Did you know you can use DTF transfers on wood? Today I’m sharing how I made this adorable vintage Santa Christmas tray using my xTool Apparel Printer Plus and xTool WonderPress! I’ve been having so much fun exploring different ways to use my DTF printer beyond T-shirts and other fabric projects. After making my vintage Christmas fabric ornaments, I wanted to try something a little different for the holidays. So let’s get started!
DIY Vintage Santa Christmas Tray
For this project, I used a simple 9 x 12-inch unfinished wood art panel from Michaels and my own retro-inspired Santa design. I love how the colorful artwork looks against the natural wood grain!
The finished tray features special spaces for Santa’s milk, cookies, and reindeer snacks. It’s such a fun addition to your Christmas Eve traditions, and I’m going to show you how to make one!
Bonus! I’m sharing my vintage Santa PNG design as a FREE download for Studio Letter subscribers. Keep reading to find out how to get yours!
Can You Use DTF Transfers on Wood?
Yes! Although DTF (Direct-to-Film) transfers are most commonly used on fabric, they can also be applied to certain wood surfaces using heat and pressure.
Unlike traditional sublimation, DTF uses a printed transfer with an adhesive layer that bonds to the surface when heat is applied.
For this project, I used an unfinished wooden art panel. The surface was smooth, and the transfer adhered beautifully using my WonderPress.
Since wood can react differently to heat than fabric, I recommend testing your materials before starting a larger project.
Supplies Needed for DTF on Wood
- 9 x 12-inch unfinished wood art panel from Michaels
- xTool Apparel Printer Plus
- xTool WonderPress
- DTF transfer film
- DTF adhesive powder
- Vintage Santa PNG design (free download below!)
- Heat-resistant protective sheet or parchment paper
- Heat-resistant pressing mat
- Lint-free cloth
- Fine-grit sandpaper (optional)
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Get the Free Vintage Santa PNG Design
Want to make your own Santa Christmas tray? I’m sharing my original Santa, Stop Here! design as a free download when you subscribe to my Studio Letter! The design includes a cheerful retro Santa, festive Christmas greenery, and designated spaces for Santa’s milk, cookies, and reindeer snacks. It’s a transparent PNG that’s perfect for creating your own Christmas craft projects with compatible printing methods.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR MY STUDIO LETTER AND GET THE FREE SANTA DESIGN!
You’ll also receive my Studio Letter featuring creative projects, tutorials, crafting inspiration, and more from Michelle’s Party Plan-It!
How to Make a Vintage Santa Christmas Tray with DTF
Step 1: Prepare Your Wooden Panel
Start with a 9 x 12-inch unfinished wood art panel. I picked mine up at Michaels in the art supplies section.
Make sure the wood is clean, dry, and free of dust or debris. If the surface feels rough, you can lightly sand it with fine-grit sandpaper and wipe away any sanding dust.
I left my wood unfinished because I wanted the natural wood grain to show through the open areas of my vintage Santa design.
Step 2: Prepare Your Santa Design
Open your design software and upload the vintage Santa PNG.
Resize the design to fit your 9 x 12-inch wood panel, leaving a small border around the edges.
My design features a cheerful retro Santa with spaces for milk, cookies, and reindeer snacks. The transparent areas allow the natural wood to show through.
Make sure your design is oriented correctly for your DTF printing workflow, including mirroring if required.
Step 3: Print and Cure Your DTF Transfer
Using my xTool Apparel Printer Plus, I printed the vintage Santa design onto DTF film.
Next, I applied the DTF adhesive powder and cured the transfer using my xTool WonderPress.
Make sure the adhesive powder is properly cured according to the instructions for your printer, film, and powder before transferring the design.
Once the transfer is ready, you’re all set to apply it to the wood!
Step 4: Preheat the Wood
Place your wood panel on a suitable heat-resistant pressing surface.
Preheat the wood for approximately 10 seconds to help remove any moisture from the surface.
