How to Make Peel-Off Decoupages With Computers
To combine the hands-on world of collage and on-screen digital creativity, design your own computer decoupage. Decoupaging usually involves covering another item with pictures, cutouts and glue, but with the Windows Paint graphics software program, you can create electronic doodles and drawings to print out and stick right on. Peel-off paper works similarly to regular printer paper – it’s just slightly thicker than what you may be used to – and serves as an ideal base for your Paint-created decoupage designs.
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Instructions
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Start Paint. Click the drop-down arrow below the small paint palette in the top-left corner of the screen. Choose “Properties.” Set the dimensions for the decoupage page. If you’re working with a full-size peel-off page, for example, type “8.5” in the “Height” box and “11” in the “Width” box -- or the reverse. Click the “Inches” radio button. Click the “OK” button.
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Click the “Brushes” button drop-down arrow in the middle of the ribbon. Choose the “Marker” brush head. Select a colored square from the “Colors” section of the ribbon.
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Position the cursor in the top-left section of the canvas. Draw a design to use for the decoupage, such as a flower or smiley face. Change colors and add more to the design until it is complete.
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Click the small drop-down arrow below the Select button on the ribbon. Choose “Free-form selection,” draw an outline around the design and click the “Copy” button on the ribbon.
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Move the cursor into the white area of the Paint canvas and click the “Paste” button. Drag the pasted copy of the design into place next to or below the first. Leave enough space so that you can cut around the design on the peel-off paper, but don’t waste space.
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Click “Paste” and drag copies of the drawing until the page is full, or add additional different drawings to fill up the entire page as desired.
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Click the drop-down arrow below the paint palette and select “Save As.” Give the decoupage file a name and choose a place to save it. Load the printer with the peel-off sticker paper, turn on the machine and click “Print.” Click up the “Number of copies” button for the number of pages of sticker paper to print and click “Print.”
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Tips & Warnings
Paint can handle any size and style of decoupage – it really hinges more on the type of decoupage stickers you’re using and the printer you have. In most cases, home printers can only handle the 8.5-inch by 11-inch sticker paper, similar to copy paper printing size sheets. These sticker paper pages come in full-size sheets as well as pre-cut sheets, useful for making labels. Your best bet for decoupage would be to get full-size sheets so that you can print as many images on the page as desired, then cut them out yourself without worrying the pre-cut label stickers will cut off your design.
If you’re interested in making a decoupage with actual computer images, Paint can handle that as well. Instead of setting up the decoupage page first, click “Open” and browse to the computer graphic to use. Double-click it. Then follow the same process to set up a page for the decoupage. White space will appear around the computer image to form the page. Follow the same copy and paste process to fill up the page with the computer pictures.
