We loved this cool wooden picture hack that showed us how to transfer photos onto wood for a rustic look. But why stop at personal photo displays? Using a similar technique (courtesy of Unexpected Elegance), you can make a boring, inexpensive cutting board look like it belongs in a Crate & Barrel or Williams Sonoma display. All you need is your image, a credit card and some wax paper.

Here’s what you do:

1. (Very) slightly wet your board. This will help make the transfer darker.
2. Cut the wax paper the size of a piece of printer paper.
3. Grab a graphic from online (the tutorial from Unexpected Elegance used a graphic from The Graphics Fairy).
4. Use a program like “Paint” on your computer to reverse the image. Whatever program you’re using, you should search for the option to “flip/rotate.”
5. Put wax paper in the printer and make sure it’s under the rollers. Be sure to stand close to the printer so that you can guide the wax paper out.
6. Once the paper comes out, move quickly! You’ll have to set the paper with the wet ink right down on the cutting board (or whatever surface you want to transfer it to.
7. Line the paper up and gently lay it onto the board. Then holding the paper firmly down, use a credit card to gently and carefully scrape to the surface.
8. Carefully remove the wax paper (it will still have ink on it).




9. Spray a light mist of spray on sealer. Use a few light coats to get the best seal with the least amount of running ink.

Here’s the difference when using a little water on the cutting board before transferring as opposed to trying it with dry wood: