How to Make Decoupage Art on Wooden Signs

Decoupage art looks intricate but is fairly simple.

Decoupage, the art of lacquering paper cutouts to give the appearance of inlay, began in the 17th century when European artists tried to replicate the look of lacquered furniture from Asia. Soon the trend evolved from furniture decoration to the act of cutting out prints of famous artists' work and lacquering them to frames. It became known as "poor man's art." That nickname is only half-true. It doesn't take a poor man to do decoupage, but a decoupage wooden sign can be created for a fairly low cost.

Things You'll Need

• Color printer
• Scissors
• Piece of wood
• Sandpaper
• Primer
• Paint
• Paint brushes
• Decoupage glue
• Spray gloss lacquer
• Power drill
• Eye screws

Instructions

1. Print the designs for your sign on a color printer. You can also cut designs out of a magazine or from a collection of artists' prints, or use a variety of multicolored pieces of paper to create your own design.

2. Sand the front and back surface of the wood you are using for your sign. Coat it with a layer of primer. Allow the primer to dry completely, about one to two hours. Paint the front and back of the sign any color you desire. Allow the paint to dry completely.

3. Apply a thin coat of decoupage glue to the back of a piece of paper for your design. Press the paper into position on the sign, being careful not to create wrinkles or air bubbles. Repeat for remaining pieces. Allow glue to dry for at least 15 minutes. Paint a thin layer of decoupage glue over the front of the sign. Allow the glue to dry completely.

4. Spray a thin coat of lacquer onto the front of the sign. Let it dry for one to two hours. Apply another coat and let it dry. Use a power drill to put holes on the top of the sign for the eye screws. Insert eye screws into the holes and hang the sign where desired. The sign can be hung from a wall screw or from a piece of wire or twine.

Tips & Warnings

• The same technique can be applied to paper letters and allows you to create a worded message on your sign.

References

• National Guild of Decoupers: A Bit of History

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish