How to Make Decorative Art with Rub On Transfers

Do you ever need a piece of decorative art for a place in your home? Don’t want to shop? Can’t paint? Don’t want to spend a lot of time and money? The rub on transfers may be the answer to your decorating dilemma. Here is how to make decorative art with rub on transfers.

There was an empty spot on a bookshelf that was screaming for something pretty, interesting, and blue.

I am not a artist. I really don’t have an artistic bone in my body. But I can craft, paint, hot glue, and sew.

I now also know how to use rub on transfers. In fact, I may have become addicted. Next to decoupage and air-dry clay, rub-on transfer are quickly becoming one of my favorite decorative materials to use in crafting home decor accessories.

Here is my latest project. It’s easy, fairly fast, and inexpensive. It’s pretty. And it’s blue.

blue transfer art with gold-painted frame on bookshelf

Hang out with me as I show you how to turn this rub on transfer project into art in your home. It’s a great way to add fresh spring decor to your home.

Earlier Rub On Transfer Project

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As a reminder, a couple of weeks ago, I used these gorgeous peony color transfers from A Makers’ Studio to make two decorative pieces for our coffee table.

peony floral rub on color transfer sheet

candle and vase decorated with flower rub on transfers

These transfers are so easy to use and I loved the results. I couldn’t wait to try another project using them.

Before checking out this new project, if you want more information on transfers – what they are, where you can use them, or what supplies you need – you’ll find all that info in the post with the peonies.

Run On Transfers for a New Project

When I was rearranging our bookcase last week for a more spring-like feel, I ended up with a blank space.

I realized that it needed a pretty piece of art in that spot. I tried out a gold metal easel for size.

bookshelf with empty space and gold easel

Searching my home decor stash, I came up empty. Nothing I had on hand would work to fill the space.

First, I needed a piece of art that was at least 9 X 12 t or taller to fill the space.
Second, I needed something floral and blue to complement the chinoiserie that already adorned the bookshelves.

Since I didn’t find anything already made, I went through the supply dresser I keep in our garage. I found a package of two canvases – I bet I’ve had them for a few years. I couldn’t believe that they were 9 X 12 inches – perfect for the space on my bookshelf.

Although I love the transfers from A Makers’ Studio, I wanted to try another company, just for comparison. Since I wanted something blue, I found a set of transfers in blue designs from Redesign Prima on Amazon.

I couldn’t wait to create a new decorative accessory in our home for springtime.

Supplies for this Blue Art Transfer Project

To be honest, I wasn’t sure this project would work for three reasons:

I hadn’t used this brand of rub-on transfers before.
I didn’t know if the transfers would adhere to the canvas material.
Would I be able to make a frame with paint?

For the Rub On Transfer

your rub-on transfers of choice – at this point, I hadn’t opened the tube of run-on transfers. Unlike the transfers from A Makers’ Studio, these transfers came rolled up in a tube.
canvas of the size you need. I don’t even remember where I bought them.
sharp craft scissors – these are my favorites for cutting around small spaces.
tool to burnish the transfer. Last time I used a wood stick that I found in my office. This time I thought I would try the burnisher from Cricut.

For Making the Frame

Paint to paint a frame on the canvas. At first, I thought I could use washi tape. There were two problems: it wasn’t wide enough and it didn’t have any stickiness left. Any acrylic or chalk paint would work.
Frog tape to make the frame outline.
Sponge brush

Attaching the Transfer to the Canvas

Step 1 – Open the transfer package and examine the transfers.

The first thing I noticed is that there were three transfers in the package. Instead of individual designs, each transfer was one big design. Being rolled up, it was hard to have them lay flat on my work service.

I noticed two other things about the transfers:

The white backing to the transfer was very wrinkled.
The plastic transfer didn’t have any adhesive to keep it on the backing or the surface to which you were adding the transfer.

I wasn’t sure if the backing always came wrinkled or if this was just a fluke in my order. Also, how would the transfer stay attached to the canvas (or any surface) during the transfer step without adhesive?

