DIY Key Holder with EasyWeed® Heat Transfer Vinyl
Wood, paint, and HTV? Is it possible to combine them all? Today we put your crafting questions to the ultimate test!
While there’s been several successful attempts heat applying HTV to stained wood and raw wood, what about painted wood? To discover the answer I picked up this wood plaque at a craft store, and used some acrylic paint I had on hand thanks to Darice and the awesome Craftcation 2017 swag bags.
Two coats of paint later and the light wood is now a shade of lime. When the paint is fully dry (I waited 24 hours just to be sure) it’s ready for your iron and some heat transfer vinyl!
An iron is actually the perfect tool for this project, since thick wood may keep the platens of my heat press from closing fully. Set your iron to “Cotton” and grab something to use as a cover sheet. Since heat on paint can have unexpected results, it’s best to use a cover sheet to protect your iron from any accidental gunk. I’m using a piece of parchment paper, but a clean pillowcase or tea towel will work as well.
When you have the necessary tools, place the HTV on the wood so that the clear carrier faces up. I’m using black EasyWeed HTV for this DIY key holder, so you could use any member of the EasyWeed family, or even StripFlock® or Glitter!
Place the cover sheet over the application area and press each section of the design for 5 seconds. Short presses are best on painted wood as they prevent possible discoloring.
After the first press, peel the carrier hot. Replace the cover sheet and iron for an additional 5 seconds to seal the vinyl.
Since EasyWeed heat transfer vinyl is super thin, the texture of the wood grain may show through the face of the vinyl.
Add cup hooks to finish of this DIY key holder for him, her, and the pooch!
So, can you iron Siser heat transfer vinyl to painted wood?
Yes! However, keep in mind this was just one test. Other varieties and colors of paint may react differently under the heat, so you’ll want to take that into account when choosing your materials. Even better, get 2 of everything when trying out experimental crafts like this one. That way if things go south, you have a second chance!
Ready to give this painted wood key holder a chance? Or maybe you want to save this craft to Pinterest for a rainy day. Whatever you decide to make with Siser HTV, be sure to tag it with #SiserNA and we might give you a shout out!
How do you remove htv from wood??
Hi Joey, we haven’t tried to remove HTV From wood. Although, when removing HTV from fabrics, we recommend an HTV remover with methylene chloride for best results. I’d suggest testing it out on an inconspicuous area to see how the wood reacts to the chemical first. Keep in mind if the wood is stained or painted it will likely remove those substances as well.
Thanks for the article. Love your products so easy to work with.
Hello , do we need to apply some type of protector so the vinyl won’t peel? If not, how long will it last before the vinyl will start to peel?
Hi Lisa! The adhesive on Heat Transfer Vinyl is formulated for fabric, but we’ve found success applying it to other surfaces (such as wood, cork, cardstock, etc.) Since these other surfaces have so many unpredictable variables, we cannot guarantee the same longevity (50 washes and beyond.) If the item is being kept indoors, it’s possible the HTV will never peel, however if you intend to expose it to weather conditions, I’d recommend using EasyPSV™ Permanent since it’s formulated to be durable enough for outdoor use without any type of additional protective coating.
what about chalk paint?
Hi Andrea! It’s likely to work, however because there are so many paint varieties out there, we always recommend doing a test application.
I have a small heat press. What temperature should I use to press the Easy Weed HTV on to the wood?
Hi Jincy! You can use the recommended heat application settings to apply HTV on wood.
Should the paint be sealed prior to applying HTV or is it ok with just paint?
Hi Kim! This paint wasn’t sealed before applying HTV. I would suggest test heat applying your paint and/or sealant before fully decorating because there are so many brands of paint out there, it’s possible they may react differently.
I have tried using my iron and my heat press and for some reason it is not sticking. What could be the reason? I have used acrylic paint
Hi Cheryl! Some paints may not be conducive with HTV, therefore we always recommend a small test before fully decorating. You may be able to seal the paint with a clear sealant that is more conducive to HTV, but I would still recommend doing another test o be sure.
