I went through the same steps as for the plate to do the image transfer.

The White Pear Tree

 Well. Not so good this time. It left a lot of white gel as you can see. So I sanded it down and repainted it, then reapplied the image.

The White Pear Tree

 Three. Times.

The White Pear Tree

You see, if you rub too hard, the image comes off too. And the paint. 

Yes, I was frustrated at this point. But I am determined if nothing else. This was going to happen.

So I tried something different this time. I kept wetting the image, particularly the spots with the white goo, letting the water sit on it for a while and then rubbing gently. I did this several times. And this did the trick. The white goo slowly came off. This requires a little bit of patience, but stick with it.

The White Pear Tree

Success! I finally was left with a nice, crisp image. Love it!

The White Pear Tree

The White Pear Tree

The White Pear Tree

 I left the inside of the top unpainted as it was in very good condition.

The White Pear Tree

 I painted the inside of the drawers in Aubusson Blue for a bit of unexpected contrast.


I'm sold on the AE transfer gel. It helps you achieve a nice, crisp and clear transfer. Just be patient with it. I just wished they had an online tutorial or more instructions on their website. As it is, I suspect this will come from the blogging community, as more and more people use it and experiment with it.

 Have you tried Artisan Enhancements Transfer Gel? What was your experience with it?

Stay warm!

Nicole

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What should you do with cupboard door samples?

Well, turn them into art of course!

I found these 5 cupboard door samples by the curb. And right away I knew what I had in mind for them.

 

I painted them with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White, then I distressed them and applied clear wax.

Next I printed images from The Graphics Fairy on off-white card stock paper.

The plan was to modge podge them in the centre part of the doors. Well, it was a lot of work locating the middle of the door, then the middle of the images. And with my mediocre limited measuring skills, it meant having to reprint a few of the pictures because they were off centre. 

Okay, finally they were all centered nicely. Next I modge podged the back of the images and glued them on the doors. So far so good. Next, in order to protect them, I modge podged the front of the images with the matte finish modge podge. Well, apparently, you can't do that with ink-jet printed images; it washes off the ink.  ;^(  I had to scrape them off the doors.

So, I went back, reprinted the images and this time I sprayed them with a canvas protector, also in a matte finish. Reglued them on the doors. Let everything dry thoroughly and then went over them with a thin layer of modge podge. Success!

Hubby and I then installed some hooks on the back and here they are, ready to grace someone's kitchen or dining room:

Yes I know, there are two doors with identical teapots. It's a mistake, folks. One of them was supposed to be 3 adorable teacups. But with all the measuring and gluing mistakes, I lost track of what I reprinted and that's how I ended up with two teapots. I'm kind of a klutz that way. Oh. Well. I'm okay with it. :^)

My husband really likes the way they turned out and thinks I'm on to something. Unfortunately, they're one of a kind, because I don't know where I can find an infinite supply of cupboard door samples. For free. The curb is a fickle mistress, my friends. She doesn't offer the same thing twice.

Too bad, because I really learned from all those mistakes and now I'm a real pro at this!

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Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a free My Memories digital scrapbooking software package, only 3 more days to go!

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Petite table demi-lune de Paris de couleur Versailles

Most of you don't speak French. At least you don't think you do, but I bet you can make out what my title says!

I bought this little demi-lune table at a garage sale. It was wobbly and blah. I forgot to take a before picture, but trust me, it was blah. I used Gorilla glue to stabilize it, then painted it with ASCP Versailles. Such a lovely cottage chic colour, I love it!

I really wanted a graphic on it. Something French. We are going to Paris in a few weeks, so I'm really in a Paris state of mind. I picked this lovely design from The Graphic Fairy and tried to transfer it using the wax paper method.

It failed. Miserably. Everybody else on the blogosphere has used this method successfully, except me it seems. It got all smeared.

I painted over it.

I then tried the CitraSolv method. Found some CitraSolv by miracle at my local grocery store. The @*$*&@ spray nozzle on the bottle broke. Had to use a paper towel to apply. That method too failed miserably. It just made a mess. Gaaaah.

I painted over it.

I then decided to just use the tried and true graphite transfer method and then going over with a Sharpie.  I opted for a different, less detailed graphic. A laurel wreath with the word Paris in the centre. Lovely. I copy the image with the graphite paper, go over it with my Sharpie. Success, it looks lovely!! At that point, I'm really tired, it's late at night, I go to bed.

The next day I look at it. It's totally off centre. Duuuh. For a split second, I think to myself, just leave it, nobody will notice. As if on cue, my husband walks in, looks at it and says "It's off centre." Thanks honey. Captain Obvious. Meh, who am I kidding, I can't live with it.

Soooooo, I sanded it down and, you guessed it, I painted over it.

This time, I redo my transfer being careful to centre it well. And it works. It pays to be persistent and pig-headed. I distress it and seal it with clear and dark waxes. I tell you, the road to beauty is paved with all sorts of obstacles, but I'm finally happy with it:

See? Well centered graphic.

I should really sell this table $500 just to make up for my labour, but it's not fair to charge people for my, hum, shall we say, lack of savoir-faire? I'm learning, folks, I'm learning!


Nicole



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