A CREATIVE FAIL TURNS INTO LEARNING SOMETHING NEW. . . AND I HAVE A FUN FURNITURE TRANSFER GIVEAWAY FOR YOU!
Have you ever been excited about a project? You spend time planning it all out and envisioning what the finished piece is going to be? Then halfway through, you realize it’s a project gone wrong and looks NOTHING like you imagined? In fact, you don’t like anything about it?!!
I wasn’t even going to share today’s makeover. This mirror was supposed to be for my sister but it gave me a hard time right from the get-go. Honesty, it was looking pretty lame so I didn’t even finish it.
But on the bright side, I always learn MORE from my mistakes than my wins.
So today, I’m sharing how to remove furniture transfers if things go wrong. These tips also work with stickers, sticky adhesives, price tags, tape, etc.
I’ve also included a bonus in today’s post for ALL OF US CREATIVES! … something I keep reminding myself over and over again…
Here’s the mirror I started with. A thrift store find for $14.99 which is a great deal seeing its large size, gorgeous beveled edge, and this heavy-duty frame.
It was meant to be an Anthropologie antiqued and demasked look-a-like but it fought me every step of the way. The back is made of I don’t know what and it wouldn’t strip off – even with a heavy-duty stripper. So my plan B was to use this furniture transfer and match it up with a colorful frame.
Honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking.
This mirror is more classic than boho so the transfer (although absolutely gorgeous!) isn’t a good match. On top of that, my measurements were off and I rubbed in on cock-eyed by a quarter of an inch. Just not a good look all around.
WELL WORTH THE MISSES::
Obviously, I’m disappointed it didn’t turn out. But when I feel like this, I remind myself this isn’t the first time… and it won’t be the last.
It’s not like I work in a factory and I’m told how to make the same identical widget over and over again — or say at a franchise where all the burgers must be the same size, same taste.
Like you, I’m a creator.
Sometimes a project is a HIT. Sometimes it’s a MISS.
And this is a good thing! If we never try anything new or stretch our creativity, it will become stagnant or worse yet, disappear altogether.
Creativity is like a muscle. If you don’t use it, you lose it.
So how blessed are we? We’re so lucky to be creators. We get to breathe new life into something and make it beautiful again. Truly, what a gift. I don’t know about you, but I think – no, I KNOW – it’s well worth the few misses that come with the territory!
THIS POST IS SPONSORED/CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I USE. YOU CAN SEE MY FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.
SOURCE LIST::
-
- Thrift Mirror – SALVAGED
- Razor Blade Scraper
- Steamer
- Surface Safe Goo Gone
- Heat Gun
- Sander
- Furniture Transfer
HOW TO REMOVE FURNITURE TRANSFERS::
CHECK OUT THE FB LIVE HERE
1. RAZOR BLADE SCRAPER
These scrapers are amazing for removing paint, stickers and furniture transfers off glass or mirror. It worked amazing for removing this transfer without a trace. That said, I wouldn’t use it on a painted piece of furniture unless you’re willing to sand and repaint again.
2. HEAT GUN OR HAIR DRYER
If you’ve gone wrong with your furniture transfer, applying some heat and then scraping off will help remove it. With a painted surface, this really needs to be done with caution because if too much heat is applied, it could damage your paint finish.
3. STEAM
Using a steam iron (with a tea towel or cloth placed over the transfer) or this steamer is another great way to loosen a furniture transfer off your project.
4. ORIGINAL GOO GONE
When working with a painted piece, the Original Goo Gone will help remove a furniture transfer. There’s also another version which WILL strip away paint so be sure to use the correct one. A cheaper more natural alternative is using baby oil or olive oil to loosen adhesives. They take a little longer and there is clean-up afterward to remove the greasy residue.
5. SANDER
Lastly, if you’re desperate to remove a furniture transfer that’s not budging, sanding it off and starting fresh is always an option. This will remove your finish, paint or otherwise and then you can start fresh.
As I mentioned above, all these techniques will work on other adhesives too. Stickers, price tags, tape residue, etc. If you have any other products or methods, I’d LOVE to hear them in the comments below!
AND NOW FOR A FUN *****G*I*V*E*A*W*A*Y*****!
For being the BEST #SIBLOGFAMILY a girl could ask for AND inspiring me every week – I’m sharing my Furniture Transfer Stash with YOU so you can create! Here’s what’s included….
3 ReDesign with Prima Furniture Transfers::
1. Patchwork
2. Butterfly Frame
3. Seashore
GIVEAWAY VALUED AT $95
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CLICK ON THE RAFFLECOPTER BELOW.
COME BACK EVERY DAY AND ENTER AS MANY TIMES AS YOU LIKE!
I’M SO EXCITED… GOOD LUCK EVERYONE! I’LL ANNOUNCE THE LUCKY WINNER RIGHT HERE ON THE SI BLOG NEXT TUESDAY NOV 5/2019. THE WINNER HAS 48 HOURS TO CLAIM THE GIVEAWAY BEFORE ANOTHER WINNER IS SELECTED… SO BE SURE TO DROP IN NEXT WEEK! 🙂
HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO REMOVE A FURNITURE TRANSFER BEFORE? I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU USED!
Thanks for reading. 🙂
Wishing you a beautiful day filled with inspiration and Happy Painting friends!
