Decoupage Projects
Old wrapping paper and magazines are a few of the most suitable materials for decoupage projects. You can decoupage almost anything; decoupage an old wooden coffee table to give it a more modern look, decoupage a plain plastic bracelet to make a funkier one, decoupage the top of an old dresser and the front of its drawers, decoupage old tin boxes to make new jewellery cases. You can even do decoupage walls for a more modern twist! But first, you must learn the basics of decoupage. Here is how to do a decoupage right:
Steps
- Before starting on your project, make sure that your the surface you intend to decoupage is clean of dust and any other kind of dirt that might cause the decoupage not to stick or bubbles to form. If you must clean the surface, leave it to dry completely before starting on your project. If possible, decoupage in an open space with lots of ventilation to allow the decoupage to dry faster.
- Decide on the theme of your decoupage. Decoupage need not necessarily be colourful, a decoupage made out of black and white pictures can give a more rustic feel to your furniture. Once you have your theme, look through magazines and stacks of old wrapping paper for related pictures and patterns. Cut out all the pictures and patterns and keep them in a box. Be careful not to crease them as it would show later on.
- Usually, decoupages are done by overlapping one picture over another in a random manner. However, you can also try arranging the pictures first before you start to give you a rough idea of what the end product will look like. Again, be very careful not to crease the cut outs during this process.
- Now that you are ready to start, mix one part PVC glue with one part water together. Use a wide hard brush to make work faster and easier.
- Spread glue onto the surface you intend to decoupage, slightly bigger than the picture you intend to stick on. Stick on the picture and make sure that there are no bubbles formed. Quickly spread another thin layer of glue onto the picture and the surface around in preparation for the next picture.
- It is important to stick one picture at a time to ensure that your decoupage does not tear or come off later on. Also, while spreading glue, make sure that you get rid of excess glue from the brush by scraping it on the side of the container before brushing any surface as too much glue will deform the pictures.
- Once you have covered the entire surface, leave it to dry for a while before spreading another layer on to the whole surface. This will seal in the pictures. Do not worry if you can see the whitish glue as it will turn transparent once it dries.
Image Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zooboing/4183275616/
