How to Decoupage Camera Pictures to a Gourd
Decoupage is an easy and fun craft to do with your own kids, with a scouting troup or with a classroom full of elementary school art students. The word "decoupage" is derived from the French word decouper, meaning to cut out. Decoupage is the creative art of assembling, pasting and varnishing paper cutouts for decorating objects. Gourds come in a variety of shapes and colors. This variety provides choices of a base for your photo decoupage project ranging from whimsical to formal.
Things You'll Need
- Gourd (dried)
- Paper towels
- Photograph
- White glue (clear-drying)
- Steel wool
- 1 sheet fine grit sandpaper
- 1 sheet extra-fine grit sandpaper
- Spoon
- Water
- Bowl
- 1 inch Watercolor brush or sponge brush
Instructions
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Choose a dried gourd for your decoupage project. A gourd with a smooth surface will provide the easiest base for your project. Choosing a gourd with a bumpy surface makes the project a bit more challenging, but the result can be interesting. Wash and dry the gourd to prepare it for the decoupage process.
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Select a photograph that you wish to decoupage onto the gourd. Apply five thin coats of clear-drying white glue to the back of the picture using the paintbrush or sponge. Let each coat of glue dry thoroughly before applying the next coat. Soak the photo in a bowl of warm water for 20 to 30 minutes. Rub the back of the picture carefully using steel wool to remove as much of the paper as possible without damaging the photographic image. Let the picture dry thoroughly.
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Determine where you will place the picture on the gourd. Sand the surface of the gourd lightly with fine sandpaper over the area where you will attach the photograph.
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Thin the white glue by mixing one part glue with one part warm water in a bowl. Apply a coat of the thinned glue to the back of the photograph. While the glue is still wet, place the photograph on the gourd. Smooth the photograph so that it conforms to the surface of the gourd, ensuring that there are no air bubbles under the picture.
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Paint three to four coats of the thinned glue over the entire surface of the picture, feathering the edges of the glue so they are very thin. Allow each coat of glue to dry before applying the next coat. Coat the entire gourd with two coats of thinned glue, allowing each coat to dry. Lightly sand the final coat with extra-fine grit sandpaper until the surface is very smooth.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit two gourds image by sonya etchison from Fotolia.com
