Something we have really been enjoying at Markerland lately is image transferring (putting a printed image onto a raw wooden surface). It’s a great type of project for anyone to do, and can help you create both awesome art pieces and fun handmade gifts! Try it out this holiday season!!

This very simple process needs only a few supplies:
-An object made of plain, unfinished wood
–Zig Decoupage Glue Marker
-Image(s) on paper, from a book or a printer
-Small spray bottle filled with water
-Extra markers if you want to do any additonal decorating (optional)

From start to finish, you will need several hours, or overnight, to let the piece dry inbetween steps.

See our step-by-step process of making a holiday snowman wooden wall hanging:

Step 1:

Choose your image from either a book, or print whatever you like off of the computer. Cut off as much surrounding paper as possible. Use the Zig Decoupage marker to generously cover the area on the wood that the picture will go onto, and then the top side of the image as well.

Step 2:

Press the image(s) face down onto the wood. Make sure that the glue is covering all areas where there is color and that the entire image is making complete contact with the wood.
*Tip: If you have white in your image, like with this snowman, make sure it has a slight color tint to it, since there is no white ink that will transfer- it is just the white paper, which will later be rubbed away..

With any image, especially if you are using words, remember that they will be flipped on the wooden surface, so be sure to print your text backwards!

Step 3:

Wait for the glue to TOTALLY dry. It will need several hours at least, if not left overnight.

Step 4:

The image should now be transferred to the wood, so the paper is ready to be removed! The easiest way to do this is to spray it with water to soften the paper.

Step 5:

Begin to rub the paper firmly enough for it to peel off, but gently enough to not remove the image as well. It may take several more sprays of water and a little time to get all of it removed, but afterwards- you will be left with your image on the wood!!

Step 6 (optional):

If you’d like, you can use markers to add background color or special effects (like glitter), enhance the look of your image/text, or even to fix any trouble spots that may have peeled off. This can give your piece a much more artistic handmade quality, without needing too much artistic talent! 😉

(To finish this project, we used Zig Clean Color Real Brush watercolor markers, Posca paint markers, and Zig Wink of Stella Glitter Brush markers.)

There are plentiful possibilities with this craft.. Try transferring your images onto other wooden objects like boxes, ornaments, picture frames, and more!!

*(See our coloring book image transfer blog HERE!)*

Have you tried the image transfer project? Let us know how it turned out on our social media pages!
–www.facebook.com/MarkerSupply
–Instagram #MarkerSupply
–www.twitter.com/MarkerSupply

All of this recent buzz about coloring BOOKS has left us also wanting to color on something other than paper.. so we at Marker Supply have been experimenting with a type of project called “image transferring”. Take a look at this super easy way to put any coloring page image onto a wooden surface!

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What you’ll need:

*A piece of “raw” wood without a finish on it (no paint, glaze, etc.)*
*A one-sided page from a coloring book (Note: Everything in your original image will be flipped on the wood piece. Keep this in mind- as letters and numbers will appear backwards!)*
*Zig Decoupage Glue Marker (Find it HERE at Marker Supply!)*
*Spray Bottle & Water*

*and a few hours of patience, as your piece will take a while to dry before the fun part can happen. 🙂 *

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The Prep Work:

Step 1:

Trim your image down to fit how you want it over the wooden object. Using your Zig Decoupage Glue Marker, apply an even, thick layer of glue that covers the wooden surface, as well as the paper image (the side WITH the marks on it).

Step 2:

Place your image face down over the wooden piece. Press all over- the middle, the edges, everywhere- to completely stick each piece together. If any spot seems totally dry, you can lightly press the glue marker over the top of the paper and let some saturate through to that area.

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The Hard Part:

Step 3:
You wait for it to COMPLETELY dry.
This will take several hours, it’s usually a great idea to just let it sit overnight.
Yes, we know. This part is not fun. But be patient! 🙂

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The Reveal:

See, you did it. Good job waiting for your piece to be good ‘n dry!
And now even though it may seem silly, we are just going to get it wet again..

Step 4:

Take a spray bottle and lightly coat the paper with a bit of water.

Step 5:

Gently rub the wet paper. Bits of it will start peeling off of the wooden surface, however you’ll see that your image will still be left on the wood!

Step 5.5:

This process can take a few rounds. You can apply a little more water whenever needed to help the paper keep rubbing off. Just don’t rub too rough, the image may start to come off.

And then.. there you have it! You’ve just made a coloring page on a wooden surface!

Once it’s dry, grab those markers and get coloring! Or, give that one to someone as a gift and make some more!

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We’ve had a lot of fun with this super easy and awesome craft.
Stay tuned for another blog about more image transfer ideas coming soon!

Have you tried paper-to-wood transfers? Let us know how it turned out:
Post on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages!
@MarkerSupply    #MarkerSupply

(**The image we used for this Blog is from the Creative Haven coloring book “Fanciful Faces”.**)

The holidays are almost here! Everyone has been busy decorating, mailing out special cards, gathering family and friends… whatever your projects are this year, we want to help you find the perfect markers and pens to use!!

To wrap up our 3-part holiday blog series, find some neat ideas with products from Zig Kuretake!

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Zig Memory System

If you are looking for an assortment of pens for papercrafts, you don’t have to look much farther than the Zig Memory System! A group of products specially designed for projects like cardmaking, scrapbooking, etc- the Memory System has just about everything! Various double-ended markers with different tip styles, “2 Way” Glue sticks, fine line writing pens, metallic brush pens, glitter markers, calligraphy pens, embossing markers, multicolor sets, and more!

