packing tape transfers

pixielily · Posted: Sep 05, 2004 10:01 am Post subject: packing tape transfers

you all might already know about this, but i just discovered it, and it's so cool i had to share!

you can transfer images from a magazine using clear packing tape...

what you need:

*packing tape
*magazine images
*squeegee
*water

what you do:

find an image you like from a magazine. put packing tape over the image. use a squeegee to make sure the tape is completely stuck to the paper (i use an old credit card.) then wet the backside of the paper; you can either dip the whole thing in water, or use a brush, cloth, or finger to apply the water. get it really wet. wait a few minutes for the water to saturate the paper, then use your finger to gently rub the paper away; the ink from the image adheres to the tape, and all that's left is your image! amazing!

i read about this technique a few days ago, and couldn't quite believe it would work, so i had to try it. lo and behold, it does work! i've only tried it on glossy magazine pages; not sure if any other types of paper/images would work or not.
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smachel · Joined: 08 Apr 2004 Posts: 218 Location: kentucky

hmmm... i'll have to try this out.

what have you used it for?

pixielily · Posted: Sep 05, 2004 10:49 am Post subject:

MissRoo · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 158

I just tried this!! It works really well with glossy magazine pages. I had a bit less luck with matte finishes (like book pages). Here's one that I've temporarily placed on a lampshade so you can see how transparent it is:

I have a few more pictures here.

I think I'm going to use them for cards, stationery, and other paper projects. Thanks for sharing this idea, pixielily!! :D

Pearliepie · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 2555 Location: Colorado

Oh wow. I remember doing this with my mom when I was just a little bean. We used some clear contact paper, and remember it retaining some of its "stick". I had a lot of flower pictures stuck on my window in place of window shades. It looked really cool.

I'm going to have to try it again!

pixielily · Posted: Sep 06, 2004 1:01 am Post subject:

miss roo,

it's fabulous how easy it is, and how well it turns out, yes?! thanks SO MUCH for posting pictures! i was going to post some myself, but had to replace my hard drive today (boooooo!) and haven't reinstalled my scanner yet. yours are great, though! :)

pixielily
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lalegna · Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 17 Location: CA

Thanks pixielily! This sounds awesome, can't wait to try. I'm going to transfer an image onto a long piece of tape, let dry, then lay a second piece of tape on the sticky side for a cool semi-transparent bookmark. I bet you could also make cool cards with cut-out windows and a transferred image in the middle. Hmm, ideas, ideas!
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fuzzydice · Joined: 08 Apr 2004 Posts: 1206 Location: SE Virginia

wow...now I know what I'm doing this weekend!

pixielily · Posted: Sep 09, 2004 9:01 pm Post subject:

i discovered yesterday that this technique also works beautifully on greeting cards (though probably only the glossy ones). it made it SUPER easy to put the images from a very sweet b-day card into my journal, without bulking up the page too much. the text (from inside) transferred just as easily.
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browneyedgirl · Joined: 08 Apr 2004 Posts: 2147 Location: Dallas, Texas

I'd been contemplating doing this since the thread started, but didn't do it until tonight. It is *so* much fun! :)

It also works with newspaper, but it comes out very lightly...so it may or may not be something to try. I guess it might depend on what you were using it for. I haven't tried a newspaper clipping with color, just black and white.

*jocie* - who is off to destroy more magazines for more transfers!
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pixielily · Posted: Sep 10, 2004 6:16 am Post subject:

jocie,

when i read about it, all i could think was nuh-uh! it can't be this easy!...but it really is! i was so surprised! :)
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bag-lady · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 125 Location: Surrey, ENGLAND

This sounds really cool but can you guys explain exactly what you mean by packing tape, maybe a link to a picture would be good. We have so many different types of tape and probably call it something different over here.

Thanks,

Karen.

MsRetro · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 161

Wow, wow, wow....

I've been thinking about doing some stuff with pressed seaweed in glass frames for christmas presents this year.

I have a bunch of glass that I've salvaged for that project. I think this would be incredibly cool for that as well!
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ladyjane · Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Posts: 4563 Location: Chicago

JesC · Posted: Sep 10, 2004 12:24 pm Post subject:

It works with regular scotch tape too! I was so intrigued after I read Pixielily's post ( and I have time to spare at work!), so I tried it with regular old 1/2 wide scotch tape right at my desk. I love this! Can't wait to go home and try it with packing tape.

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