Wood can react to heat differently than fabric, so be mindful of potential warping or discoloration.
Step 5: Apply the DTF Transfer to Wood
Carefully position your cured DTF transfer on the wooden panel, making sure the design is centered.
For this project, I used the following settings on my xTool WonderPress:
- Temperature: 345°F
- Time: 20 seconds
- Pressure: Medium
These are the actual settings I used, and they worked beautifully on my wood panel!
Cover and press the transfer according to the film and equipment instructions, ensuring the entire design receives even heat and pressure.
Keep in mind that results may vary depending on the type of wood, transfer film, and heat press you’re using.
Step 6: Let the Wood Cool and Prevent Warping
Here’s an important tip when working with heat transfers on wood!
If your wood panel begins to warp, place it beneath something heavy and flat while it cools.
You can also place it inside a completely cold manual heat press that is turned off, using gentle, even pressure to help keep the panel flat. Make sure the press is completely cool and switched off before doing this. Avoid forcing a severely warped or cracked panel flat. Allow the wood and transfer to cool completely before removing the carrier film.
Step 7: Peel the DTF Transfer Film
Once the wood has cooled completely, carefully begin peeling away the DTF film.
Be sure to wait until the transfer is completely cool before peeling!
Start at one corner and slowly peel the film back, checking that the design remains attached to the wood.
If you notice any areas lifting, stop peeling and reassess the adhesion before continuing.
Once the film is removed, you’ll see your beautiful vintage Santa design on the wood!
Step 8: Enjoy Your Vintage Santa Christmas Tray
And that’s it! I love how this project turned out!
The colorful vintage Santa artwork looks so pretty against the natural wood, and the designated spaces make it a fun addition to your Christmas Eve decorations.
You can display it with Santa’s milk, cookies, and reindeer snacks using appropriate food-safe containers or liners.
Important: Is a DTF Christmas Tray Food-Safe?
No. This project is decorative only and is NOT food-safe.
DTF inks and adhesives are not automatically approved for direct food contact, so food should never be placed directly on the transferred design.
If you’re using this tray for Santa’s treats, place the food in separate food-safe containers or use cupcake liners as a barrier. Make sure the food does not touch the decorated surface.
For cleaning, gently wipe the tray with a damp rag.
Do not soak, submerge, scrub, or place the tray in the dishwasher.
Tips for Applying DTF Transfers to Wood
- Use smooth wood. A clean, flat surface helps the transfer adhere evenly.
- Keep the wood dry. Moisture can affect the transfer and contribute to warping.
- Use the proper heat settings. I had success with 345°F for 20 seconds at medium pressure.
- Apply even pressure. Make sure the entire design receives consistent contact.
- Let the transfer cool completely. This is a cold-peel application.
- Watch for warping. Place the wood under something heavy and flat while cooling, if necessary.
- Keep it decorative. Always use food-safe containers or liners when displaying treats.
More Creative Ways to Use Your DTF Printer
One of my favorite things about the xTool Apparel Printer Plus is finding new ways to use DTF beyond traditional apparel projects.
If you enjoyed this Santa tray, be sure to check out my tutorial on How to Print Your Own Fabric with DTF, where I created vintage Christmas fabric ornaments using DTF transfers!
It’s another fun way to explore what you can create with a DTF printer.
Watch the DTF on Wood Video Tutorial
Want to see the entire process? Watch my video tutorial below to see how I applied the DTF transfer to the wood and created this vintage Santa Christmas tray!
I had so much fun creating this vintage Santa Christmas tray! I love how the DTF transfer brings out all the little details in the artwork, and the natural wood gives it that nostalgic Christmas feel. It’s such a fun way to experiment with DTF printing beyond T-shirts and fabric!
If you make your own, I’d love to see how it turns out!
And don’t forget to sign up for my Studio Letter to get the free vintage Santa PNG design!
Looking for a shopping guide for the Holidays? Check out my recommendations!
Pray, create and celebrate!
Check out my other ideas for DIY Santa Platters!
