In always looking around at how I can use my wonderful 2-ply matboard (and boy I love this stuff)..I was investigating image transfers. You see, the 2 ply board is of course, way too thick to put through a printer. And of course the matboard can be cut to frame out a photo. But to push the envelope...you can transfer a photo onto another surface to make it seamless transition. This can be used for alot of stuff in our cards and projects - - and - - quilts (it works for fabric!!).
You print a photo mirrored. This works only with laser printers or photocopy of a image printed by an inkjet. This method WILL NOT work on direct inkjet printed images.
You put the paper down on the surface that is to receive the transfer - so that the direct ink that has been printed is on the surface to receive the transfer, and the back of the print is up facing the air and you. You apply a chart pak blender pen (which is the last pen on the market still containing xylene - it does have a slight odor - if this bothers you work outside) and saturate the area printed. Then burnish using a bone folder or a metal spoon. And voila - your image is transferred.
In addition to the chart pak pens, you can buy xylene (the straight chemical) from home depot/lowes. Nail polish remover containing acetone is also supposed to work. Some people also suggest that the straight acetone (also can be purchased from home depot/lowes and is alittle less expensive than the straight xylene) works better than nail polish remover containing acetone, because it evaporates quicker. The chart pak pens are not refillable, but was the cheapest thing for me, as they cost only $2.15 at the store where I found the canson paper (I went back today to get more of that super deal at .79 for a 19 x 25" sheet - I mean that is incredible). I tried it and it does in fact work! Opens up alot more possibilities for cheap!
You can read more about it at: http://netnet.net/~cloud9/tips/tips_cha ... _pens.html
Hope this helps someone.
Pat