Denise XO
RELATED POSTS::
Prima Transfers On Fabric
How To Apply Furniture Transfers
Adding Graphics | Vintage TeaCart Makeover
Butterfly Collage Dresser Makeover
Floral Transfers For Furniture
How To Remove Sticker Residue
PIN AND SHARE!
Hello again... I'm so happy you dropped by! Let's keep in touch! Follow me on social media or sign up for a dose of furniture painting inspiration and diy tutorials. :) 
Giveaway still active? Id love to win!
The winner of the transfers has been drawn, Lindy. Thank you so much for participating! I have something else exciting coming up for my #siblogfamily though, so be sure to check back. 🙂
I’d like to try these transfers on a project of mine.
Inspired!
Are we supposed to be able to enter more than.once in a day? It is.not showing any other entry opportunity when I try to click it again. Just want to make sure I am doing it right since this will be the first time I’ve entered something I am truly dying to win! 😊
You can enter as many times as you like Lindsay but you may have to tick off the ‘left a comment” box in the Rafflecopter box manually. I also monitor the comments so I’ll go in and make sure it’s registering for you. 🙂
Ok, when I go back in to register an entry, It already has all of the options checkmarked and there is no place to uncheck or do them again. It says I have 20 entries still, as it did the first time I clicked on it. Is it still adding entries each time I go into the Rafflecopter? Sorry for flooding your comments with so many questions! Just excited and hoping I’m doing this right.
It sure is Lindsay! And I’ll go in and double-check that all your comments are accounted for Lindsay. Good luck to you! 🙂
Denise, these posts are so amazingly helpful. All of your posts give me so much insight and knowledge that not every Artist is willing to share. I have followed you on Pinterest for so long now and love your work. I try my best to follow your directions and use some of your pieces as inspiration to try to create something beautiful of my own. I hope that someday I am able to create a piece as stunning as you. Side note, I have to say I cannot believe you are doing a transfer giveaway with one of the transfers that I have died over since the second that I saw it, Patchwork. It is so boho and beautiful and is exactly the type of style that I aim to create. I’d love to put it on a desk that was given to me by my mother, that I am about to attempt to give a beautiful new life to. I am so hopeful, though I don’t have the best luck as far as “winning” things. Wish me luck. Thank you again for all of the beauty that you share with us aspiring artists!
Wishing you luck Lindsay and thanks so much for all the kindness. It makes me SO HAPPY that you’re finding the #siblog helpful and inspiring. And the Patchwork Transfer is beautiful, isn’t it!? It would look amazing on a desk restyle!
Yes! She is a beautiful piece. Very vintage, with excellent detail, an almost oval body, and is currently that old “antiques green”. She is dying to be bright and colorful, I just know it!
Sidenote: My first real large piece of furniture (a fair sized cabinet given to me by my sister in law) is almost finished…I washes her down good and sanded as much as I thought necessary(?), coated her in DB Cobalt Blue, sanding in between coats, and added my first attempt at a transfer (IOD’s Midnight in the Garden) in the panels of the doors, and then coated in clear wax, and then shaded the tops of the doors with a little black wax to deepen the color in that area… I have yet to seal it all with Top Coat or Gator Hide yet, but every little bump causes the paint to scratch right off. Was my mistake somewhere in the prep? It is wood… what kind, I haven’t the foggiest idea. I really want it to last as I am proud of the look and never imagined I’d even come this far. Any tips?
So long as the finish wasn’t super shiny or slick, a light sanding should have done the trick. And everything you did sounds amazing… I’m sure it looks gorgeous. I don’t know where you’re located but sometimes temp or humidity can have an effect on dry/cure time. And if you ever need a little extra something to guarantee adhesion, DB has their Slick Stick which works on glass, laminate etc. 🙂
Excited and inspired!
Thanks Lindy! Good luck to you!
I have a lovely French provencial dresser and a nice vintage china cabinet I’d love to put these on.
Both sound amazing. Good luck Kimberly! x
Denise, I am so glad to know that you aren’t
afraid to let us know that you’ve had a few
misses while creating..
Thank you so much for your encouragement. I believe
we should make encouraging one another one of our priorities..
I love all your projects and your eye for color, beauty, and style blows me away. Just keep creating and sharing….. thanks again. God bless you.
I’ve had my fair share of ‘misses’… believe me Jo! 😉 And I totally agree. Encouraging each other and lifting each other up is a blessing and a gift. I learn so much from you all and I hope I contribute in return. XOXO
Im thinking that those tranfers Will look great on my old vintage doors that Will become a room devider/paravan. Thank you for giving us the chance to win them Denise.. Xx
I LOVE this idea Debbie! Good luck!
Great tips! Denise this is why I read your post! I learn so much from you! Keep up the good work!
You’re so sweet Lorin… I appreciate it! Good luck in the giveaway my friend. xo
Thanks for your inspirating posts and transfer offer. Got my creative juices flowing!
So glad and thanks for taking part Lindy! So happy it’s working for you. 🙂
Love your beautiful creations and love these transfers! I went to my favorite store yesterday and drooled over them but came home with IOD Moulds instead. I think a play day is scheduled today! 😉 Hope I can win and give them a try too!
It’s so hard to pick and choose with all the great products out there, right!?! Have fun with your moulds and good luck to you Cheryl!