How to Decorate With Decoupage

Decoupage imitates the look of painting.

"Decoupage" traditionally refers to the art of imitating painting by arranging cutouts on surfaces from pictures to furniture. Today the term is also occasionally used to encompass the practices of "montage," arranging other paper keepsakes in an artistic fashion, and "collage," extending to three-dimensional items. Decoupage can become a very personal art, as materials can be gathered from one's own mementos and can be arranged in any chosen manner to reflect individual taste and style. On the other hand, with this lucrative hobby, one can find supplies nearly anywhere and still produce a fantastic-looking piece of art.

Things You'll Need

• A wide assortment of paper products such as wrapping paper, sheet music, tissue paper, photos and doilies
• Scissors
• Decoupage glue
• Paint brush
• Damp cloth
• Lacquer

Instructions

1. Choose the surface you'd like to decorate.

2. Decide on an aesthetic you want to achieve with your decoupage. Cut evenly strips from similarly colored papers for a uniform look. Tear strips of assorted shapes and sizes with raw edges for a casual, unrefined looked.

3. Dip brush in water, then dip in paste. Spread paste on back of paper cutout. Begin at the center and work outward. Apply to surface of object to be decorated. Smooth out gently and allow to dry. If applying decoupage to a glass surface, dilute glue with water before using, spread on front of cutout and apply to non-used, underside of glass surface.

4. Make necessary adjustments to glued cutout. Apply extra glue around peeling edges with a toothpick. Wipe excess paste from cutout edges, alternately, with a damp cloth. Let dry. Repeat until surface of object is covered. Maintain balance of colors or patterns accordingly.

5. Cover the entire surface with lacquer and let dry. Repeat continuously as many as 10 to 12 times depending on the surface covered and the amount of paint simulation -- an effect enhanced by lacquer -- desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your eyes open at all times for decoupage materials. Check garage sales and thrift stores for old textbooks and yearbooks to make inexpensive and one-of-a-kind projects. Recycle old newspapers or magazines. Craft stores are full of colorful scrapbooking papers. Personal items such as letters, greeting cards and photos make extra species gifts.

• Cut papers at a slight right angle for a beveled edge that does not reveal the underside of your paper.

• Choose a theme when selecting your materials. Keep one consistent color family, stick to the same pattern in different colors and materials or try a more abstract concept such as "love" which can incorporate solids, pattern and even photographs or magazine cutouts.

References

• CrafTown: Decoupage - Free Decoupage Ideas
• Decoupage Your Life: How to Decorate Flower Pots