I recently ran across a Citrasolv tutorial from a very nice blogger-Suzanne over at Why Cuz I Can.
I mentioned to her that I had tried but failed with the Citrasolv method.
Failure!! I got my copy made at Staples, and the young man that helped me assured me that it was a toner machine. WRONG!
So, after I left a comment on Suzanne’s post, she very kindly offered to mail me some images.
As soon as I saw the images, I knew they would work. They looked very “inky”.
I tore a piece of scrap drop cloth off a larger piece and gathered my supplies. I taped (hinged) my image onto the drop cloth scrap.
Taping it this way allows me to check my progress without the image moving.
I was very surprised how little Citrasolv I had to use. I used tons in my failed attempts thinking I wasn’t using enough. Bonus? The kitchen smelled nice!
After dampening the image, I burnished it with the back of the spoon.
I peeked to see if it was working. OH my! It worked, and it worked will very little effort and very quickly.
How did Suzanne know I love fleur-de-lis?
More bad news! Suzanne recommended getting a copy made at my local library. While running some errands, I went to Staples to try again! Their self service counter intimidates me. I have never quite understood copy machines! They were very busy. I looked around and decided all of their machines are just too “state of the art”, so I left.
I went to the library, and paid my 10 cents per copy. When I did the first try, it didn’t look dark enough, so I darkened it and tried again. I brought it home and tried it, FAIL. hmph! I need a place to get an “old school” copy!
BTW the images I took to the library? They were of course from Karen @ The Graphics Fairy. They had images and words…duh! I forgot to mirror them. So, even if they had worked, they wouldn’t have worked, cause they would have been backwards!
Thank you very much Suzanne for you help. I no longer feel like a failure. 
Have YOU used Citrasolv? Where do you get your copies made? What have you transferred images to? Fabric? Wood? Something else?
gail
Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.
Leslie
Any idea when transferring to wood if you transfer then stay. Or stain then transfer? Or can you do either?
Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal
I have seen this done and didn't know if it was as easy at it looked. I guess not if you can't find the right printer! My husband has a laser printer but I would probably have to order the solution online. Glad you got it to work that one time!
Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.
Ok, you are not the only one intimidated by copy machines, just saying. ... I appreciate all the tips. This has been on my to do list for a while now!
About Me
Funny, before I started my blog I never would have thought that there were SO many ways to transfer images. I've tried the citrasolv process. Must do it again : )
Michell @ Girl In Air
It looks great! I too seen a post last year that used CitraSolv to transfer even colored images....I bought me some and never did get the project done....since I have been cleaning with CitraSolv and LOVE the stuff! Great for pet order and stains:-)
Carol Stuck
I have transferred images using the heat transfer tool and it worked quite well for me. I had my images copied at our local Staples store. I had them copy the images on their darkest setting using dry toner based laser machine on #24 paper.
I am going to try the citrasolv next and compare the results. I figure if I don't like it as well, I can always use the citrasolv for its intended use...heehee!
hugs!
Carol
Stephanie
Hmmm..lots of interesting pointers here with this method. At least your kitchen smelt clean :)I have a laser printer, but I pinned something that shows you how to print directly from your laser printer on to fabric, so that might be my solution.
Love Of Quilts
Another great idea.I hope your having a good week.
Cath
Gail,
YAY I'm happy to hear you had success.
I have a Brother laser printer (it was less than $120 a few years ago) and the prints from this work super.
You can see one of my citriSolv projects here:
http://todayalongthejourney.blogspot.com/2010/09/quick-post.html
Cassie Fields
Does it need to be ink jet or can you use lazer jet printing?
āæā¹āŗāŗāæ@ A Lapin Life
I transfer using the woodworkers transfer tool. No messy liquids.
I have it on my sidebar.
http://alapinlife.blogspot.com/2011/07/woodworkers-transfer-tool-will-transfer.html
Dee
Donna OShaughnessy
WOW. Just found your blog how cool. I live on a farm and try to repurpose my husbands "inventory" whenever I can. Thanks for the inspiration.
Debilou ~ Mississippi Mama
I've seen this method on another blog but havent tried it yet. Glad you figured it out. Where do you buy citrasolv?
Full Circle Creations
Thanks for keeping it real. I love that about your blog! I've never tried to transfer anything. Maybe I'll give it a shot someday!
Holly
Korrie@RedHenHome
I've had the same issue, and it's incredibly frustrating! ONCE I went to Office Max and got the "right" copies, but every other time I've been there, it hasn't worked. Wondering if they've changed copy machines on me! The suggestion I have heard is to take some CitraSolv with you to the copy center, and test the first copy that comes out to see if the ink will smear. If not--try another machine!
artistamyjo
It sounds great,I'll have to try it and let you know.
Hugs
Inspire Me Heather
Thanks Gail for posting this. I haven't tried Citrasolv but would like to give it a go on a project I've been thinking about.
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
WOW! that is so cool- i love this idea! i really need to try transfers one day.... baby steps. š
Sylvia
Glad it worked for you. Are you seriously intimidated by copy machines? Now, that is funny!
Tracie
Thanks for blogging this. I was thinking of making some painter's dropcloth curtains and using this method I could really jazz them up a bit.
Lesley
I have had a bottle of that stuff I order online for 10 months. It's still unopened. lol The old copier situation is a deal killer. This method is going the way of Blockbuster Video. LOL
Kristen
I found a way to transfer an image using my ink jet printer and freezer paper - it worked really well. Here's the tutorial -
http://mycoveredbridge.blogspot.com/2012/01/transferring-image-with-freezer-paper.html
Hope this helps!
Kristen
My Covered Bridge
WhyCuzICan
Hi Gail! Happy to help out, but sorry to hear when you continued to try different printers in your area they still failed. Drat!
Well, gal, you know where I'm at- if you need copies of images, shoot the files this way- tell me appx what size you'd like the finished images to be, and I'll go copy and mail them. Charge ya the cost of the printing and mailing. period.
What are friends for?!
Smiles,
Suzanne at WhyCuzICan
Kathy
Hi Suzanne, do you have a home laser printer that you use yourself or do you take it to a printing company? I have a home laser printer, not an inkjet printer and hoping that it will work so I print in-house. š
Our Delightful Home
I would love to try this; I may have to try my local library. The library is the only place that I could think of that may have a machine with toner.
~Mrs. Delightful
ourdelighgtfulhome.blogspot.com
Terri
Wouldn't our life be much simpler if someone out there in blogland found a way to do this with an inkjet printer?!
I would love to do this but apparently not bad enough because I refuse to waste the time or energy to track down the right type of photocopy machine, lol.
Yours does look super cute though, how nice that she sent you those copies!
I Play Outside The Box
Gail...grab your phone book and start calling all the places that do printing...easy way to find out if they use the right copiers for your needs. When I first read this I thought maybe Kinko's...or maybe places that do shipping..like UPS....I've heard they do printing.
I wonder if there is a printer for home use that would be a "toner".
I've wanted to try this on wood and fabric...but didn't buy the citrasolv for fear I wouldn't get it to work. Glad to know you had success with the copies Suzanne sent you....that was very sweet of her too!
Susan @ homeroad.net
I had the same problem Gail, including the "forgetting to reverse the picture"... LOL I finally had success with the printer at work...
Susan
paola
Well done on perseverance, now i need to know whats in the citrisolv as i live in South Africa and need to find something equivelant. TFS
smiles
Paola