Decoupage is a simple form of creativity, which is used to decorate vases, dishes, caskets, furniture, etc. The main material is paper and glue. But, as well as in other kinds of needlework, decoupage has its subtleties.
First, you need to know how to prepare the surface for work. Secondly, it is necessary to work differently with different paper. What paper is suitable for decoupage, and which should not be used – the answer will be found below.
A brief historical digression
In medieval Germany, knights brought wooden furniture from the crusades. It was decorated with carvings and cost a lot of money.
To make such furniture cheaper and more widespread, they invented the imitation of this very carving. Masters simply cut out drawings from paper, glued them on wood and covered with several layers of varnish.
- For decoupage pictures of famous poets were used. Later began to do paintings with ready for carving patterns. The technique became available to all masses of the population. So decoupage of furniture appeared. Later the technique began to improve and apply it in decor of other subjects.
- The technique evolved, but the basis remained the same – the paper. Masters of decoupage came up with the idea to print pictures for decor on photo paper. It’s more difficult to work with it, but as a result you can decorate the object with a real photo.
Modern decoupage
The technique has changed, now using different paper and preparing the surface to work.
The main steps in the classic decoupage:
- Wash, degrease the surface.
- Prim the surface.
- Glue the background.
- Fix the varnish.
- Glue pattern.
- Fix varnish.
Types of paper
Masters have improved the technique so that now decoupage can be done with regular paper. It is necessary to remove unnecessary layers, so that a thin layer with a pattern remains.
How to peel the office paper:
- Densely coat the canvas with varnish. Allow to dry and cover with a second coat. If the paper remains wrinkled after drying, iron it.
- Place the sheet on the work surface, with the pattern facing down. Tape the entire sheet to the top. Glue the tape overlapping, protruding beyond the sheet, as if sticking it to the table.
- Slowly begin to remove the tape, the layers of paper will go with it. The first layer will come off easily, you can pull all the scotch at once. The other layers will be harder to remove, one by one, holding the paper with your fingers so as not to tear the picture. It will be enough to remove 3-4 layers and you can work with the picture.
- Before gluing the pattern, moisten it with water and dab it with glue. Smear the surface of the object with glue and then apply the pattern.
This method of layering will also work with photo paper.
Common types of paper for decoupage:
- Napkins for decoupage – unlike kitchen napkins consist of 3 layers. The thinnest, 3rd layer is used. It turns out the air effect. Because of the translucency it is suitable for subjects with a light background. If the tone is dark or bright, it is necessary to paint over it with white paint or glue it with rice paper before pasting.
- Decoupage cards are ready-made non-transparent drawings. They are printed several times on a single sheet, usually with the same theme. The necessary pattern is cut out and soaked in water before gluing – so it will lie more even. To smooth out a sharp edge, it is ground with fine sandpaper.
- Rice paper for decoupage is a semi-transparent material made of rice straw. Quickly absorbs glue. Glue it quickly, carefully spreading the pattern from the center to the edge, so as not to form bubbles.
- Kitchen napkins – use the same as special napkins. The difference – 2 layers. The second is a little thicker, so the air effect will not work.
- Printing on office paper – it is more convenient to use poor quality paper. Because of its thinness, it will be easier to peel.
- Printing on photo paper – suitable for experienced masters.
Master class for beginners
To try your hand at this business, it is not necessary to spoil vases, glasses or frames. To begin with, you can use an ordinary bottle. Suitable empty or sealed with any drink.
If everything succeeds, it will make an interesting gift. Choosing an empty bottle, give preference to a wide neck, for example, from under the juice. In this way, a glass bottle will make a unique vase.
For the job, prepare:
- White rice paper;
- Rice paper; PVA glue;
- Alcohol or nail polish remover;
- A fan-shaped brush;
- Tissue with a pattern;
- Acrylic varnish;
- Glass bottle;
- Glass Primer;
- Acrylic paint if desired.
Step-by-step instructions
- Remove the label from the bottle and rinse. Any glue residue will be removed with nail polish remover. Now degrease the surface with alcohol or the same liquid. When degreasing, hold the bottle with your fingers inside the neck, do not touch the outside of the glass.
- Coat the surface with primer. A fluffy brush is fine, but a fan-shaped brush is more comfortable. Leave to dry completely.
- Start decoupage of the bottle with rice paper. Tear it into 3-5 cm pieces. Apply it to the bottle and fix with a thick layer of glue on top.
- When you have covered the entire area with paper, let the glue dry. Coat with varnish on top and dry.
- Tear off a piece of tissue for decoupage, put it on the bottle and dab it with glue. Move the brush from bottom to top if the pattern is solid and fully adheres to the bottle. If you are gluing small pieces, move from the center to the edges.
- After it dries, varnish the bottle. When that has dried, complete everything with paint, if desired. Paint the glued picture with the appropriate colors. It would be nice to mark the edges of the picture with an outline.
- Decorate the neck with ribbon, twine, lace – whatever suits the style. Dip the ribbon in glue and wrap it around. Secure everything with varnish. Congratulations – decoupage is ready, you’ve done it!
