How to Decoupage Photos Onto Fabric

Use a strong glue and sealant to decoupage fabric.

Decoupage is the crafty act of gluing photographs, prints, patterns and other paper items onto another surface. You can decoupage nearly any surface, including wood, metal, plastic or fabric. To decoupage photographs to fabric, you need to use a stronger adhesive substance than you would with a hard surface. This adhesive must be a glue and sealant all in one, found at almost any craft or hardware store.

Things You'll Need

• Newspaper or drop cloths
• Photographs
• Scissors
• Foam brush
• Craft glue and sealant
• Popsicle stick
• Fabric

Instructions

1. 

   Protect your workspace with expendable materials.

   Place newspaper, drop cloths or another protective material across your work space to catch spills. The adhesive material you'll be using is extremely difficult to remove from a surface once applied.

2. 

   Ripping the photo can give an artsy feel.

   Prepare your photographs. Rip or cut them into the shape you desire. Plan out how you'll arrange them on the fabric before you begin gluing, as they won't be coming off in one piece once attached with adhesive.

3. Dip your foam brush into the adhesive glue. Lather a medium coat onto the back of the photograph. Stick the photograph on the fabric. Smooth any bubbles or ripples in the photograph out with a Popsicle stick. Repeat for the rest of your photos and let them dry for at least 15 minutes.

4. Coat the entire collage with a thick, even layer of adhesive. Paint the adhesive over the collage with your foam brush. Allow the collage to dry overnight.

5. Finish the collage with one or two more layers of adhesive. The more layers you apply, the better the protective seal over your pictures.

References

• The Artful Crafter: Decoupage Methods
• Decoupage Online: Advanced Projects