How to Print on Tissue Paper
Hi everyone…how are you! It’s Andrea from The Cottage Market. It is always wonderful to see you here at The Graphics Fairy! Today we have a very simple but fun and very useful little tutorial. How to Print on Tissue Paper. There are so many things you can do with sheets of printed tissue paper…from personalizing wrapping paper for a pretty little present to decoupaging it on something special and having it be transparent and a million other things that I am sure you can think of. We will go over how to print and then next time we meet I will have some DIY’s with the printed tissue paper for you to get you started!
Supply List for Printing on Tissue Paper
Your supply list is very short. You need tape…an iron…standard computer paper…8 1/2″ x 11″ or 8 1/2″ x 14″ and then you need tissue paper …I just used the tissue paper you get in a big pack from the dollar store and cut it to 8″ x 10″ so I could safely attach the tissue paper to the computer paper. Of course you need a computer and printer also.
DIY Tissue Paper Printing Tutorial
Now it is time to create your design…use your favorite computer paper and place the design you pick where you would like it on the tissue paper…you can also pic some images and make a pattern to cover the whole sheet! There are so many graphics and designs here at The Graphics Fairy you can come up with unbelievable creations!
Now cut your tissue paper the size you need it to be and lightly iron it…you will never get it totally smooth…but you will want to take a few of the wrinkles out so it goes through the computer easily. Just remember to keep the iron on low so the steam does not automatically trigger! Remember…it will not be totally smooth…just a little precautionary measure.
Then tape your tissue paper to the standard computer paper…make sure you smooth it out so there are not any bubbles. And tape secured on all 4 corners is a must.
Then load your printer according to the type of printer you have and print! Make sure you remain by your printer in case you need to guide the paper out.
It’s that easy!
I sure hope you enjoy playing around with all the design possibilities and that you enjoyed learning how to print on Tissue paper! Oh and in case you missed it…last time we went over How to Print on Brown Paper Bags! Also, be sure and check out How to Print on Fabric as well! And to learn about What Printers are the Best for Crafting click HERE, for an informative post! Is there anything you can think of that you would like to print on but you are not sure how? Let me know ok! I will see you again really soon but if you want to see me for that…come and say hi over at The Cottage Market…it’s where I hang out!
Hugs…Andrea!
Jeannie says
October 23, 2015 at 10:47 amOh my goodness, thank you for sharing this!!! Just in time for the gifting holidays! I can’t wait to try this out :)!
Jeannie
Paula says
October 23, 2015 at 2:12 pmYour timing is perfect! I just bought some bars of Ivory soap and wanted to put a Halloween image on them for the grand kids. I’m going to try decoupaging the tissue paper on the soap.
Thanks, Paula
Karen Watson says
October 23, 2015 at 4:38 pmThat sounds like a fun project Paula! I’m glad you can use this tutorial for it!
Deb says
October 29, 2015 at 2:20 pmI would LOVE to learn how to put printed tissue paper images on soap! Do you place the tissue image on the soap then dip it in melted soap? What happens when you use the soap to wash up? I am so curious – hope your project works!
Sincerely, Deb
Karen Watson says
October 29, 2015 at 5:33 pmThanks Deb, I’ve never tried that before. Maybe one of my readers will respond to your questions.
Mandie says
February 21, 2017 at 8:15 amYou could probably use a hairdryer to transfer the image from the tissue paper to the soap. Much like you would do with candles using either wax paper or tissue paper
graphicsfairy says
February 21, 2017 at 5:15 pmInteresting idea Mandie, thank you 🙂
pebby says
November 22, 2018 at 6:45 amAfter the design has been applied to the soap, all you do is dip the designed side ( top) in Wax. Very easy, that way when you use the soap the wax protects the design
graphicsfairy says
November 23, 2018 at 5:46 pmThanks so much Pebby 🙂
Sheral says
October 23, 2015 at 4:04 pmI am so excited to try this!! Glad I came across your site. It is going to be a fun time for me!
Thanks for sharing.
