Once you have the pencil transfer on the tracing paper or parchment paper you can simply iron it on using a low setting. Pencil transfers very well this way and does not smudge.

I have tried this technique using crayola markers. Unfortunately the moisture in my skin liberates the ink and most of it ends up on my hands. I usually carve the pink stuff and it does not absorb any of the ink, it just sits on top. The permanent inks (Stazon or sharpie) do work well. One thing that I have done is to go over the pencil with a black sharpie.

I use to have the same problem... this is how I do it now with just stamp cleaner and a iron.... no odors! :)
Transferring Images
So far I have transferred on pink stuff, firm kut and pz kut without any problems! I love having details!

Love your new siggie!

Love your new siggie!

Awe..Thank you Wry Me! Didn't you get this new one in March? I actually carved it the Friday night before Tale 9 in my tent lol !

Didn't you get this new one in March? I actually carved it the Friday night before Tale 9 in my tent lol!

I am terrible about remembering/recording exchanges, but I remember seeing it and thinking I needed to get it! (That counts, right?) We were just talking about your ultimate tent setup this weekend! Anyone who has a table set up for carving in their tent is alright by me!

I use almost exactly the same method except with synthetic wintergreen oil. I like to smell of it but of the Staz-On is cheaper I could be convinced to try this. I like your iron, also.

I use almost exactly the same method except with synthetic wintergreen oil. I like to smell of it but of the Staz-On is cheaper I could be convinced to try this.

Staz-On is not used to perform a transfer (it's an ink). Acetone is the alternative to wintergreen oil (and it's cheap).

[._.]

Acetone is the alternative to wintergreen oil (and it's cheap).

but it smells bad. . . although, when i mailed Betty Boop's stamp to the wrong person in their town (who knew there were two versions of Bubs in a small town in NH???) they thought the wintergreen "smelled funny."

~tigs(who likes wintergreen better than spearmint or peppermint and always has)

I like your iron, also.

PI Joe, I got the mini iron at Walmart in the sewing department over by the patches; it's a Tulip Fashion Art iron-on product and the perfect size for transferring. I believe it has a lower wattage than regular household irons because it only has one setting... on! I think the Staz-on Stamp Cleaner is under $3.00 but I've also used other brands with the same outcome.

Staz-On is not used to perform a transfer (it's an ink).

Aiphid, PI Joe was referring to my blog on transferring images... I use Stazon Stamp Cleaner not acetone or wintergreen oil.

I use Stazon Stamp Cleaner not acetone or wintergreen oil.

Ah ha, that makes more sense. You're a big spender, aren't ya ;)

[._.]

You're a big spender, aren't ya

LOL... ugh no. I've used other brands too that was just the name brand I had when I just accidentally discovered the process one night and it works great for me! :)

It's not just Staz-On, all of the "stamp cleaners" are much more expensive than regular solvents. A 2 oz bottle of Staz-On stamp cleaner costs just a little less than a quart of acetone. Since I'm on my third jug of acetone, I'd have gone broke buying stamp cleaner to do transfers.

[._.]

lol... well I guess it's worth the price to me then. It's just too easy. I use very little to transfer images just enough to dampen the paper and I don't have any spearing afterward so no reason to outline or coat with a light colored permanent ink to set it. And there's the added bonus of not smelling up the house lol! There are so many ways to transfer images I guess you just have to find the one that works for you and after trying all the rest this one is mine and I just wanted to share. :)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking it :) If it works, go for it! You don't use a lot when you use acetone either, but it does stink. And it's not very good for you (well, the cleaners aren't either, but they're probably mostly alcohol, which is a bit safer). If your toner doesn't smear with the cleaner, it won't smear with acetone, but one of the major benefits of using the ink is to make it easier to see what you're carving and have already carved.

[._.]

Yeah, acetone stinks. So, I use it in the garage.

I pencil transfer, then color the rubber with a light green or bright pink crayola marker. let it dry. carve. no smudgies.

Thanks for this input, Romana - I tried this last night and it worked great!

I do a lot of my pencil tracings of things around my house, not clip art, so this works well for me for now. But I'm going to keep all this other stuff in mind for the future when I find something I really want to carve that's online! :)

Amy

PI Joe, I got the mini iron at Walmart in the sewing department over by the patches; it's a Tulip Fashion Art iron-on product and the perfect size for transferring.

I use one of these, too. Got mine on e-bay, though. I've had it for four years and I use it almost exclusively for transfers (I only use pencil on carving medium that can't stand the heat.)

The Pakrat

keep all this other stuff in mind for the future when I find something I really want to carve that's online! :)

I use found images from the internet all the time and still do pencil transfer. First I copy the image and save it on my desktop. Then I import it into a Word file and make it the size I want it. Then I print it out. Then I color on it with a pencil, all the parts I want to keep for the stamp. Then I cut the image out, flip and burnish as usual. set the image with my crayola marker. the marker ink not only keeps the pencil from smearing, it also helps me see where I've carved out, since I use white carving material. Then after the ink dries, I carve.

EZ PZ

Romana

set the image with my crayola marker

I would have my hand covered in ink before I was done carving the stamp. LOL. I have to use the permanent Staz-On ink because it does exactly what it says. Stays on. :)

GJ

I have a couple of light-colored Crayola markers around here, but they say "washable". I presume those won't do, I need some sort of permanent marker?

I've used washable and regular crayolas on PZ and NZ. they do fine. I color over it, then stamp off the excess and let it dry before carving. I don't have any problem with the color coming off. magenta and light green are the two pre-carving colors I use most.

Romana

Doesn't colouring gover the image smudge it in the first place?

I use a yellow hi lighter to color over image on white carving mediums. Using inkjet and iron transfer. No smudging. Definitely helps to see where you've been.

Doesn't colouring gover the image smudge it in the first place?

You'd think so, wouldn't you? But I'm telling you, I've now done it and it works like a charm.

For the record, I used a Crayola washable marker, in yellow.

Amy, carving YET ANOTHER stamp...

this is another reason I use Staz-On because I can dab the impression gently with the stamp without worrying about smudging.

Addictive isn't it?

It is. I have more ideas than I have either time or skill. ;)

I have more ideas than I have either time or skill.

Skill comes with practice--LOTS of practice! The more you carve, the better you get. And don't be afraid to challenge yourself. Try something smaller, or more detailed, or shaded, or so on--maybe not every time you carve, but often. You'll be amazed how quickly you improve.

Time? That I can't help you with. But if you can keep your carving materials easily accessible, you can steal a few minutes here and there, and you'll make more progress that you'd think.

It is. I have more ideas than I have either time or skill. ;)

Keep working on it. You'll get better.