With summer in full swing, I find myself reaching for one wardrobe staple again and again — cutoffs! There’s just nothing like a pair of comfy denim shorts for a casual vibe that beats the heat. As much as I like the distressed look, some of my cutoffs are getting a little too raggedy and need a makeover. So I’m revamping my old favorites and giving them new life with a boho-chic touch!

Tools

iron

scissors

Materials

Start by downloading the free printable templates (above) and carefully cut out the design. Try to round any sharp corners or edges to prevent the image from pealing once applied.

Next, position the image where’d you like it on the shorts. Keep in mind that it will be a mirror image since you need to flip it over before iron-ing on!

Follow the instructions of your transfer paper and apply to the shorts. Make sure that your iron’s steam function is completely turned off and that you’re on a heat-proof surface like an ironing board or towel.

Once cool, carefully begin to peel back the transfer paper. If it’s having trouble coming up in certain areas or you notice some tearing, just place it back down and iron again.

For the peony photo transfer, I wanted to go for more of a distressed look. Repeating the steps above I cut out the image, positioned it on the seam of the shorts and ironed it on. Then I went in with a pair of scissors and distressed the sides of the image so there wasn’t a hard line to the edge.

I love that you can still see the denim and seam through the flowers, so happy with how these turned out!

The best part is, they’re ready to wear in minutes! As soon as your photo transfer cools down, you’re ready to show off your new shorts at your next barbecue.

P.S. as promised, here’s a few of my favorite denim shorts:

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images by Meghan Klein.

project and styling by Material Delight.