The color of the text does not matter. You can even use an option that just gives you the outline. You can also find pre-made text online or even sketch your own on a sheet of printer paper.
Make sure that you use printer paper; you can even use binder paper in a pinch. Don’t use cardstock, however, or it will be too thick for the transfer to work. Skip this step if you sketched your own text.
You should be able to see the letters through the back of the paper. If you can’t you could place the paper against a bright window, but this is not really necessary. If the wood is dark-colored, the graphite won’t show up. Use chalk instead. You don’t need a thick layer because it is so powdery. [3] X Research source
It does not matter what type of tape you use, as long as it holds the paper in place.
Lift the corner of the paper to check your progress. The lines will be faint, but you should still be able to see them. You do not need to fill in the letters since you’ll be painting them anyway.
If you are using a pen, choose a color that matches the paint.
If the wood is smooth, you may be able to color the letters in with permanent markers instead. The paint will cover the graphite/chalk marks, so don’t worry.
Acrylic sealer comes in matte, glossy, and satin finishes, so choose wisely!
It is important to reverse the text, otherwise it will come out backwards. Choose a nice font and font size. The text will come out lighter on the wood, so dark, bold, or bright colors will look the best. Do not use white. There is no such thing as white printer ink, so it won’t print. If it doesn’t print, then it won’t transfer.
If you don’t have wax paper, use freezer paper instead. Make sure that the waxy side is facing up. You don’t have to tape every edge–just the edge that will be going into the printer first.
Don’t wait for the ink to dry. It needs to be wet for the next step. If you have a bottom-loading printer, insert the paper wax-side-down. If you have a top-loading printer, insert the paper wax-side-up. Because of the wax, the ink won’t soak into the paper. That makes it easy to transfer the words to the wood.
Tape down the corners so that it doesn’t slide around. Make sure that the wax paper/printed text is touching the wood.
You may be able to use a spoon, but the results may not be as vibrant.
You can apply the sealer directly over the printed text without using paint. Acrylic sealer comes in matte, satin, and glossy finishes, so choose one that you like the best.
This is important. If you don’t reverse the text, it will come out backwards when you transfer it to the wood.
If you only have an inkjet printer, you may be able to find transfer paper made specifically for inkjet printers. Read the labels. Choose paper made for light-colored fabrics. If you get the kind made for dark-colored fabrics, your text will have a white background.
Press and hold the iron firmly against the paper. If you don’t apply enough pressure, the text won’t transfer properly. How long you do this for depends on the brand of paper that you are using. Most brands will require about 5 to 10 seconds, however.
If the text did not come out dark enough, you can paint over it with acrylic paints. Coat your wood with a clear acrylic sealer in a matte, glossy, or satin finish to protect the transferred text.
