Bohemian Transfer Tutorial

I found this small vintage dresser that was solid wood and in good shape. And because it was a smaller piece, I decided to get out of my comfort zone and trying something bold using IOD's Bohemian Transfer. We can't always play it safe, that would be boring! And how else are you going to learn something new, if you don't try new things? The reason I created this tutorial is to encourage you to try something different and provide tips to make the process easier. Well, that and because everyone asked for one after I finished this piece back in August. Oops! IOD came out with a Bohemian Border Transfer this summer and I decided to give it a try. I actually used two for this project, but I had a few pieces left over in the end. The Bohemian Border measures 12" x 33" long. I cleaned, primed, and painted the dresser with "Abyss" by Wise Owl Paint. Note: You need your paint to be thoroughly dry before you apply a transfer.

User Friendly Transfers

Next, I took out my transfer and cut the top portion off. I turned it upside down to apply to the top portion of the bottom drawer. It does not matter which direction you place them, it's completely up to you. One of the best things about the transfers is that you can customize the size to fit your project. You can also layer the transfer designs over each other! If you've never used the IOD Decor Transfers you can read this post. I continued cutting pieces to fit different sections as I went along. I questioned my choices every step of the way because it went through some really ugly phases before it was all done, lol. Basically, it's like putting on that first coat of paint, which usually looks pretty awful, but you need to push through and keep going!! Once I applied the transfers to the middle portion I noticed that they looked like they were floating, so-to-speak. So, I decided to add a handpainted border around each section. This evened out any uneven transfer cuts and it enclosed the design, which visually grounded things. BTW, in the next transfer release, they've included paintable transfers!!

Fill in Details with Stamps

I used part of the Portico Decor Stamp on the top drawer front to fill in those last two spaces along with handpainted details. I could have continued using parts of the transfer but I wanted to break things up while adding my own personal touch. You can use wax or top coat to seal the transfer, once you're finished. You will want to add a layer of protection to the transfer and it's strongly suggested that you do. The amount of time depends on the size of your piece and the complexity of your overall design. I've done transfers on windows and benches that took 10-15 minutes. I didn't clock my hours on the dresser but I took much more time deciding on placement vs actual application. In the end, I really love how it turned out and am glad I pushed myself to try something different. This piece has since found a new home and that makes me happy. The Bohemian Border transfer is available in both of my shop locations, as well as my online shop. You can also look for a local retailer here.
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