Love of Horse + Image Transfer + Teen Girl + Secretary = THIS!

Pamela Field
by Pamela Field
Several months ago a nice lady responded to my post on Image Transfer asking if I could make one for her grand daughter. She tells me her sweet, sensitive grand daughter loved her horses, and had been struggling with the loss of a beautiful foal recently. As an animal lover too, I could relate. I began looking for just the right piece to use for her transfer when I finally came across this dated secretary. Practical AND with those details in the drop down desk? Oh yes! I thought of her granddaughter immediately.
Measured area to be transfer and ordered an engineer print from Staples big enough to cover. I placed it on the drawer fronts to check for placement, trying to avoid the faces as much as possible.


Paint the area to be transferred a light color if your image had light colors. Otherwise that pony would turn out brown instead of white.
Labeled the image on each cut with number and left and right. Marked the middle of the image and the drawer so I'd have a frame of reference when applying the image to the drawer.
Using Mod Podge and a brush I applied the Image Transfer solution to the front of the image. Matching the marks I'd made, I began in the middle of the drawer, working my way out to the edges, smoothing the image and eliminating any air or wrinkles.
Using a wet sponge, I dampened the image. Rubbing in circles with my fingertips, I removed the paper backing a layer at a time, careful not to remove the print. I think I did this process 4-5 times? It's not an exact science. You have to feel for it, and you'll know.
After cutting to fit, I applied fabric to the back of the desk, and inside on the drawer bottoms and covered the chair seat.
Painted the drawer sides and stenciled.
Painted the edges and details with white, and covered with black paint before using a wet chore boy sponge to wet distress the edges for a more rustic look.
Since I was going for an aged, rustic look, I applied one step crackle to the drawer fronts, and wiped a brown glaze over the exterior.
Before assembling and adding pulls that had been painted to blend with the picture, I sprayed all of it with several coats of poly top coat, lightly sanding between coats.


Bright and whimsical for a horse-loving teenage girl!
I thought about that lovely teenage girl often while I was working on this project. I hope she likes it, but most of all, I hope she feels the love from her thoughtful grandmother that inspired the transformation of this secretary.
Frequently asked questions
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  • Susan Swartzbaugh Susan Swartzbaugh on Sep 22, 2016
    How did you remove the center from the secretary?
  • Alicia Cook Alicia Cook on Sep 23, 2016
    You said you removed the paper backing a layer at a time, careful not to remove the print. I didn't know drafting paper had backing, or am I missing what you said? By the way, I love that, you when an artist copies another's' style it is a compliment. Mind if I copy yours? ;)
  • Debbie DeRosa Debbie DeRosa on Jul 24, 2023

    I LOVE THAT PRINT!! Can you tell me where I could find it?

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