This is how to print using freezer paper so you can customize anything right at home. Create personalized t shirts, wood signs, pillows and more using freezer paper and your printer. Here are step by step instructions of how you can do it too and make gifts everyone will love.
I know…you’re probably wondering what the heck I am talking about when when you see how to print using freezer paper, but it is true. Using your printer, freezer paper, and a hard surface you can transfer anything you print out on to a piece of cloth or even wood! Here is how we did it and a roundup of other clever ways from other bloggers at the bottom of this post too! (originally published 9/15, affiliate links present)
Here is step by step directions and pictures showing you how to do it right at home (we used a wood cutting board).
This is how to print using freezer paper
- Let me show you how easy it is.
- The first thing you need to do is find a picture you want on the computer, or create one in Word.
- Once you have the image and/or wording done you need to do a 3D rotation option of 180 degrees on the image. That way when it is put on it goes on the correct direction.
- If you don’t know how to do that just google the instructions (since different operating systems and computers are different just find how to do it on yours) but if you have a Mac you can do it in the printing stage by clicking this button.
- Now get your freezer paper ready ( if you can’t find it locally you can order some freezer paper here) ready.
- You want to cut the freezer paper sheets to the same size as a regular printer paper sheet. Use a razor or scissors to do this, if it’s slightly larger it will get clogged.
- You need it to be on a harder surface so we are going to use a glue stick and glue the shiny side UP and glue it on to a piece of paper.
- Then you will need to feed your piece of freezer paper into your printer. Feed it thru so that it prints on the shiny side of the freezer paper. Printing on the wrong side won’t let it transfer on to your piece of fabric.
- You must use an inkjet printer!
- A laser printer will not work.
- Allow the ink to dry now.
- The print will come out on your freezer paper, now you need to find a piece of cloth, pillow, t shirt or cutting board similar to what we used. Use whatever you want it to transfer on to.
- Cut off loose threads on any fabric and freezer paper should be ready with the design from your ink jet printer on it.
- Find something hard and flat like a credit card, side of a school type eraser, etc… These will allow you to scrape the image off.
It will come out of your printer looking like this.
Yes it is backwards on your paper but that is correct.
- Scrape from the top to the bottom and every inch of the design so that it rubs off on to your desired piece.
- some say a hot iron transfers it too but I haven’t done that
- Once you are done you will have a customized piece that you can give away or keep for yourself. 😉
- It works on wood as well as you can see below, or material like the pillow.
- You can use the freezer paper design multiple times or until the ink wears out too.
Make sure you get it really scraped off before lifting up your freezer paper to ensure all of your wording/picture comes off.
Fun DIY project right. Great to customize a cutting board like this that you could use as a gift or a project for a Boy or Girl scout troop too….just perfect it beforehand.
Inexpensive way to jazz up things and make them customized.
You can have a name printed or later I added flowers around The Typical Mom to embellish it…..use your creativity. 😉
As for materials I found it harder to do this on cotton, seems to run a bit. I would use something a bit stiffer. Customizing a plain table runner or piece of material that you later turn into or recover a pillow that isn’t a cotton t-shirt like material works best.
Here is a great video from Easy Sewing for Beginners on how she prints on fabric using freezer paper, great demonstration.
How to print using freezer paper
Here are a few other great ways on how to print using freezer paper from other crafters!
- Another blogger from Make the best of things here has apparel using the create anything using freezer paper technique if you’re looking to personalize shirts etc..
- Little Bit Funky has a great tutorial on making signs using freezer paper to transfer letters and images onto pieces of wood.
- A Mom’s Take creates custom pillows using a freezer paper technique….this looks really cute!
- Country Design Home uses this technique to create a custom look on a piece of furniture.
- Pretty Providence uses freezer paper stencils to create custom, and really cute, t shirts customized for everyone.
- Whipperberry has a great example of using freezer paper to create customized blankets and more…perfect for a baby shower!
- DIY Village creates really cute signs on burlap using the freezer paper transfer technique.
- A Spotted Pony transfers pictures on to pillows using freezer paper…love this idea.
- Now get your freezer paper ready and get started!!
- If you love easy DIY ideas check out our post on how to make burlap garland!
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Brenda says
I read the entire page of instructions Printing using Freezer Paper, and I don’t understand why so many questions. I’ve used Pinterest for years for directions for everything I do, and I wanted to thank you for the best tutorial I’ve ever read you explained everything step by step for using the paper on wood and other’s asked about using it on other surfaces I was wondering about.
Instead of asking questions I thought you deserved a Thank You, and I am signing up to follow you.
I didn’t read every single question I wanted to tell you about another type of paper I use when I’m working on my dollhouse’s. I hate to sew even using my sewing machine. I was talking to my husband about what I was doing and I had said I wish I could get away with making curtains, quilts, and even doll clothes to hang or put in draws without sewing. The next day he brought home a giant role of industrial type paper towels he had used at work. Those are great and strong enough to use without any type of guidance with other paper. You can also use a strong piece of white Bounty or something as good. You will need to put a little tape or a few dabs of stick glue on the back of the paper used to guide it through your printer. Only use enough to be able to unstick without tearing so you can use the paper towel as material. You do it almost exactly as using freezer paper for transfer except your adding paper to guide it through the printer, I use card stock to guide it with.
