Decoupage is nothing but decorating an object by gluing colored paper cut-outs onto it. You can also give it special paint effects such as gold leaf as well as other decorative elements. Objects like a small box or any furniture can be decoupaged by covering cut-outs from the magazines. Even purpose manufactured papers are also used for this purpose. Varnishes are used to seal each layer so that the “stuck on” appearance disappears and finally it looks like the painting or inlay work. Normally, 30 to 40 layers of varnish were used in the traditional techniques which were then sanded to a polished finish. There are also different kinds of decoupage available such as 3D decoupage and Pyramid decoupage.
How to do decoupage?
The word decoupage is taken from the French verb decouper which means ‘to cut-out’. This technique can be used to personalize almost any of the items in your house. However, you have the freedom to choose the designs that could be either simple or complex according to your taste. There are wide varieties of supplies available for decoupage. But if you want to make it simple then you can select any item from your house so that you can start simple projects right away. You will need only basic materials as well as tools.
Some of the popular items in your home that can be deoupaged are:
- Boxes, vases, and pots
- Plates, trays, and bowls
- Lamps and lampshades
- Furniture and any objects
- Frames and mirrors
These items can be already available in your house or you can buy some objects that were bought exclusively for decoupage like plain simple wooden boxes as well as frames. As for the papers, you have several pictures at home itself for this purpose from which you can cut pictures out of it. Some of them are:
- Wrapping paper – comes with ideal thickness and widely used as it is available in a multitude of both traditional and up-to-date designs.
- Wallpaper
- Magazines/catalogs
- Decoupage papers – these are readily available especially for this craft in several designs
- Greeting cards
- Fabric
- Paper Napkins
- Origami papers – these are small square sheets of paper that come with mini designs as well as patterns on it.
- Copyright-free sourcebooks- In this, you will find all types of pictures.
In case, you are doing it for the first time, then select the pictures that have a clear outline. These pictures will be easy to cut out than those with blurred edges. If you don’t want to cut the original picture then you can take a color photocopy or scan them and print it.
The best glue to use for decoupage is decoupage glue that is available in the craft shop. This can be used as glue and also varnish. Apart from this, you can use PVA glue, spray glue, and varnish. If you require a matte finish then use gloss for every coat as it will eliminate cloudiness. After using that, you can use matte varnish as a final coat.
Some of the tools used in decoupage are scissors, craft knife, soft sponge/cloth, sandpaper, and cotton wool buds. All these tools will be available in your local shop art and craft shops.
Now you are all set for decoupage. First select the item, cut out the necessary designs or pictures by using a craft knife, arrange the pictures, glue the pictures in place and varnish the pictures. Your decoupage object is now ready.
Benefits of decoupage
- It is an easy and fun-filled art form that became popular right from the 18th century.
- You can use this technique to decorate a wide range of items like frames, furniture, mirrors, lampshades, and lamps, etc.
- The decoupage is so simple that you need not have any prior experience.
Initially, you will be doing 2D objects then you can go on to do 3D and Pyramid decoupages. - You can learn to do this during your free time.
- When you go for classes at CSDO, they will teach you step-by-step so that you can easily learn to do smaller projects well and then go on for big projects.
Thus, the decoupage is simple and you can learn it very easily. Most of the materials that are available in your home can be used for making decoupage and you need not have to buy. Thus, saves your cost. CSDO also offers this course through which you can become an expert.