We had these plates cut from plywood, but you can decorate any raw wooden item using this technique.

You Will Need

• 9mm plywood plates (330mm diameter)
• colour photocopies of a picture or photograph
• thinners
• 100-grit sandpaper
• craft paint in a colour of your choice
• masking tape
• cotton wool
• sponge

To Make
1 Sand the top of each plate with the grain. Wipe with a clean, dry cloth.

2 Place a photocopy face down on the first plate and secure with masking tape.

3 Dip cotton wool in thinners and wipe it over the back of the paper, working from one side. Press down firmly to ensure the ink is transferred onto the wood, but take care not to use too much thinners as that will make the ink run. Also make sure the paper doesn’t shift while you’re working, to prevent the transfer smudging.

4 Lift up one corner of the paper to check that the ink was transferred. Repeat, if necessary.

5 Pull off the masking tape.

6 Use a sponge to dab craft paint in a colour of your choice all along the edge of the plate. Choose a colour that will complement the print.

GOOD IDEA Another way to transfer images onto wood is to have them printed onto iron-on transfer paper (available at craft shops), then iron the back of the paper to transfer the image. We followed the instructions of the transfer-paper manufacturers and simply used wood instead of fabric.

Text and image: Ideas magazine