Mounting Pictures to Wood With Mod Podge

Laser-printed photographs can become family heirlooms when you imprint them on timber with the help of Mod Podge decoupage glue and gel medium. The method actually makes the picture part of the timber, allowing you to peel off its paper backing after the Mod Podge dries. If you prefer just to use the picture into the timber, rather than transfer the picture to the timber, you do not require the gel medium.

Moving to Wood

Print digital photographs with a laser printer on plain white printer paper. When using a non-digital photograph, scan it and print. Photo transfers produce a mirror image, so flip the picture in image-processing software before printing in the event that you do not need mirroring.

Paint the surface of a block of bare wood with a thick coat of gel medium using a sponge brush.

Press the picture against the timber face-down for the transfer technique. Smooth the picture from the middle outward with your fingertips.

Burnish the picture to get rid of any air bubbles and wrinkles. If you do not have a burnishing roller, rub on the photograph in tiny circles from the center outward with the back of a metal spoon.

Allow the wood block to dry overnight.

Wet the dried paper with a generous quantity of water onto a sponge.

Rub the moist paper off with your fingertips to reveal the picture. Gently scrub any remaining deposits with the sponge.

Permit the block to dry.

Paint a thick layer of Mod Podge over the surface picture with a tidy foam brush. Permit the Mod Podge to dry, paint on another layer and then allow that layer to dry.

Regular Decoupaging

Paint the surface of a block of bare wood with a thick coat of Mod Podge using a sponge brush.

Set the picture right-side up on the timber. Smooth the picture from the middle outward with your fingertips.

Burnish the picture to get rid of any air bubbles and wrinkles. Allow to dry.

Cover with two more layers of Mod Podge, allowing each layer to dry before painting on the next.

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