How to Varnish Decoupage

Varnish is used to make cutout items look as though they were hand-painted onto a surface. It is a long process that requires a lot of patience.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Medium-bristle Brush
• Varnish Or Other Clear Finish
• Paint Thinner
• Paint Thinner
• Colored Plastic Wrap

1. Dip the brush into the varnish and wipe off the excess varnish.

2. Begin covering cutouts with varnish at the center of the surface and brush outwards.

3. Check to make sure there are no bubbles or drips and that the surface is smooth.

4. Allow to dry overnight.

5. Repeat 18-20 times for best results.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a high-quality brush that won't lose its hairs.
• Varnish works best when it is thin. Keep it thin by adding a small amount of paint thinner.
• Clean brushes with paint thinner.
• Seal the varnish can every night to prevent varnish from thickening. Cover with plastic wrap before sealing the lid for extra protection.
• Set the brush down flat; standing it on its bristles will ruin it.
• Always work in a well-ventilated area to avoid fumes.

[Xenobiologista]

on 1/30/2008 I did decoupage on the lid of my (out-of-warranty) laptop. It doesn't have to be confined to old stuff like wood furniture and music boxes =)

on 11/22/2005 To create a solid background prior to applying cutouts, try using colored tissue paper. This works especially well on plates. You may also create all of your cutouts with colored tissue paper. I made a very pretty "Fall" themed plate by using yellow tissue paper (watered down glue when applying the tissue paper) as the back ground color - entirely covering the front of the plate. Then I made cut out leaves with other colored tissue paper. It turned out really nice, very soft and subtle effect.