Let’s see.

After looking at all three sheets of transfers, I picked one that had a design that could best be used on the canvas. I picked the section below.

Step 2 – Cut Your Transfer Design to Size

Since with this transfer, I would be using it as one piece, I measured the transfer. I made a cut to designate where the transfer should be cut.

Then I drew a line on the back of the transfer where to cut it.

Step 3 – Place your transfer on your canvas. I adjusted it to be centered from left to right and top to bottom.

Step 4 – Begin rolling back the backing and pressing down on the transfer. At this point, I remembered that there was no adhesive to hold the transfer to the canvas.

Step 5 – Use painter’s tape to hold the transfer down on the canvas. I removed all the backing as I added the tape.

taping transfer to canvas with blue rub-on transfer

Step 6 – Begin burnishing the transfer design to the canvas. I started at the top and worked around the sides.

I like the Cricut spatula shape in my hand. It felt more comfortable in my hand than the wood stick I had used on my previous project.

burnishing the transfer design with a Cricut spatula

I don’t know if it was because the canvas had a “little give” or because of the transfer itself, but it took a lot of rubbing to get the entire design to adhere to the canvas. Also, my previous transfer project used glass and went on so easily.

My first rub-on transfer project involved canvas also, but the surface was firmer.

I decided to try the wood stick that came with the transfers.

rubbing transfer on canvas with wood stick

I liked the Cricut spatula better. It felt better in my hand and covered more surface.

Continue rubbing the transfers and lifting the plastic film as needed to see if the design has transferred to the canvas. It took me about 30 minutes to burnish the entire design.

It looked great for the canvas.

Painting the “Frame”

I wanted the design to look like it had a frame around it. Since I had other metallic gold colors in our lamp, a clock, and trim on the topiaries planters, I thought a gold “frame” would be the right look.

For my paint, I used Gel Art Ink in Metallic Gold from A Makers’ Studio. You can tell that I’ve used this paint before. It works on many surfaces – wood, paper, fabric, and now, canvas.

Step 1 – Measure an equal width on all sides of the design. Whatever the widest space is, becomes your frame width. My frame would be one inch on all sides.

Step 2 – Make your frame outline using the Frog Tape.

adding Frog Tape to make frame on blue art transfer

Step 3 – Trim off the excess tape so you have your area to paint. You can see that I will need to cover some of the transfer design on the sides.

Step 4 – Using a sponge brush, cover the exposed canvas with your paint of choice. The Gel Art Ink did a nice job of covering the white canvas. Some of the transfer design might show through a bit. Let the first coat dry completely, then add a second coat of paint on all sides of the “frame”. The Gel Art In took about 30 minutes to dry.

I used long strokes on all sides of the canvas. Be sure to paint the side edges of the canvas.

painting gold frame on canvas around blue transfer

Step 5 – Carefully and slowly remove the Frog Tape from the canvas as soon as you’ve added the second coat of paint.

I was a little worried that some of the transfer design on the edges might come up, but it didn’t

Displaying Your Art

This was easy. I placed the transfer art on the gold easel on the bookshelf. You can see the gold trim on the topiaries I made a few years ago.

Here is the artwork with a peek at our lamp on the left and Sweet Shark’s old clock above.

I loved how the project turned out. The art fills the space. The color and the design work perfectly with the other blue accessories and the touches of gold metallic.

Review of the New Rub-on Tranfer

I would prefer the rub-on transfers to have some adhesive on the back for easier application. I’m not sure how easy it would be to apply the design if you were working with smaller pieces of transfer.

I’ll use the other transfers in this tube when I can. I already have another idea for using them. Although I loved the design, I doubt that I would order this brand again

I’ve ordered another color transfer from A Makers’ Studio – this one is called Full Bloom. I can’t wait to make something pretty with them. In my opinion, the quality of this brand and the ease of application is much better.