Karen Watson says
October 23, 2015 at 4:39 pmThanks Sheral!
catsavannah studio says
October 23, 2015 at 5:42 pmI have recently discovered your site and have to tell ya – – I AM LOVIN’ IT! Thanks & Hugs, cat
Karen Watson says
October 23, 2015 at 8:27 pmThanks Cat!!
Donna Wilkes says
October 23, 2015 at 5:47 pmThanks, Andrea! I am usually printing on waxed paper or muslin. I will definitely try this.
Karen Watson says
October 23, 2015 at 8:28 pmHave fun with this new technique Donna!
Lori says
April 24, 2019 at 7:32 pmWhat type of printer? Laser or ink jet
graphicsfairy says
April 25, 2019 at 10:18 amI use an ink jet Lori 🙂
Sharon Alpert says
October 24, 2015 at 9:13 amTerrific idea! Is there an index of all these swell ideas that we can use when we need them? Thank you
Karen Watson says
October 24, 2015 at 12:06 pmThanks Sharon! If you click on “Craft Projects” or “DIY Tutorials” at the top of my blog you can find more posts like this!
penny says
October 24, 2015 at 9:59 amI used a very similar technique to cover some ugly fireplace tiles to look like marble. It doesn’t get walked on but I’ve since heard if I would polyurethane it would be durable.
Kim says
October 25, 2015 at 1:55 amDo you think the same method would work to print on burlap?
Karen Watson says
October 25, 2015 at 10:31 amHi Kim, We have a how to print on fabric post here https://thegraphicsfairy.com/print-fabric-freezer-paper-method-2/! I’ll link it in this post as well.
Debbie says
October 25, 2015 at 6:45 pmI print on tissue paper alot, tried this method, worked sometimes but I found using repositionable spray glue worked much better. Just lightly glued the tissue to a piece of paper, printed and then carefully pulled it off…..works every time
Karen Watson says
October 26, 2015 at 7:58 amThanks for the tip Debbie!
Arthur says
October 26, 2015 at 6:20 pmHad a go sorry to say but It did not work, tissue got ruffled and jammed so print now us till I can get it work again, in the process of taking to bits to remove tissue not again, other printing Idea’sare OK, regards arthur
Judi says
October 28, 2015 at 12:44 amI print pretty designs and wrap them around candles then using a blow dryer on low melt the tissue paper into the candle ..they turn out to be beautiful designer candles..you can put pictures ,names ,dates,what ever you like…
Karen Watson says
October 28, 2015 at 12:03 pmHi Judi, I love that technique! We have a tutorial for it here, that my friend Gina did a few years ago. Thanks for the reminder!
Kirsi Salonen says
October 28, 2015 at 1:49 amThis is a great tutorial, but can you use any kind of printer? Even laser-printer?
Karen Watson says
October 28, 2015 at 12:02 pmHi Kirsi, I’m afraid none of us have laser printers, so we aren’t able to test that out. Sorry!
Heather says
November 5, 2015 at 2:37 pmHey Kristi, this process works beautifully on a laser printer, with one caveat: rather than using tape to adhere the tissue, use a very sparing amount of repositionable spray adhesive to attach the tissue to the paper backing. (Tape can react to the heat that the printer uses to fuse the toner – not good)
Patty says
June 10, 2017 at 10:16 amThank you for that tip!! I would hate to ruin my laser printer! I might try my inkjet first, but I’m afraid the ink will run (I know 1gel says it works with inkjet, but in my trials it still blurred the ink). Maybe different luck with tissue paper?
graphicsfairy says
June 10, 2017 at 12:24 pmfingers crossed 🙂
Helen White says
January 22, 2016 at 11:06 pmLove the idea of printing on tissue paper. However, rather than using tape and and printer paper to carry the tissue paper into the printer, I would iron the tissue paper to freezer paper wax side. You can purchase freezer paper in 81/2 x 11″ on line. Quilters use it for printing on fabric by ironing fabric to freezer paper and sending through the printer.
Karen Watson says
January 23, 2016 at 2:24 pmThanks for the tip Helen!