After I read my directions they are not as good as yours, you might want to rewrite that LOL. If you do it correctly using what ever design you want they really look good.
LouAnn says
Can freezer paper work with leather
Jo Sutherland says
I needed a small piece of fabric for a jar quilt and couldn’t find what I wanted, so I found an image on my computer and printed my own custom piece of fabric, turned out perfect.
Cristina says
Has anybody tried to transfer an image on glass?
Would love to know if it is possible. Thanks
Boni Kolinski says
Very interesting! Thanks
Carol says
Can you use this method of transfer on a rock?
The Typical Mom says
Haven’t done that.
Teresa Toledo says
This awesome…..But how do you keep it on the wood? Do you apply a “top coat” of sorts on it?
Thank you for reply!! 🙂
julie says
I can not get my words printed on wax or freezer paper. I have a HP Deskjet printer. Is it the same as a inkjet printer? Great post, I would love to get it figured out though. Thanks
The Typical Mom says
Has to be an inkjet to print properly.
Julie says
My HP deskjet won’t print on the freezer paper, do you know why?
Laura says
I’m guessing the Deskjet is a Laser jet printer and not an inkjet printer. 🙁
Brenda P says
Interesting and informative post. But, how exactly is the paper put into the printer? I assume paper side up, fabric on the bottom? Also, is it necessary to rotate the print to the 180 degrees? Thank you.
Sasha says
If you print directly on the fabric no but if you print onto the freezer paper to transfer the image you need to otherwise your words/image will be backwards.
Sylvia Sanchez says
I am a bit confused, i have read other websites to where u print on the freezer paper and then u
transfer it onto the fabric?
So, if all u do is the freezer paper as a back up why do we need it, and not use just regular paper,
I dont understand where the freezer paper comes in?
The Typical Mom says
You do print on the freezer paper on your printer.
Sandra says
I have read that also. I like both. Different looks.
Rose says
Where do I go to get words, fonts etc to make up quotes. How do you have one word vertical and other words horizontal ? I am new at all of this
TwoYellowDogs.Terri says
How do you keep the transferred item to remain ‘permanent?’ On wood, like a cutting board, won’t it just wash off? On fabric won’t it fade (when washed)? I can see doing this for wood signs and then possibly sealing with clear acrylic spray, but I would guess brushing on some sort of sealer would smear/run the ink. Just wondering….
Tanja Bonnette says
How well does this work for transferring to glass / plastic items such as platters?
elaine says
you can cut a piece of freezer paper and some light coloured cotton fabric A4 , same size as your computer paper. iron the waxy side to the wrong side of your fabric. watch for loose threads and trim them off carefully. work out how your paper goes through the printer. I have to put mine fabric side down. then print. a bit scary the first time and I did have the odd jam in the beginning, but now I’m more confidant it goes through easily. you can scan photos into your computer and play around with them, great fun.
Beth says
I am wanting to do this on double faced satin for a bookmark. Can you seal the design with something to still have fabric that’s pliable but protects the design? Like I have used hairspray on chalk drawings. But ribbon definitely different – feedback please.
Jessica says
Does this work with a laser printer?
The Typical Mom says
Unfortunately no
Angela Smith says
The ink seems to run on my freezer paper so it comes out if the printer smudged. What am I doing wrong?
lynne says
wrong side of paper
Sherry Campbell says
Very nice
Angela Taylor says
I have done a sign “Welcome to my Garden” on strips of wood, but had difficulty getting the text on straight. Is there an easy way of doing it?
Julie Block says
EVER TRY THIS PROCESS ON GLASS?
The Typical Mom says
No I haven’t.
Kayla Phillips says
For transferring image or text onto glass you MUST USE A LASER PRINTER and not an inkjet
countrydesignhome says
Hi! Thanks for featuring my French Side Table! Really appreciate it!
Sherri Owens says
Can freezer paper or wax paper be used on painted wood?
Cheryl Kreider says
I would also like to know if this works on painted wood. I want to do a quote going up a flight of steps.
The Typical Mom says
Not sure. If it has a varnish on it I wouldn’t think so though.
Cindy says
Could I use Parchment paper?
The Typical Mom says
No, freezer paper is different. There is a link in this post to purchase it online.
Lucinda Rogers says
Has anyone tried to iron on the picture onto a tea towel?
Martina says
Just wondering how well fabric will wash once it’s been printed. Will it wash off eventually?
The Typical Mom says
Would fade each time yes.
Helen says
I was wondering when transferring onto canvas, do you iron on, or scrape on?
The Typical Mom says
Have transferred to a burlap/canvas style piece of fabric and used scrape technique.
ammb says
I use wax paper. It does the exact same job and cost less than freezer paper.
Ellen Weber says
Can I use wax paper to transfer a picture from a magazine