How to make decoupage

Video: How to Decoupage for Beginners – DIY Tutorial | Hobby Lobby®

Content

Tips
Warnings
What do you need

1 Get your materials ready. Select an item and collect the material with which you will decorate it. You can use just about any decoupage material, including cards, tissue paper, brown paper, paper bags, magazine clippings, rice paper, thin fabrics, and of course decoupage paper. You can even make the paper yourself. Keep in mind that the softer and more flexible the material, the easier the job will be, especially if you are decoupling curved surfaces.

Do not use inkjet images as ink can smudge easily. It is better to make copies on a color photocopier.
Try using a cloth or wallpaper to cover larger surfaces more quickly. You can even use them as backgrounds before adding other material.
Avoid using thick material as it will bulge or stick out. The surface of the object should be as smooth as possible.
Don't waste your money on material.Clippings from advertisements, newspapers, old books and magazines are ideal for decoupage.

2 Make clippings. You can use whole pieces of paper, you can tear it up, or you can cut interesting shapes out of it. Use scissors and hold them so that they tilt slightly to the right. The cut will then have a smoother, beveled edge.

If you are tearing paper and want a smooth edge, fold the paper along the tear line and trace along the line with your fingernail. Do the same on the other side, and then tear the paper apart.
Do not try to completely cover the item with clippings. Prepare as much material as you feel you will use.

3 Consider in advance where you will glue the clippings. Sketch the layout or simply tape the clippings to the item, leave them alone, and then take a photo to remember the location.

If you don't like planning, then glue the clippings however you want. But watch your composition to make it beautiful.
Think about the color and texture of the material. Try different combinations. Check if the colors match with each other.

4 Prepare the surface. Make sure it is clean and dry. Cover the pits, sand the irregularities. Color if necessary. Do this before you start gluing the scraps.

For some materials, such as wood or metal, the surface can be primed with latex paint to help the cutouts adhere better.
If you've washed the item, make sure it's dry before you start gluing the scraps.

5 Cover the floor and work area with newspapers.

6 Use a glue suitable for the surface of the item and your cutouts. You can use plain white PVA glue. It will be easier for them to glue if you mix it with water in a 50-50 ratio. Stir well.

7 Apply glue. Using a paintbrush, apply a thin layer of glue to the surface of the item and the scraps. Spread over the edges of the scraps.

8 Begin gluing the scraps onto the item. The surface on which you will stick the paper must be greased first. Stick the paper carefully to avoid kinks or wrinkles. Smooth it out from center to edge.

For more complex compositions, make several layers from the clippings. Paste on the first layer and then make new layers on top of it.

9 Let the glue dry. If you are making a composition of several layers, then make sure that each layer is dry before starting to glue the next.

You can use a razor to cut off any piece of protruding paper.

10 Apply varnish or drying oil on top. Apply several layers of a protective coating on the decoupage, such as varnish or drying oil, or a special coating for decoupage. Let each coat dry completely before applying the next one.

11 Peel off the decoupage. When the varnish is dry, sand it with 400 grit sandpaper to remove any imperfections. Then wipe with a damp cloth.

12 Apply varnish or drying oil again. It is several layers of protective coating that create a unique type of decoupage. The number of layers depends on you. Depending on the coating you are using, you may only need 4 or 5 coats. Some decoupage artists use at least 30 or 40 layers. Remember that each coat of varnish needs to be dry before you apply the next one. Sandpaper the decoupage after every couple of coats for best results.

13 Ready!

Tips

Make sure the design on thin paper is printed on one side only, otherwise the design on the back may bleed through when you apply glue to the paper.
Once the glue is dry, run over the surface and check for any wrinkles, poorly adhered or protruding edges. If the cutouts do not adhere well, apply a thin layer of thinned glue over the entire surface again.
Keep a damp cloth handy to wipe off excess glue and press down on the edges of the cutouts.
To create a 3-D effect, glue the cutouts in several layers. Apply one or more layers of varnish on each layer, and then stick the next layer. The layers below will look much darker than the ones above.
You can buy special decoupage glue, but they are slightly more expensive than simple PVA glue.

Warnings

Make sure your cat or dog is not nearby, as their fur may end up at your work.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions when using any glue or varnish. Some of them may be flammable, or may require ventilation or other precautions.
Practice first with clippings and objects that you don't mind.