How to Transfer Cricut Infusible Ink to Wood Table Top

When you have a Cricut, you have so many options for decorating surfaces that it can be hard to choose! I started this project with the desire to craft a new table top for a side table that I found at the thift store. I bought a 24 inch wood table top from the local hardware store - but how to decorate it?

Adhesive Vinyl? I could paint my table top and cover it with colorful Cricut Permanent Adhesive Vinyl decals like this table runner from our blog.

 

Iron-on? Iron-on heat transfer vinyl looks great on unfinished wood like this patriotic wood wreath featuring a playful pattern thanks to Cricut Patterned Iron-on.

 

Paint? I could spray paint a fun design through Cricut Stencil Film like this colorful floral applied to concrete from our post, Stenciled Garden Stone Using Cricut Stencil Film. 

Or something new - Infusible Ink? I love the bright and seamless colors from infusible ink on fabric decor, but I have never used it on a wood substrate. I've been itching to do something fun with Cricut's Black Botanicals Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets. It's such a cool floral pattern, but I've been needing the right project.

Researching what other folks have done with infusible ink on wood, I uncovered 2 different techniques. One technique employed heat transfer on a wood substrate with absolutely no finish on it at all. The ink transferred well to craft wood using this process, but the colors were less vibrant than a transfer to light-colored fabric. The second technique involved transferring the ink to a polycrylic finish applied to the wood, rather than directly onto unfinished wood itself. I thought this might be a better option for a bright transfer onto a wood surface that was already substantially textured due to wood grain and defects. 

Materials

• Cricut Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets
• Cricut Heat Resistant Tape
• Cricut EasyPress Heat Press Machine
• Polycrylic Protective Finish

Directions:

Step 1:

Apply 3 coats of Polycrylic Protective Finish according to the manufacturer's instructions. Wait overnight or longer after the final coat is applied before proceeding with the next steps.

Step 2:

If your wood substrate is large like my table top and will require more than one 12x12 inch sheet of Cricut Infusible Ink, lay out the sheets to determine how you want to fit the pattern together. My project required 4 sheets of infusible ink and I opted to rotate each sheet a quarter turn when fitting them together in order to completely cover a 24 inch wood table top. 

Butt the edges of the sheets together and secure them in place from the back side using a generous amount of Cricut Heat Resistant Tape. Take your time to fit the sheets together as neatly as possible in order to have a seamless appearance with the final transfer.

Step 3:

Preheat your EasyPress Machine to 400 degrees.

Wipe any dust or debris from the surface of the table top using a lint-free cloth. Cover the wood with a piece of butcher paper (included in the infusible ink package) and preheat the wood for 10 seconds to help release some of its moisture content. Allow the wood to cool. Center the taped sheets ink-side-down on the table top and attach the sides in place with additional heat resistant tape. 

Reapply your butcher paper and press with firm pressure at 400 degrees for 50 seconds in the center of the table top. Do not move the heat press machine across the table top as if ironing. Instead, press in one place for 50 seconds, lift the machine from the surface, and then press in an adjacent area for 50 seconds. With a large project like this, you will need to repeat pressing for 50 seconds multiple times across the surface of the table top until all areas have ink transferred. 

Don't be surprised if the wood makes noises while being heated. You may also see some water beneath the infusible ink carrier sheet.

Step 4:

When pressing is complete and the infusible sheets have cooled to touch, peel away the sheets from the surface of the table top and discard. Expect the paper to remain stuck to the wood in some spots when you peel off the sheets. 

Not to worry, though! I found the residual paper peeled away from the wood most cleanly when the wood surface was very cool. Peel up as much of the paper as you can - and to remove the rest, spritz it with a bit of water. Allow the the water to soak into the paper and then you can peel or rub the residual paper from the surface of the wood.

This is what my transfer looked like when all the paper was removed from the surface. It's not perfect, but I still really like the look!. You can see that some of the ink was "smeared" during the heating process from water that remained in the wood. Also, my top was constructed from multiple pieces of wood that had been glued together before shaping and some of the heated glue (plus naturally occurring knots in the wood) created color variations in the finished project. But still pretty cool, right?

Step 5:

I opted to apply a few additional coats of varnish on top of the wood for added protection during use and painted the edges of the table top to finish it off. I attached my new table top with a bit of wood glue to the top of a thifted round table, et viola! 

In summary, exploring the capabilities of Cricut tools offers endless opportunities for transforming everyday items into personalized works of art. While transferring Cricut Infusible Ink onto a wood table top posed its challenges, the end result showcases the blend of innovation and craftsmanship. Through patience, trial, and a bit of creativity, this project not only revived a thrift store find but also demonstrated the vast potential of merging technology with traditional materials. Embracing imperfections as part of the artistic journey, the final piece exudes a unique charm, inviting admiration and sparking ideas for future projects. Whether it's vinyl decals, iron-on designs, stencil art, or the captivating appeal of Infusible Ink, let your creativity flourish as you embark on your crafting endeavors. Happy making!