Tile Magnets - Help Please!!

[TRome625]

I am trying to figure out how to get computer printed words onto the mini tumbled tiles from Home Depot without just simply printing on regular paper and gluing it on. Is there a technique for this? I have lots of inspirational quotes that I would like to put onto tile magnets but have not been able to figure out a way to do it!! Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!

[Angelnorth]

I haven't tried it but I would think the "rub on" technique is worth a go. It works well on paper so it may well work on tumbled tile, too. You'll get a slightly "grungy" result so take that into account with your designs and font choices.

I'm assuming you're using an inkjet printer? If so, print onto the glossy side of an inkjet transparency sheet (you may need to use the "draft" setting on your printer so you get a bit less ink). Make sure you choose mirror image so your text comes out backwards. Flip the sheet and rub over the wording to transfer the ink onto the tile. I'd guess a spritz with a sealant would be a good idea after leaving the ink to dry, just to make sure it won't run or smudge.

I've added photos of a couple of postcards I did with this technique so you get an idea of how it works on paper (actually, the porthole one is an acrylic painted surface so I guess that's an indication of a slightly different surface and how that works).

If you're using a laser printer, the process is a bit more complicated but probably still doable. Shout if that's the case and I'll try to provide some ideas for you to play with.

HTH!

[TRome625]

Thanks for your help!! I have both type of printers so I will try the laserjet first!

[Angelnorth]

OK, now I know you have a laser printer too I'll try linking to a couple of things that might work - I have no experience of these but I'm guessing the tumbled tile surface might act like wood which is a popular surface for this kind of transfer.

You need a solvent of some sort to shift the toner off the paper and onto your chosen surface

- acetone is widely-used (as in this tutorial)
- ModPodge or a gel medium might work (this tutorial)
- if you have transparencies you can use in a laser printer (don't use inkjet ones, you risk them melting and potentially ruining your printer) then this tutorial might be helpful

As with inkjet, you need to print mirror image for any of these techniques so that your text is the right way once it's transferred.

Let us know how you get on!

[dini]

Joanne has the best ideas! I hope you'll post your results in the gallery...

Are these the 2" square tiles, or did you find smaller ones? Hope you have strong magnets - they're a bit heavy!

[cbet]

For an inkjet printer, you can also print on gift wrap tissue and then mod podge that to your tiles - when the mod podge hits it, the tissue kind of disappears.

You need to cut your single layer of tissue smaller than a sheet of regular printer paper and then tape it to a regular sheet of printer paper and print on that. DONT TRY THIS WITH YOUR LASER PRINTER!!!! The heat will do unpleasant things to the tape and could ruin your printer.

[TRome625]

Thanks for all the help. I will be trying all of these ideas soon. I have been making tile magnets out of the 2" square tiles using stamps and selling them at craft fairs. It seems people like the funny and inspirational quote magnets the best. I just dont have that many different stamps with inspirational quotes so I thought I would print them out and put them on the tiles. I cant wait to try these ideas out!!

[mirami]

if you have a silhouette or cricut or big shot...we made these using vinyl words on transfer paper...hth