How to Make Decoupage & Crackle Christmas Trays
Trays and platters are a necessity for feeding holiday crowds. Make your own seasonal trays and use them for festive serving and gifting with Christmas cookies and other holiday goodies. Decoupage lets you add any image or pattern to your tray, while a crackle finish gives the whole project an aged, antique look. The crackle finish, decoupage medium and other supplies you need for this project can be found in art and craft supply stores.
Things You'll Need
- Tray
- Paper scraps for decoupage
- Decoupage glue
- Paint brush
- Crackle finish kit
- Oil paint
- Turpentine (optional)
- Clean, lint-free rags
Instructions
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1
Thoroughly wash and dry your tray before beginning your decoupage project.
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2
Cut out your decoupage materials. Your design can be anything from a single panel or cutout image to a collage of torn out scraps or images. Try reusing Christmas cards, tags and gift wrap for seasonal patterns and images.
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3
Brush the backside of your decoupage material with decoupage glue and press it onto the tray, smoothing out air bubbles and wrinkles.
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4
Apply a coat of decoupage glue over your design with a paintbrush to seal it and give it a glossy finish. Follow product instructions regarding the number of coats recommended and drying time. Avoid using foam brushes because they tend to leave air bubbles.
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Apply a crackle finish to your dry decoupage tray. Most crackle finish products have two steps: a base coat of varnish followed by a cracking medium that causes the crackling reaction. Follow product instructions to create a crackled surface over your decoupage design. Let it dry.
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Rub oil paint over your dry crackled surface with a rag to force paint into the cracks so they will become visible. Wipe off the paint with a clean cloth dampened with turpentine to leave pigment only in the cracks. Use a darker pigment if you want the cracks to be more pronounced and dramatic. Dilute the oil paint with turpentine before applying it to create a more subdued look.
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