In need of a last-minute Father's Day card? I've been playing around with our printer a lot more lately, and Kristie and I each made wooden photo postcards for our dads last night (that's me circa 1994 on the left in the picture above!).
This project was easy, cheap, and best of all: fast. I've done photo transfers onto wood in the past, but this one differs because it relies on an inkjet printer rather than laser (although the laser instructions would totally work for this project -- they would just make the wait time a lot longer).
To make one, you will need:
- Craft plywood cut to 4x6" (I found a piece at Michaels that made three 4x6 cards)
- Freezer paper
- Inkjet printer
- Scissors
- Mod Podge
- Paintbrush
- Credit card
- A photo you want to print sized to 4x6
Cut a piece of freezer paper to 8.5x11". Load the paper into your printer so that the image will print on the shiny side of the freezer paper. Carefully print the image and remove the paper, being sure you don't smudge the ink. It will be wet!
Place the paper image side down onto the craft plywood, lining up the edges as carefully as you can. Hold the freezer paper in place and swipe it with the credit card to transfer the ink to the wood. You can peek under the edges to see when most of the ink has transferred. Carefully remove and discard the freezer paper.
Let the ink dry for about 20 minutes, then brush on a light layer of Mod Podge. This will seal the ink, and also help the color appear more saturated and vibrant.
Write your message and address on the back, then send it off! Anything under one ounce requires only one regular postage stamp (in the U.S.). Depending on the thickness of the craft plywood you purchase, you might need more than one.
PS - Sew a Father's Day banner, and a round-up of Father's day gift ideas.