Jasper says
June 17, 2018 at 12:55 pmBeautiful tip, thank you!! I have never done any crafting at all with tissue paper, always put off by the need to buy a big package of expensive paper napkins that I’m only going to use ONE napkin. But being able to print anything I want onto a cheap tissue from the Dollar Store opens up SO MANY crafting possibilities!!
Very excited, thanks again, and thanks extra much 😀 to The Graphic Fairy for this page!! 🙂
graphicsfairy says
June 18, 2018 at 11:32 amThanks Jasper, I hope you have fun crafting away on your very own custom tissue paper 🙂
Hannah says
November 14, 2016 at 10:47 pmTook me a while to figure out “paler” was supposed to be “paper” lol
graphicsfairy says
November 16, 2016 at 8:25 am🙂
Sarah Blake says
December 5, 2016 at 2:51 amHi when I use tissue paper in my printer I get black smudges from the rollers maybe , please how can I avoid this ?
graphicsfairy says
December 5, 2016 at 11:28 amHi Sarah, I’m sorry you are having problems with your printer! Unfortunately short of trying it from another printer I can’t really give you any advise. Good luck 🙂
Rosa says
January 24, 2017 at 10:17 amHello, I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. My printer spits out the printer paper with the tissue paper. It won’t print on it all. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!
Rosa
graphicsfairy says
January 25, 2017 at 9:30 amHi Rosa,
I’m not sure. Did you make sure your tissue paper was smoothed out as Andrea suggested in her post? Also be sure it is taped well at all corners. Good luck!
Sandra L. says
February 9, 2017 at 11:22 amI’m taking a mixed media class and wanted to include a poem. My cursive handwriting it not as good as it once was and afraid that it would look horrible. Found your directions and I used the repositionable spray adhesive. First print I used normal print and it was a tad blurred so I tried it again on fast economy or on some printers it’s called draft and it work just perfect. The only change I made to my font was to use bold with the quick print as it’s lighter than using normal. Thanks for the tutorial and I love your site.
graphicsfairy says
February 13, 2017 at 9:02 amThanks Sandra, and thank you also for the great advice!
Sam says
February 21, 2017 at 4:51 pmHi
Mine is smudging ? Left it 48 hours too.
Any advice?
graphicsfairy says
February 21, 2017 at 5:14 pmSorry Sam 🙁 This was actually a guest post from Andrea over at The Cottage Market. I can’t really tell you why it isn’t working as I just don’t know. My advice is always practice, practice practice 🙂
sarah says
September 6, 2017 at 8:49 amCould I please ask you what sort of ink and printer should be used if I wish to print onto tissue paper and then use as decoupage so that the ink does not run / smudge when the glue is applied ? – hope that makes sense and thank you in advance for any help.
graphicsfairy says
September 6, 2017 at 11:18 amHi Sarah, here is a link to my favorite printer for crafting, it uses waterproof ink 🙂 https://thegraphicsfairy.com/the-best-printers-for-crafting/
Good luck!
Sanya says
March 13, 2018 at 4:12 amHi , to print on a tissue paper , which household printer to be used inkjet or laserjet ? Thanks in advance
graphicsfairy says
March 13, 2018 at 5:36 pmI use an inkjet printer with waterproof ink Sanya 🙂
Jarra says
March 29, 2018 at 5:19 pmmy ink jet printer wets the tissue paper. any solutions?
graphicsfairy says
April 2, 2018 at 12:12 pmOh no Jarra, I am not sure what to tell you. Perhaps contact your printer manufacturer to see if they can offer any suggestions. I have not had that problem, my printer uses a waterproof ink, maybe that is an option for yours?
Lynne Mohr says
April 15, 2019 at 11:24 amI haven’t read all the comments to see if this has already been mentioned, but years ago, I used to use freezer paper. You simply put the fabric, tissue paper, etc., on the “business side” of the freezer paper and use an iron to melt the plastic-like surface to the tissue paper. Trim it to size and run it through your inkjet printer. The paper peels right off. It works perfectly.
graphicsfairy says
April 16, 2019 at 10:02 amWow, thanks so much Lynn, great tip!