A while back the folks at Prima Marketing contacted me and asked if I’d like to try some rub on transfers from their new re.design line.
After I danced around the room with glee for a few minutes, I promptly responded with um, yes!
One of the designs they sent to me is called L’Amour Et Des Reves.
As soon as I saw it I knew it would be perfect for the blank wall above my guest bed. Normally I use the rub-on transfers on furniture, but did you know that they can also be adhered to walls, windows or even mirrors?
So last Saturday I decided to get to work and apply it to the wall.
The first thing you’ll notice when you remove the transfer from the tube it came in is that it’s in separate pieces. If you’re used to the IOD transfers that come on one big sheet, this is going to be different for you. The L’Amour transfer came in four sections.
I laid them out on my guest bed to get a better look at them.
First of all, let me point out that I have the floral section upside down in that photo. Oops.
But what kind of clicked in my brain at this moment was that I could pick and choose which sections of the transfer I wanted to use quite easily. Also, this would be super handy if you’re putting the transfer on the front of a dresser and you want to put each section on a separate drawer front.
Initially I didn’t think the full design was going to fit on my wall centered above the bed. I had to contend with that slanted ceiling. So I thought I might not use the floral section (as shown above), or maybe just remove that one narrow section of wording (as shown below, with the flowers still upside down).
However, as I studied the design I bit closer I realized that I could overlap the sections a bit and then the entire design would fit my wall.
Make sure you notice that at this point I still have the waxy backing paper in place so that my transfers aren’t sticking to the wall yet. I wanted to be able to play around with the layout first and make sure it was going to fit. And apparently this was also fortunate since I still had the floral section upside down, duh!
Once I had the entire design placed where I wanted it, I removed the lower three sections and put them out of the way on the bed. Then I moved my yellow tape from the side of the transfer to the top. That makes it easy to keep the transfer in place while you carefully lift the top sheet and remove the waxy backing paper from behind it.
Next I just followed normal procedure for applying a rub on transfer. Using the flat stick that came in the package, just start carefully rubbing over the design while lifting the clear sheet slowly making sure that everything is sticking to the wall. This is really the trickiest part of the entire process. Just go slowly watching to make sure that each part of your design is sticking before lifting away the transfer sheet.
And remember, if you mess up in a couple of spots you’ll probably be the only one who notices. I messed up in about 4 different places on this one. I challenge you to find them.
Once the first section was applied, I kept going. Putting each section in place, carefully removing the waxy backing paper and then applying the transfer to the wall.
And hey, look, I got the flowers right side up finally.
I didn’t time it, but I would say it took me about an hour from start to finish to get the entire transfer onto the wall. That includes frequent stops to take the photos for this post.
Isn’t it gorgeous? Seriously. Every time I walk past the room I have to stop for a moment to admire it.
By the way, were you able to pick out my mistakes?
I lost the bottoms of a couple of S’s, and the very bottom of the F. My point in showing you these is to show that it doesn’t matter if your application isn’t perfect. The designs are meant to look distressed a bit, not new and shiny, but old world aged.
That’s just my kind of design!
If you want to order your own re.design transfer, you can order online from Red Posie. You can also find them on Etsy. In addition, currently both the How to Paint Like a Pro and the Paint it Beautiful Facebook groups are hosting giveaways from the re.design line so be sure to check those out too.
That is beautiful!
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Thanks Cyndi!
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Great use of the rub on transfer. I totally see how you put the flowers upside down when you laid it out, it really would have been okay if you did it that way! I have only used two of the rub on designs but it is easy to not get everything completely intact. It takes a fairly strong hand and patience to get the design rubbed on, I’m trying to figure out if you moved the bed or stood on the bed to do this. Either way I would have had serious arm fatigue.. oh and it is beautiful and perfect with the room.
