The word découpage comes from the French découper which means to cut out. It is a technique for decorating objects with paper clippings or illustrations that are glued and then covered with several layers of paint or lacquer. The process provides more depth to the cutouts, so that the designs and images really look painted on the decorated object. Decoupage is fun and easy to do; moreover, it allows you to decorate almost any object, even those present in the house, from small vases to larger pieces of furniture. The possibilities are truly endless! But above all, you learn in no time, just a few steps are enough to understand how to proceed!
Steps
Step 1. Collect the materials needed to create the decoupage
Choose the object you want to decorate and the materials you will need. You can use a lot of things for decoration, including postcards, tissue paper, wrapping paper, paper bags, magazine clippings, rice paper, pieces of thin fabric and, of course, decoupage paper. You can even use homemade paper. However, remember that the softer and more flexible the material, the easier it will be to apply it to curved surfaces.
- Do not use any images printed with an inkjet printer, as the color will fade with the finish. You can make color copies instead if the copier uses toner.
- Try using fabric or wallpaper to quickly cover large areas. You can use these materials as a background on which to glue the various elements of the decoupage.
- Do not use any material too thick, it could detach from the object and you could accidentally hit it, ruining it. The surface should be as smooth as possible.
- Use recycled material for your projects and to save money. The advertisements you find in the mailbox, flyers, newspapers, magazines and old books are all perfect for decoupage.
Step 2. Give your cutouts any shape you like
You can use whole pieces of paper, but you can also tear or cut them into the shapes you like. Use the utility knife or scissors, keeping them angled slightly to the right to create a smoother, more rounded edge.
- If you tear the paper you will get even smoother edges. To achieve this, fold the sheet and fix the line with your nails. Repeat the process in the opposite direction and tear off the sheet.
- Don't feel compelled to cover the whole object with cutouts. Only prepare the paper that feels suitable and sufficient for your job.
Step 3. Organize the decoupage
Make a sketch of the finished work or place the cutouts before gluing them, to get an idea of what the result will be. You can take a picture to remember the arrangement.
- If you are not a very organized person, feel free to glue the cutouts as you see fit, without deciding in advance. Monitor the work so that each material is glued evenly.
- Evaluate the color and texture of what you are gluing. Mix and match different colors or arrange splashes of color.
Step 4. Prepare the surface
Make sure the object to be decorated is clean and dry, fill in the furrows that are too deep and smooth out any imperfections if necessary. In case you prefer to paint or refinish it, you should do this before gluing anything.
- Some materials, such as wood and metal, need a coat of acrylic paint to make the cutouts adhere better.
- If you wash the object, make sure it is dry before starting to glue.
Step 5. Protect your work surface with newspapers
Step 6. Use a suitable glue for both the surface material and the cutout material
Generally, vinyl glue is used, but sometimes it is easier to use a mixture of water and vinyl glue in equal parts. Make sure the cap is tightly closed and then shake vigorously.
Step 7. Apply the glue
Use a paintbrush to apply a thin layer of glue to the surface and back of the cutouts. Be careful to apply the glue evenly, even on the edges.
Step 8. Glue each cutout to the object, piece by piece
Lay the paper where you applied the glue. Be careful, avoiding bending or crumpling the cutouts, so smooth them out with a roller or your finger, wiping them from the center outwards.
To get a more complex result, make several layers of paper. Roll out the first one, then continue gluing the others on top, partially overlapping them
Step 9. Let the glue dry
Before proceeding, the surface must be completely dry. If you have applied several layers of paper, you need to make sure they are all dry before continuing.
If there is a hem or edge that completely wraps the object, you can cut it with a utility knife to get a more precise effect
Step 10. Apply the paint or lacquer
Fix the decoupage with a couple of coats of finish varnish (available in fine art stores or stationeries), plain varnish or lacquer. Each layer must be completely dry before passing another coat.
Step 11. Smooth the decoupage after fixing it
When the top coat is dry, sand the surface with sandpaper (400 grit) to remove imperfections. Then, use a damp cloth to wipe off the residue. Do not start sanding until you have passed all coats of finish to completely cover the surface and cutouts.
Step 12. Continue applying the paint or lacquer
The particular effect obtained with decoupage depends on the finishing coats. You have to decide how many to apply. Generally, 4 or 5 coats are applied, but the number may vary depending on the product used. Some artists who delight in decoupage even apply 30 or 40 passes. Remember to let each coat of paint dry before applying the next, and smooth the decoupage every two coats for best results.
Step 13. Finished
Advice
- Check that the thin paper is printed on one side only, otherwise the reverse side design will show when it comes into contact with the glue.
- When the glue is dry, rub your hand across the surface to check that there are no badly glued areas, especially corners and creases. If you have difficulty sticking the paper clippings, it is advisable to brush a thin layer of diluted glue over the entire surface, including the clippings.
- Keep a damp cloth handy to remove excess glue, splashes, and to better compress the edges of the cutouts after gluing them.
- For a better 3-D effect, apply several layers of cutouts; on each of them apply one or more coats of varnish or lacquer before applying more paper. The final layers will look much darker than the first ones.
- Decoupage glue is on sale in art stores, but is a little more expensive than regular vinyl glue.
Warnings
- In the environment where you work there must be no cat, dog or other animal hair, otherwise they could stick to the decoupage.
- Follow the instructions on the packaging of the products you use, including glue or putties. Often, these are flammable substances, which require room ventilation or special precautions.
- In the beginning, practice with clippings and inexpensive items.
