To get started with decoupage, you cut out pictures and glue them onto an object. The next step is to cover the object and pictures with a few coats of glue or decoupage medium to protect it. You probably have everything you need to make your project lying around your home right now. Gather your supplies and start crafting.
Decoupage Medium
Decoupage medium is an all-in-one sealer, glue, and finish used for creating decoupaged works of art. Use it on wood, fabric and other porous surfaces. It dries clear and holds your glued-on paper cuts tight.
Supplies You Need
As with any craft project you make, you should always read the instructions first. Make a list of supplies that you need to purchase, although you may already have quite a few of the supplies already in your home.
Decide what object you wish to decorate with decoupage. You can add pictures to almost anything: furniture, photo albums, shelving, frames, boxes, vases, mirrors, hardcover books, trays, suitcases, dishes, candles, cans, bottles, egg cartons, rocks, and much more. Find a picture source. The options are endless: cut out pictures, motifs, or shapes from wrapping paper, wallpaper, fabric, napkins, greeting cards, postcards, photographs, travel brochures, handbills, programs, garden seed packages, pages from old books, foil-covered paper, paper doilies, ribbon, posters, dried flowers, tissue paper, and more. You can also buy paper and pictures made especially for decoupage. You can photocopy clip art, photos, stories, poems, and other items printed from your computer, with special considerations for pictures printed using an inkjet printer. Decide on what decoupage medium to use. You can buy a product made especially for decoupaging, such as Mod Podge or Collage Pauge. You should have at least one of those in your craft cupboard, but in a pinch, slightly diluted white glue will do.
The items above are the essential supplies you need, but there are a few other items you might find handy to use in your decoupage journey:
Bone folder: You can use this to help smooth out wrinkles and remove excess glue. You can also buy a tool made especially for this, called a brayer. Foam brush: Use this to spread the decoupage medium or glue onto the item you will decoupage. If you don’t have a foam brush, you can use an ordinary paintbrush or even a cotton swab. Scissors: Use to cut out the pictures and other items you will be decoupaging. To help with cutting decorative paper with a lot of small details, you might want to use scissors with smalls blades or a utility knife. Tweezers: Tweezers are sometimes a great help when it comes to positioning small pictures. Damp rag: Keep one nearby to wipe up excess glue and to help with other clean up. Make sure the rag is damp and not soaking wet when using it to remove excess decoupage medium from your glued papers. A damp rag also helps to keep your hands clean while working with glue.
Getting Started With Your Project
Once you’ve gathered all of your supplies, you can start on your project by following along with these easy directions. Make sure the item you’re decoupaging is clean, removing any dust or dirt. It must also be dry. If you’re going to paint your item first, the paint must be totally dry before you start decoupaging (no tackiness). This example used spray paint with an added-in primer to paint a wooden tray. Make sure the paint you use is appropriate for the object you intend to decoupage. Cut out the pictures you are going to use. It helps to use an X-Acto knife to cut out the paper pieces that have quite a bit of intricate detail. Before you add glue, arrange the pictures onto the item you are decoupaging until you like the way they look. The pictures can be in any placement you like and can also overlap. Working in a small section at a time, remove the pictures and apply a generous layer of decoupage medium onto the item you are decoupaging. Make sure you completely cover any area the picture will touch. If you prefer, you can spread the medium onto the back of the picture. Stick the picture on the decoupage medium. Use your finger to gently push down the picture (for a large picture, start from the center and work your way out) and push out any wrinkles and excess medium. You can also use a bone folder or brayer to do this. Continue with the last two steps until all of your pictures are glued on. Let the decoupage medium dry. If you are using pictures on thicker paper, such as photos or greeting cards, they can take longer to dry. Watch for bubbles as your pictures dry. If one forms, use a pin or utility knife to pop it and then use your fingers to smooth it down. Once the medium is dry, coat your item thoroughly with another layer of the decoupage medium. Let this dry. Continue to add coats of the medium until you get the desired results. You will want to keep adding layers until the edges of the pictures are all smooth. Let your project dry completely before it’s ready to use, display, or be given away as a gift.
Inkjet-Printed Materials
If you use inkjet-printed material on your projects, let the ink dry, then spray it with hairspray. It sets the ink and then you can use the print. Make sure both are completely dry before applying your medium.
