Print your own iron-on transfers

Create one of a kind fabric art using your inkjet printer. It's simple and easy! First, load it up with iron on transfers, which print just like regular paper, and start decorating everything from T-shirts to pillowcases, quilting squares, and canvas bags. These beautiful goodies make wonderful homemade gifts for friends and family, but you’ll want to keep a few for yourself.

What you need to get started

* Inkjet transfer paper, such as: HP iron-on transfers or (Iron Paper)
* An inkjet printer
* An iron
* A T-shirt, apron, or other item to decorate
* A sense of fun and adventure

Tips for printing iron-on transfer

* Iron-on designs can be created in a variety of soft-ware programs such as Microsoft Word, Open Office free editor, or Adobe Photoshop. If you’re simply arranging text and images, you can use Microsoft Word. If you’re designing something from scratch, try Microsoft Publisher or Adobe Photoshop Elements.

* Do not use iron-on transfer sheets in a laser printer or any printer that heats the paper. These printers can melt the transfer paper and damage the printer. Non-HP transfer materials may cause damage to H P printers.

* Regular iron-on transfer sheets work well on white fabric. If you’re using color fabric, be sure to get the H P iron-on transfers for color fabrics.

* Always print a preview of your image before printing it on transfer paper. This way, you can ensure that colors print correctly and that your image stays in the margins, and you can see the actual size of your design (sometimes the on-screen view can be deceiving).

* Remember to flip your image so that it appears correctly when you iron it on. This is especially critical if you have text in your design. Text should appear as a mirror image on your screen and on the printout.

* Most transfer paper has stripes on the non-printing side. Be sure to load the paper in your printer so that it prints on the clean white side.

* Cut out your design from the transfer sheet using sharp scissors, leaving about a 1 / 4 inch edge around the image. Be careful not to cut into the design itself, or it may bleed in the wash.

* Washing instructions: Turn the items inside out and wash in cold water. Remove the items immediately after the wash is done and hang to dry.