Transfer Image to Glass: Packing Tape Transfers
Hi everyone, it’s Andrea from The Cottage Market. Today I have another quick and easy DIY for you, and I really think you are going to enjoy it…we are going to transfer images to glass with a DIY Packing Tape Transfer technique, this is a great technique for transferring onto glass. In case you haven’t done them before and are a little hesitant…do not fear…I just learned and guess what? It really works and it really is easy! I used Graphics Fairy Images for this project, but you could transfer photos to glass too, which would be great for personalizing items for a party, shower or even a wedding!
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What I really like about them is that there are a million and one uses for them. Our examples are on glass so you can see how they are transparent, but I know that you will love using them to decorate a package to making a label for a canister! I used black and white, but it does work with color also…the one thing you have to remember is that you MUST use prints that are either LASER or TONER based. You can visit The Printable Transfer Section for these graphics and MANY others that are perfect for this project. If you don’t have that printer, you can always go to your local office supply store and get your prints made for pennies on the dollar. Let’s go see how we do this…
How to Transfer Images onto Glass
You will need Heavy Duty Packing Tape (you can use regular…but the heavy-duty tape works better and is easier to work with), scissors, a burnisher (you can purchase one or use a craft stick), images of choice and your vessels. You don’t need special photo paper or anything like that, just your laser prints.
After you trim your image, it is time to apply the packing tape…remember one important thing…whatever is white will be transparent. Just lie your image down and center the package tape over it evenly and press. Then cut the tape.
Now it is time to burnish it…make sure to press heavily over the entire space it is very important. I went over it a few times to be sure…from corner to corner…end to end to insure a great finished product.
Now get yourself a bowl with very warm water in it and place your packing tape burnished image into the bowl and allow to soak about 2-3 minutes.
Then remove your image, or photo transfer, from the bowl and place it in between your thumb and index finger and begin to rub back and forth with force…you will see the paper coming off…continue to dip it into the water and keep working it till all the white is off. DO NOT WORRY about the sticky side…it will be just like new when it dries. Also, there might be a tiny bit of white residue on your tape…that too is ok.
Now that all the paper is removed…place it on a flat surface and allow it to dry.
Once the stickers are dry it is time to apply them to your surface…it couldn’t be easier…it goes on just like a sticker…it is that easy! Make sure to smooth it nicely. If you have stickers that you are not going to use…just place them on wax paper for another day.
Dress us any glass piece you have…clear or color! Mason jars would be so cute too! I was thinking of making small ones all different and using them as wine glass charms…just place them on the glasses and then remove them at the end of the night when you do the dishes. They are so inexpensive you can choose new graphics each time you have a party! Dress up a package…label your canisters…with all of the graphics at The Graphics Fairy you can have different graphics for years!
You can make tiny ones for small votives, or you can double your package tape making sure that the edges but and cover the entire image for larger ones. You can also use photos of your family or your pets! SOOOOO many possibilities!
I sure hope you have tons of fun transferring images to glass items with these packing tape transfers…the more you do it the better you get at it!!! I will see you again really soon and if you want to visit in the meantime…come and see me over at The Cottage Market…it’s where I hang out.
For more fun Image Transfer Methods and Techniques be sure and check out the post Easy Image Transfer Methods HERE!
Hugs…Andrea
Liz says
Ok, I tried it again and this time it work perfectly, not sure what I did wrong the first time. I spent about 5 minutes rubbing and pressing the image with a ruler and then I submerged it in warm water and let it soak for about 2 minutes. The white paper peeled off easily without damaging the black ink. Thank you! 🙂
graphicsfairy says
Oh yea!! So glad you were persistent, sometimes it just takes a few tries 🙂
Liz says
It did not work for me, did everything as shown. The whole thing peeled off. Will try again…
Heidi says
This worked beautifully – thanks for a great DIY!
graphicsfairy says
Oh yea! I am so glad you liked it Heidi 🙂
Edward says
Wow! The end products look pretty cool.. It’s really a great idea. I’m going to try this for sure.. Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
graphicsfairy says
Thanks Edward, enjoy!
JB says
Brilliant idea. I will try that one especially the transferring of the image into a glass.Thanks!
