I am wanting to trace a pattern and then transfer it on a egg , does anyone know how I can do this, or what kind of tracing paper and pen I could use , thanks for your help.

I would use a graphite transfer paper. You can make your own cheaply by just rubbing the tracing paper underside with a no 2 paper. Then just draw on the egg relatively lightly, making sure not to touch the area covered with graphite except with your blunt pencil.

Hi, Angie!

It would help us to know, in order to help you the best here, the kind of pattern it is that you are wanting to transfer; what you mean by "transfer it on a egg", (that could mean a lot of different things); whether it is to go all the way around the egg(s) or not; and, whether this is for just one egg or multiple ones.

Thanks!

Exactly, and thank you! I'm going to let jrebel7 know about this thread as this would seem to be up her alley. Although, I'm not sure how much she is into tracing since she does most of her drawings or paintings freehand...

I am just wanting to trace a small design and transfer the design to one side of an egg to paint, not to good and freehand. Hope this helps for more information on how to transfer to an egg// thanks angie

Hi there Ang! I will share what I do when I want to transfer a pattern onto an object and hope it helps.

You would need to purchase what is called "Tracing Paper" at a craft store like Hobby Lobby. It is a thin, translucent paper. Place your pattern under it and using a pencil or pen, trace the pattern onto the tracing paper. I like to use something with a fine point, as in a sharpened pencil, fine point ink pen, etc. The thicker lines sometimes causes a pattern to look distorted when you transfer it onto an object to be painted because a person might be using the outside of the line of the pattern rather than going by the inside or middle of thicker lines.

Next, I use a tape that peels off easily and attach tracing paper with pattern on object to be painted at the top of the paper and slip transfer paper under pattern. It does not need to be taped. I use a "stylus" which can be purchased at a craft store. It has a metal rounded piece on each end, one tiny, one larger. Using a stylus allows you to use your pattern over and over and not have marks of lead or ink on the pattern. When I think I am finished, I slip out the transfer paper, and carefully lift pattern on tracing paper to make sure I have not missed any lines. If I have, the pattern on the tracing paper is still in the correct place because of the tape, slip transfer paper in again and do lines you missed. Check again. When you know you have all lines on the object to be painted, simply remove transfer paper, and gently lift tracing paper and tape, remove tape from tracing paper and you will have pattern in tact to use again if desired. (If you have painted the egg or object to be painted with a background color, you don't want to lift any paint from object. Using a little piece of tape and using the cloudy scotch tape (If I find what it is called, I will let you know), will allow the tracing paper to be removed with no problem.

At this point, you are ready to paint.

My preferences are to use as light a color as possible of transfer paper while still being able to see pattern clearly such as if the background is beige, I might use white, if background is white, I might use a light grey, etc. You will do a good job and as you work with patterns, I bet you begin to get a sense of the flow of the lines on your patterns and will begin to just sketch your own patterns directly onto object to be painted.

Don't ever feel your work must be perfect or exactly as the pattern. Be creative as you go and enhance. I taught a gal who wanted every line to be exactly where the original was and she did a great job, learned to blend colors well, trained her eye to see the lights and darks of the colors but was missing the chance to make the painting her own so to speak.

It took awhile to get her to relax and just enjoy the experience! Above all, have fun!! :)

Please forgive so many details. :) If you have read any of my other posts, you will see I am an "A to Z" person. I need detailed instructions when learning new things therefore I provide them as best I can when I am sharing information.

Thank you so much for your help, and I love the way you go from a-z describing things , it really helps me.

Just a question, when you are talking about the tracing paper, and then transfer paper is this two different types you are using..?
If so what kind of transfer paper do you use.. I know about the tracing paper , I have some of that , but if you are using transfer paper to , I need to know what kind to buy.

Thank you angie

I'm sure that jrebel7 will be along once she is awake!

You are sure welcome and I'm happy that you didn't mind the "A-Z" details! :p

Yes, I am referring to two kinds of paper. The tracing paper you are aware of and then you purchase the "Transfer" paper. It comes in rolls or single sheets or flat sheets in a package. I usually purchase a brand called "Saral Transfer Paper". The box looks like the boxes that saran wrap or wax paper comes in and you just cut a piece the size you need and roll it back up. "Saral" also comes in sampler package with 1 sheet 8 1/2" by 12" of each of their five colors. I prefer the roll and just cut a small piece when needed.

Anyway, another brand is "Mona Lisa" and it comes in different size sheets. The one I have right now is just in a square package, that says Black graphite transfer paper jumbo size" It contains one sheet 18" x 24". I am sure there are other brands. Just check at your local craft store.

I prefer to use white when I can to avoid having to remove the darker if not covered by paint. (Of course, white on white won't work so go with a light grey or some color, etc.) Also, I would recommend that you not press down hard on the paper with your stylus for two reasons. You need just enough line to guide you and if you don't press down hard you can use the same piece of transfer paper over and over that way. I am a bit frugal. :)

Even if I have created the drawing (not using someone's pattern) I want to use on an egg, I will sometimes, draw it on paper, then use the transfer paper to put it on the egg. So I don't have pencil marks on the egg. Once I have painted what I want on the egg and the paint is dry, I take a moist paper towel and gently rub across the egg, this removes any of the marks from the transfer paper that weren't covered by your paint.

I hope this information is helpful. :)