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Decoupage Tips by Barbara Jennings

You don't have to be a creative genius to do decoupage. All you need to know are some simple tips and the rest will come from your imagination and experimentation. As you collect supplies, especially from online sources, be careful to purchase from legitimate sources who offer you a refund guarantee.

A very simple craft, decoupage will give you the ability to create wonderful accent pieces for your home or very nice and unique gifts for friends. First I'll explain some basic techniques. Master these and you can apply them to just about any project you wish. While the finished product may be deceptive at times, this is a phenomenon unique to decoupage. When done correctly, it can even appear to be professionally painted. For that reason, people think it is difficult, but it really isn't.

Basic Techniques

The bottom line is: if you can cut and paste, you can do this. To put it really bluntly, you cut out pictures. Then you glue the pictures onto an object. After that you cover the object and pictures with a few coats of glue/decoupage medium to protect the surface. That's it!

Naturally there are supplies you will need. Some of them are made specifically for the art of decoupage. Best of all, many of the things you will need you already have lying around your home.

Supplies You Will Need

Look at the list below and then look around your home and see what you already have. Make a list of what you need to acquire and go shopping for those items. First, you need an object - it can be anything you want so long as it is something to decoupage a picture onto. Look around your home and pick something to transform: a piece of furniture, a photo frame, a photo album, shelving, a box, a mirror, a vase, a tray, a piece of wood - you get the idea.

Once you have selected the item to decoupage, make sure it is clean and free of dust or dirt. If the item is porous, you should seal it first. What you use to seal it depends on what the product is made out of. You will then need to decide if you will paint the background or not.

Now you're ready to gather together the pictures you will use on the piece. Where do you get these? Why there are many sources for pictures. How about books, magazines, catalogs, wrapping paper, clip art, verses, poems - anything on paper that appeals to you and fits into the design of your piece. There's greeting cards, fabric even, wallpaper, packaging - and, of course, paper made especially for decoupage. You can visit your local art gallery and take a look at all the art papers they have. Oriental rice papers are great.

If you're considering photographs, I suggest you have high quality copies made. Photographs can be difficult and don't always want to cooperate.

Here is a convenient list of things you will need in addition to the item to be decoupaged and your papers.

  • White Glue - White glue makes an excellent medium, and you might want to dilute it a bit with water.
  • Popsicle Stick - Use this to smooth out wrinkles and remove excess glue. Your art supply store also sells brayers which are excellent for pressing out air bubbles. A brayer is like a miniature rolling pin, except the roller part is usually rubber. You can often find them near printmaking supplies. A good brayer will remove wrinkles and excess glue and help you get the picture stuck to the object.
  • Cotton Swabs - Use these just like you would a paint brush to spread the glue around. They are very inexpensive.
  • Damp Rag - Be sure to wipe up any excess glue that leaks out as you don't want that residue to lay on top.
  • Decoupage Medium - If you don't like white glue, get a decoupage medium from your art supply store and use this to glue the pictures and seal them. Follow the directions on the container.
  • A Small Paint Brush - Cotton swabs do tend to break down quickly. If you have problems, then buy a small paint brush to spread the medium.
  • Craft Knife - A sharp knife helps to cut out the images from the paper, specially in difficult turns or sections.
  • Sealer - You can use your decoupage medium or glue as your final coat, or you can use polyurethane or an acrylic spray. I prefer the medium but to each her own.

Directions

Be sure to read through and understand all directions before starting. Prepare your work area with protective coverings like plastic or newspaper or butcher block paper.
  • Select your pictures and cut them out.
  • It's helpful to lay out the arrangement before you start. You will paste the bottom ones on first and then layer the others on top, overlapping where necessary.
  • Paint a thin coat of the glue or medium in the area on the object that you are working on. Then cover the entire back of the picture with the glue/medium.
  • Place the picture where you want it. Then use your finger to gently push down on the picture and from the middle, gently press the picture outward to smooth out any wrinkles and push out any air bubbles.

    Here's where the brayer is especially handy. If you don't have a brayer, use the popsicle stick. Even the back of a spoon can work. Be gentle. You don't want to tear the picture in any way.

  • Repeat this process until all of the pictures are adhered to the object where you want them. Let everything dry thoroughly.
  • When dry you're ready to coat the object with the medium or diluted white glue. Coat the surface completely and evenly. To dilute the white glue, use approximately 1 part water to 3 parts glue. Let the object dry thoroughly.
  • Additional coats will be added until you have the result you are seeking. Be sure to let the object dry completely between coats. You can continue to coat with the medium or white glue, or switch to polyurethane or an acrylic spray. Continue to coat the object until you can no longer feel the edges of the pictures. The surface of the object should be completely smooth when you are done.

Yes, it takes time to create, but the results can be literally stunning.

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 (2004-05 Copyright Barbara Jennings)

Barbara Jennings is the West Coast Pioneer in Redesign, author of 7 decorating books, a published artist, corporate art consultant, and furniture arrangement consultant. For training in professional furniture and accessory arrangement, or to start your own redesign or art consulting business, please visit: www.decorate-redecorate.com

Coming Soon!
 Advanced Redesign!
As we speak, the pages for Barbara's newest training is being written. For those people who want to start a part time redesign business, we have offered Rearrange It!, our basic training to help you get started in a fabulous decorating business of your own. However, many of you are not content with basic training and want to take your businesses to the next level. Well, you asked for it, so we are in final stages of writing the advanced training program. We hope to launch it on January 1, 2005. Be sure to check back and read all the details then.