Does this look painted and not like a sticker? I dont want it to look like vinyl but more like paint?
Hi Michelle! Yes, HTV on wood appears more like paint than PSV will because it seeps into the crevices thanks to the heat application. You may want to use EasyWeed® Matte or EasyWeed Stretch for a less glossy look.
Do you have to mirror your image?
If you’re using HTV then yes the image will need to be mirrored. If you’re using EasyPSV® then the image does not need to be mirrored.
Are you able to apply HTV on a spray-painted wood object?
Hi Shawntel! Since there are so many kinds of paint available, we cannot say for certain that the HTV will adhere to spray paint, but it is likely to. I’d suggest performing a small test before going forward with the project.
I tried this with the same paint type and left it on for 5 seconds. The easyweed looks BEAUTIFUL, however, I have discoloration of the paint where the cover sheet was for my design. Any tips?
Hi Heidi! Unfortunately, some colors of paint may discolor even if it’s the same brand of another color that has worked. This is why we suggest test pressing to see how the paint will react.
Hi! When you say “cover”, do you mean parchment paper?
Hi Carmie! A cover sheet can be parchment paper, a teflon sheet, a thin cotton cloth, or a non-stick sheet like we offer. In this case, I would suggest using parchment paper on painted items since it can be easily replaced with a fresh sheet if needed.
Hi Lily! I found adhesive has “leaked” out around the sides of my text. Does that mean I moved the press, or used too much pressure? Using Siser holographic itv for this project…. Any other tips? Thanks!
Hi Robin! Leaking adhesive is a sign of too much pressure. I would suggest using lighter pressure next time.
I waited 3 days after painting, and the paint came up with the htv. What is causing this?
Hi Tara! Unfortunately, it sounds like the paint brand you’re using is incompatible with heat. I’d suggest using EasyPSV® instead for your project.
Hello! I have applied HTV to a tin sign and now I’m wondering if it’ll hold up OK outside? I made the design so detailed and small with lots of separate items, and I couldn’t get it weeded with permanent vinyl, I was loosing parts left right and center when I tried several times ;) Of course it was much easier with HTV and it applies nicely. Since HTV is meant to be washed, I assume it can handle some rainy days, not sure about all the sun and our cold Canadian winters though. Do you have any experience with it?
Hi Marlies! HTV will not last as long in outdoor conditions as EasyPSV® and the more extreme the weather conditions the more unpredictable HTV will be. May I suggest trying the reverse weeding method in the future for small, detailed designs.
What about permanent vinyl instead of HVT, I can’t get it to stick to stained wood…
Hi Jackie! It’s best to wait at least 24 hours before applying vinyl on top of paints/stains to allow them to fully dry. Applying vinyl too soon could result in adhesion issues. If that’s not the case, then I’d recommend using a heat gun or hair dryer to help encourage the adhesive vinyl to bond with the wood.
Random question- if I were going to use this technique but different wording- the project will be outside in all elements (will bring in for Midwest winter) what would you recommend to do to make element proof- ☀️, 🌧
🤷🏼♀️
*we will be adding stakes and placing as outdoor signs in a yard 🪧
Hi Jill! If the project is intended for consistent, direct exposure to the outdoor elements then I would suggest using EasyPSV® instead of HTV since it is made for outdoor durability. If you must use HTV, then I’d suggest testing out some different sealants, but I cannot guarantee the results.
thank you so much I wasn’t aware that was made for outdoor use! The easypsv sounds exactly like what I would use. Thanks again!
If a piece of painted wood is already sealed with Polycrylic, can you still apply HTV over that finish?
Hi Pam, I’d suggest testing that process with the low temperature method (270-280°F for 15-20 seconds total) since polycrylic typically doesn’t tolerate high heat.
Thanks!