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    Home » Crafts » Citrasolv Transfer Method

    Citrasolv Transfer Method

    Published by Gail | Published January 31, 2012 | Updated April 9, 2019
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    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.

    100_6054

    100_6056

    100_6060Failure!! 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.

    IMG_1145As soon as I saw the images, I knew they would work. They looked very “inky”.

    IMG_1152I 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.

    IMG_1150Taping it this way allows me to check my progress without the image moving.

    IMG_1153I 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!

    IMG_1154After dampening the image, I burnished it with the back of the spoon.

    IMG_1155I peeked to see if it was working. OH my! It worked, and it worked will very little effort and very quickly.

    IMG_1157How 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. Winking smile

    Have YOU used Citrasolv? Where do you get your copies made? What have you transferred images to?  Fabric? Wood? Something else?

    gail

    More transfer ideas here

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    1. Leslie

      August 06, 2015 at 10:39 am

      Any idea when transferring to wood if you transfer then stay. Or stain then transfer? Or can you do either?

      Reply
    2. Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal

      February 07, 2012 at 3:27 am

      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!

      Reply
    3. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.

      February 01, 2012 at 2:32 pm

      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!

      Reply
    4. About Me

      February 01, 2012 at 1:12 pm

      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 : )

      Reply
    5. Michell @ Girl In Air

      February 01, 2012 at 2:07 am

      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:-)

      Reply
    6. Carol Stuck

      February 01, 2012 at 1:58 am

      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

      Reply
    7. Stephanie

      January 31, 2012 at 10:58 pm

      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.

      Reply
    8. Love Of Quilts

      January 31, 2012 at 7:47 pm

      Another great idea.I hope your having a good week.

      Reply
    9. Cath

      January 31, 2012 at 4:31 pm

      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

      Reply
    10. Cassie Fields

      January 31, 2012 at 3:37 pm

      Does it need to be ink jet or can you use lazer jet printing?

      Reply
    11. ✿ⒹⒺⒺ✿@ A Lapin Life

      January 31, 2012 at 3:35 pm

      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

      Reply
    12. Donna OShaughnessy

      January 31, 2012 at 3:17 pm

      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.

      Reply
    13. Debilou ~ Mississippi Mama

      January 31, 2012 at 2:38 pm

      I've seen this method on another blog but havent tried it yet. Glad you figured it out. Where do you buy citrasolv?

      Reply
    14. Full Circle Creations

      January 31, 2012 at 2:37 pm

      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

      Reply
    15. Korrie@RedHenHome

      January 31, 2012 at 2:33 pm

      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!

      Reply
    16. artistamyjo

      January 31, 2012 at 1:54 pm

      It sounds great,I'll have to try it and let you know.
      Hugs

      Reply
    17. Inspire Me Heather

      January 31, 2012 at 1:50 pm

      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.

      Reply
    18. Cassie @ Primitive & Proper

      January 31, 2012 at 1:35 pm

      WOW! that is so cool- i love this idea! i really need to try transfers one day.... baby steps. 😉

      Reply
    19. Sylvia

      January 31, 2012 at 1:29 pm

      Glad it worked for you. Are you seriously intimidated by copy machines? Now, that is funny!

      Reply
    20. Tracie

      January 31, 2012 at 12:59 pm

      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.

      Reply
    21. Lesley

      January 31, 2012 at 12:42 pm

      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

      Reply
    22. Kristen

      January 31, 2012 at 12:11 pm

      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

      Reply
    23. WhyCuzICan

      January 31, 2012 at 12:01 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Kathy

        February 05, 2014 at 1:42 pm

        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. 🙂

    24. Our Delightful Home

      January 31, 2012 at 12:00 pm

      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

      Reply
    25. Terri

      January 31, 2012 at 11:59 am

      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!

      Reply
    26. I Play Outside The Box

      January 31, 2012 at 11:48 am

      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!

      Reply
    27. Susan @ homeroad.net

      January 31, 2012 at 11:29 am

      I had the same problem Gail, including the "forgetting to reverse the picture"... LOL I finally had success with the printer at work...
      Susan

      Reply
    28. paola

      January 31, 2012 at 11:23 am

      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

      Reply

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    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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