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LOL, well, I started out kneeling on the bed but that lasted about two seconds before I realized it was going to be much easier to move the bed out of the way. So I moved it and was able to stand while applying the transfer. And yes, there was some arm fatigue involved. That’s where those pauses to take photos came in handy, they were a great excuse to rest my arm! I agree with you Laura, it definitely takes patience and a strong hand. I think all of the painting I do probably helps keep my hands in fighting form 😉
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Simply gorgeous, Quandie! Wish I could snap my fingers and it would be on my wall, just like that! 🙂
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It’s practically like snapping your fingers … if you snapped them for about an hour 😉
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I did the old postcard with roses, on a board under the glass on my coffee table. I loved it and was having fun right down to the last two sections. The transfer wouldn’t come off the top paper. After a few tears I had to use my work space so this project is finished for now. I have to cover the unfinished places with magazines.
Good luck with yours.
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So lovely! And perfect for over the bed. I have a weird phobia about hanging things over the bed. I’m convinced I’m going to be startled awake in the middle of the night with a picture frame in my face. (Or God forbid a dusty wreath!) Your solution is perfect. And thanks for showing us another use for the transfers! It’s appreciated!
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So funny you mention that. I have a collection of platters and plates hanging above the cupboard in my guest room (you can see them here) and I debated moving them above the bed and putting the transfer above the cupboard. But then I thought about the idea of a platter falling off the wall in the middle of the night and bashing a house guest in the face and realized I didn’t want to risk it!
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I love how it looks! I can’t wait to see it.
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You won’t even recognize the place.
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I bet your arms were tired. However it was definitely worth the effort.
Is there a limit on how many times I can use the word charming in your comment box? Cause it’s just the perfect word to describe this addition.
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You are welcome to use ‘charming’ as frequently as you wish Victoria!
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It fits perfectly! Looks great 🙂
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Thanks Meggan!
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Linda, that is sooooo cool! Love it… just beautiful! I am trying to figure out where I can put one 😉!!
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There are plenty of different designs to choose from too, it’s hard to pick just one!
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The transfers turned out beautiful! I am so glad that they separated the transfers into sections. So much easier then separating yourself. This transfer is perfect for your room.
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It is super handy for rearranging the sections ahead of time and deciding how they will fit on your surface, whatever it may be.
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Next project we need is to have one on the ceiling. You can label the post Quandiangelo!
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It’s as though you can read my mind. I was totally thinking that I should put one on the ceiling!
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This looks amazing! Thanks for sharing in detail exactly how you did this. And I love how honest you are about making little mistakes along the way – it gives me courage to push forward with my own learning process. Truly useful (q) tips – thank you 🙂
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You’re welcome Sarah! I like to share my mistakes so that others know they aren’t the only ones making them 😉
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First, beautiful! I am curious, any chance these will work on a bumpy wall? Every wall in my house has sand mixed into the paint.
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Honestly, I’m not sure. I think it might be a bit more challenging to do the rubbing part of the process over a bumpy wall. I think your best bet would be to test it with a smaller rub-on first before jumping in to applying one of the larger versions.
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This is great. You can have art on the wall without putting a nail in the wall. Love it.
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Thanks Maureen!
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Hi there .. this is really beautiful, I love it . I could not help noticing the pillow cases….is that crocheting on the ends, if so I have a few pairs that my Mom did many years ago. Back to the transfers it is so so pretty and you did a beautiful job. I wonder how I could get them here in Wasaga Beach, Ontario.have a wonderful Easter love Betty.
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I believe that is ‘tatting’ on the edges of those pillow cases, rather than crochet. I googled it, and tatting is done with a different tool than crocheting. It also uses a thinner thread. You can see a close up photo of the pillowcase that has the yellow ribbon running through the tatting in {this post}. It was very popular to makes tatted lace edges for pillow cases back in the day. As for getting the transfer in Canada, I’ll do some research for you and see what I can find out.
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That looks really nice. I will have to check it out on Sunday. Now you need to come help me with mine.
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Nice blog episode Q! I would like to try controlled chipping in a small vintage dresser.
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Simply Divine! Your guests will appreciate your hard work and creativity! Thanks for sharing
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