Can you print on tissue paper?  Each year, I try to come up with a different idea for decorating Easter Eggs.  I’ve seen lots of eggs with script or type on them.  Typically, crafters use strips of newsprint.  I remembered how nicely the tissue paper looked on the decoupaged eggs I crafted a few years ago.

As I was contemplating how to decoupage some Easter eggs, I realized my limitations.  The thought of printing on tissue paper came to mind.  Tissue paper is semi-transparent.  When you glue it to a surface, it becomes almost completely transparent.  Figuring that there must be a way to print on tissue paper, I set out to find out how.

Just think about all the possibilities!  You can scan fabrics, pictures, cards, wrapping papers, books, seed packets, and magazines.  Then, print onto cheap everyday tissue paper.  I’m sure you can think of even more ideas!

Preparing The Tissue Paper For Printing

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The first thing you want to do is use tissue paper that is flat.  You can use a warm iron, no steam, to press any wrinkles out of the tissue paper, if you like.  The pack of tissue paper I have is loosely folded twice and pretty flat.  I didn’t really think this was necessary.

Cut the tissue paper the same size or slightly smaller than a sheet of printer paper. 

Next, attach the corners of the tissue paper to a sheet of regular printer paper.   Be sure to face the dull side of the tissue paper up and the waxy side down.  The ink will absorb better on the dull side.  Don’t worry if you forget!  I attached one sheet with the wax side up and it still printed okay.

Apparently, there are several different methods to do this.  Some people use scotch tape.  Others use a tiny bit of glue stick on the corners.  Then, another technique requires Quilt basting spray, which I never even knew existed.  I had to buy some.

Glue Stick Method

This is the first method I tried and it works perfectly! For this project, I used a Bo Bunny Garden Grove Collection paper pad.  It is perfect for getting a vintage look.

Scotch Tape Method

The Scotch tape method is just like the glue stick but using tape.  Simply use small pieces of clear tape to attach the tissue to all four corners of a piece of printer paper.  Then, run it through the printer as you normally would.

Quilt Basting Spray Technique

First Attempt

The first time I used this method, I sprayed the waxy side of the tissue paper.  Then, I laid the tissue paper on top of the printer paper.  It stuck to the paper too quickly.  I didn’t get it straight and there were wrinkles.  It did peel off pretty easily and I started again.

Then, I loosely folded the bottom up as I attached the top edge.  Holding the bottom edge, I gradually smoothed the tissue down onto the paper.  This worked much better.

The next step is just to feed the paper through the printer and print as you normally would. 

Let the ink dry for a few minutes.  Then, peel off the printed tissue paper.

Maybe I pressed the tissue down too firmly.  Although it printed perfectly, the tissue paper was a little more difficult to remove.  I tore a tiny hole in it, but I’ll still be able to use it for the egg project.  Note that I also folded the edges back because the tissue curled from pulling it off of the printer paper.  Folding the edges back remedied that issue.

Second Attempt

After struggling with pulling the tissue paper from the paper, I thought I’d try a different method.

The little bit of glue stick and the Scotch tape worked so well.   It occurred to me that using just a thin strip of the basting glue at the top and the bottom of the tissue will work just fine.  Just place a piece of scrap paper over the middle of the tissue paper.  Then, spray the basting glue along the top edge and the bottom edge of the tissue.

This works much better.  It’s easier to place the tissue paper onto the printer paper and it’s easier to remove.

How To Keep The Images From Smearing

Each of these methods works perfectly.  Whichever method you use, you will want to seal the ink if you are planning on using it for crafting.

Now, you have your printed images.  To keep the ink from bleeding and smearing, first, use a clear acrylic spray topcoat.  Use a cardboard box or newspaper to protect your surface.  Make sure you spray the topcoat outside! 

Spray a couple of light coats of the sealer over the image.  Be sure to allow the first coat to dry before applying the second.  Then, turn the tissue paper over and spray the backside.

If you’re using Mod Podge, be sure to paint the first coat lightly over the image.   Allow the Mod Podge to dry.  Then, apply another coat.  Don’t you love this?  It is so easy!