Rebecca says
I have to admit, I was sceptical about this at first. I’m making come candles for my wedding so figured I’d give this a go as it might look less messy than my previous attempts. But wow I was so impressed – and I only used regular sellotape to test it first time round!
Now I just need to find a good method to transfer to wood without confusing things with American products which I don’t have access to.
Albert DAgostino says
After reading the comments above, there seems to be confusion over a number of points:
1) You must use a LASER printer and NOT an ink-jet. Laser images are of a WAX substance which does not dissolve in water. Ink-jet inks are a DYE and WILL dissolve and smear in water.
2) You must burnish the tape and the paper with a lot of pressure. This is dome to insure that the wax image of the laser print becomes imbedded deeply into the GLUE of the packing tape – this is the point of transfer.
3) The paper must then be separated from the tape by soaking in warm water. Do not rub the paper to hard because you may remove some of the glue on the tape. This would destroy of remove some of the image.
graphicsfairy says
Thank you so much Albert for taking the time to explain in such detail and so accurately!!! Have a wonderful day 🙂
Gaqulin says
that’s nice though I know this method I wanted a new way to transfer photos into objects without the transparent tape …
graphicsfairy says
Hi Gaqulin,
Here is a link to my favorite transfer methods, maybe you will find one you want to try 🙂 https://thegraphicsfairy.com/12-easy-image-transfer-methods-for-diy-projects/
Leslie Newman says
This is a really great project! I tried this with a wine glass and it came out nice! I also blotted with a paper towel and it had an opaque look to parts of the sticker so I trimmed it away. Also, I had to trim very close to the edges of my image so that there aren’t any bubbles and its easier to smooth out around the glass’ rounded edges. I also applied a little semi-gloss gel medium on the sticky part and around the edges of the image since I think my tape was a little weak on the stickiness- it sticks nicely anyway but I wanted to make sure it stayed there!! It came out great and I can’t wait to try them again! Thank you!!!
graphicsfairy says
Wow, such great ideas Leslie! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Leslie says
Thanks! Question: one of your pics has a candle with one of your tape stickers… did you shrink wrap the candle first and apply the sticker on it, or was this heat embossed?
graphicsfairy says
Hi Leslie,
You apply the tape directly to the candle or whatever else you want to use. If you read the tutorial, Andrea takes you through the process step by step. Good luck 🙂
Yia Vang says
People are confused but it is so easy ! And it should have been added that if you do not have a laser printer, you can still print your own design on your regular inkjet printer and take your print to the shop to make a photocopy. Then use the photocopy for this project. Inkjet does not work because it dissolves in the water. Also, if you need a better way to understand how to do it, marthastewars.com has the same thing explained. She has an article about it made like 10 years ago.
Nancy VanderHave says
I have a question. I have made little snowmen out of clay pots (painted white). I want to put the grandkids names on them. Will this work on white paint?
graphicsfairy says
Hi Nancy, I think it should, maybe try it out on a sample piece of something first just to be on the safe side 🙂 good luck, it sounds adorable 🙂
Christina says
Great post! I have a quick question, after I laid my stickers to dry, the tape is kind of cloudy and white, but yours are so clear. Do I need to do a second rinse of the sticker to get it to be that clear? Thanks so much!
Christine says
Just leave the milkyness. Its there because of the moisture contained in the gum after you dunked it in water. Use a hair drier on the sticky side and see it disappear almost instanty. Use caution, I use the highest heat setting and get burned often or use something to weight your stickers down while you blast it.
Teneil says
Does it matter if I print the image using a laser printer or inkjet printer?
Teneil says
Nevermind! I see that it must be laser or toner based
Angela Croissant says
This is fantastic! Thanks for sharing this with us!
Karen Watson says
Thanks Angela! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Janice says
You can also use colored magazine pages that are clay based (will smear when wet). Use the same process, tape to picture, burnish, soak (I used soapy water) use your finger on the sticky sided (where the picture transferred to) and rub until the paper is released and most of the residue is gone. Let it dry and apply like a sticker. I DO believe that your method (printer ink) would work very well perhaps better than the option I suggested. It is fun to try either way. No major costs involved.
Karen Watson says
Thanks for the great tip Janice! That sounds like fun!