How to Keep Decoupage From Bleeding
Decoupaged items give the illusion of a detailed, professional paint job. The decoupage artist simply glues fabric, newspaper, ink-jet printed images or other printed items to a hard surface to create the artistic appearance. The craft is very accessible and versatile with the use of ink-jet printed images. However, the colors within the printed image bleed, causing the decoupaged items to look messy. With the correct supplies, you can prevent bleeding and save your decoupage project from the trash.
Things You'll Need
- Bowl
- Wooden craft stick
- White glue
- Water
- Foam paint brush
- Clear acrylic sealer
- Laser printer
- Paper
Instructions
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Combine one part glue and one part water in a bowl and mix with a wooden craft stick. Apply an even coat of the diluted white glue to the image with a foam paint brush. Allow the image to dry before using in a decoupage project.
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Spray a clear acrylic spray on the entire surface of the paper if you do not have white glue available. Allow the spray to dry before re-coating a couple of times. Once the spray is dry, the image is ready for use in a decoupage project.
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Invest in a laser printer if you don't want to use white glue or a clear acrylic sealer. Scan or create images on the computer and print on white paper. The image is ready for use in a decoupage project without re-sealing.
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Tips & Warnings
As an alternative to buying a laser printer, bring copies of images to a copy center to be printed on their laser printers.
References
- The Artful Crafter; How to Prevent Ink Bleeding in Decoupage Projects; Kay Davies
- "The Complete Printmaker: Techniques, Traditions, Innovations"; John Ross, Clare Romano and Tim Ross; 1990
- Old Fashioned Living; Victorian Decoupage Easter Basket; Amanda Formaro
- "New Decoupage: Transforming Your Home with Paper, Glue, and Scissors"; Durwin Rice; 1998
Resources
- Photo Credit Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images
