DIY Life

Photo transparencies are fun to use in scrapbooking and collage art, but transparency film can be a bit costly. Creating photo transparencies out of packing tape is not only easy, it's also a lot more cost efficient than buying the film to print on.

First, you'll need to choose the photo you'd like to use to create a transparency. Take the photo to your local print shop, and have either a black and white or color toner copy made from it. It is very important that you have a toner based copy, or this technique won't work.

Next, choose your packing tape. Make sure it is clear, so the image will peek through. Also, be aware of the size of your image; your finished photo transparency can only be as wide as the packing tape you choose.

Place the toner copy of your photo image side up. Tear off a strip of packing tape, a little longer than what you actually need for your image. (You can cut away the extra later: it's better to have too much tape than not enough.) Place your packing tape strip on top of your image.

Using a bone folder or ruler, rub the back of the image, making sure to squeeze out any air bubbles.

Soak your image in a bowl of warm water for about five to ten minutes.

Once the image is completely soaked, rub the back of the image until all of the paper has been removed. It's easiest if you keep the image submerged in the bowl of water while doing this.

Dry with paper towels. Trim any excess packing tape around the image. Now you have a see-through photo transfer to affix to your scrapbooking page, collage art project, or whatever else you can think of!