The dual-ended pens come with different tip combinations to let kids (and adults!) experiment with how to make a variety of marks!

Browse the entire Memory System line HERE!!

Kid Crafting
Zig Memory System markers are water-based and safe for kids to use! Try some of the dual-ended pens like the Zig Writer to let the kiddos color their own ornaments, or use with coloring books! Make sure to check out the Memory System Clearance Section to find some colors of the Zig Writer for only $0.98!!

Thanks to Nathan for sharing his gingerbread man ornament!!

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Kurecolor Ink Marbling

Our blog featured this technique a while back, but we loved it so much we had to revisit it for the holidays this year. Zig Kurecolor Ink bottles are made for refilling the Kurecolor markers, but have other uses as well! Try dropping some ink into a tray of foam shaving cream.. swirl the drops around a bit.. and then press cardstock, envelopes, paper ornaments, etc. facedown into the mixture. Then lift up, scrape off the foam, and you are left with a beautiful marbled color design!

Get creative trying to make different swirl patterns! Or add a mix of different colors!

After the first pass with your scraper (you can use a squeegee, piece of cardboard, etc..) there may still be some shaving cream left over on  your paper. You can gently remove it after it has dried a bit. Trying to wipe it off right away can smudge the swirls of color.

*This technique works best on thicker paper. If you want the same look on plain papers, or multiple copies of the same designs, make a “master copy” with cardstock, then use a copy machine to print your own unique cards, stationary, even gift wrap!

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Decoupage Glue Pen

The art of decoupage was a big craze years back, and the craft has not gone away! Create some uniquely-made objects using scraps from books, tissue/wrapping/wall paper, magazine clippings, etc! Decoupage involves taking various cut outs/scrap papers and sealing them to an object, leaving a layered look with a glossy coat over the top. With the Zig Decoupage Marker, a glue/water mixture is already done for you and this craft becomes fast and easy!

A fun craft for any age! Create one-of-a-kind gifts.. or gift boxes! Also try decoupaging ornaments.. photo album covers.. flower vases.. See what interesting looks you can give any item with decoupage!

Newspaper and magazines are full of holiday clippings you can cut out for your crafts.
Layer different pictures and letters onto ornaments, gift boxes, etc. using the Decoupage glue pen!
We also tried sealing layers of yarn into a shape with the Decoupage glue and it worked, leaving us another awesome handmade ornament!

Some Tips:
-For rounded surfaces, try to use softer, more flexible materials that will bend around the shape easily.
-Things printed from an inkjet printer, or colored with certain markers, are more likely to have their color bleed when the decoupage glue gets them wet, so use caution and test a cut-out first if possible.
-To give your piece added protection and durability, cover the top layer with a sealant.

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Zig Eraser Pens

One of our newest pens at Marker Supply, the Zig Eraser Pens work with alcohol-based markers on non-porous surfaces to create “reverse coloring” art! Color in a space or make a design with your colored markers (try the Zig Kurecolors or Zig Painty FX) and then write or draw over the color with the eraser pen to remove the color and make fun designs!
(Tip: Keep a piece of scrap paper or a tissue handy to clean the color off of the eraser pen tip after every few marks. This helps erase the color more completely in the first stroke. Depending on the thickness of the color, it could take a few passes to entirely erase the color coat.)

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Window Art

Doing any special decorating on surfaces like your windows, mirrors, chalkboard walls, etc.? Zig has MANY paint markers specially designed for that task! Have fun making some lovely holiday artwork for your home or business!

Want your marks to stay on longer, maybe for outside windows in the rain or snow?
Choose a paint marker like the Zig Posterman or Zig Woodcraft. These will need to be removed with a household/window cleaner (or try the Scrubs wipes!) and should hold up if in contact with plain water.

Want your marks able to be removed more easily and without special cleaners?
Go with the Zig Wet Wipe or Zig Illumigraph markers. Their paint will wipe off with plain water on a damp cloth! Illumigraph markers are very fluorescent and look especially bright under black lights.

While Zig Woodcraft Markers work great for glass/chalkboard art, also try them for their traditional use: wood crafts!

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Oil-Based Zig “Painty” Markers

Doing any decorating that needs some heavy-duty painted marks? Try using oil-based permanent paint markers! Zig features the Painty markers, that come in extra fine, fine & medium bullet tips and a very large selection of unique colors. A version of the Zig Painty marker that we LOVE for holiday crafts are the Zig Painty Twin markers.

These dual-ended pens are like having 2 pens in one!
Available in Gold & Silver with extra fine tips, or in Black & White with fine bullet tips.

There are dozens of paintys to choose from- great pens for adding a fun splash of color to projects of many kinds!

**The Painty markers are Oil-based and contain Xylene. They are not appropriate markers for crafting with children.

**Plan to paint on a mug or other dishes? Oil-based paint will come off when it is washed!! Use the Pebeo glass/porcelain paint markers instead. See our previous blog about decorating with the Pebeo markers & paints!!

**See the Painty Clearance colors sections to grab certain colors of these markers for only $1.00!!

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See our previous blogs in the Holiday Decorating Series:
–Part 1: Marvy Uchida
–Part 2: Pebeo

Have any holiday marker crafts that you / your friends & family like to do? We love seeing what creative ideas you guys come up with! Post/tag us on our social media pages or email us!

Thanks for following our Holiday Decorating Series here at the Marker Supply Blog. We hope your holiday season is filled with lots of wonderful things!!!