DECOUPAGE TECHNIQUE

This is wonderful technique to have your colourful and lovely craft. If you like any kind of paints, pictures even photos and would like to see them on the wood objects , decoupage them on to the object.

Decoupage, derived from the French word decouper, meaning to cut out, is the creative art of assembling, pasting and varnishing paper cutouts for decorating objects. Anyone can do decoupage! With time, education and experience the decoupeur will progress from simple designs to complex works of art. 

Materials Required: Object to paint, acrylic color paints , varnish, brushes, sanding paper, undercoat (if your wood object old one or not smooth ), decoupage picture or the color photocopy of any picture you like , decoupage glue 


Steps of work:

Prepare the object as explained above.
Paint the object with main color; except the area which you will stick the picture on. Leave to dry min. 20 minutes
Cut the picture according to shape.
Sand to back side of the picture with the sanding paper..(Bright photocopies, ink jet printouts & thick papers are not suitable)
Spread the decoupage glue with clean brush to back side of the picture and stick immediately on to objcet.
Be careful for air bubbles; weep with clean and dry cloth to stick well.
Spread the decoupage glue in front of the picture as well. Leave to dry.
Complete the picture if it is necessary.
Decorate the object with metallic finger paint.
Varnish with acrylic varnish. .Leave to dry 12 hours.
(If it is to be washed or used in the kitchen: you must use synthetic varnish &

Also varnish minimum 3 times. Wait for 12 hours for each varnish steps)



NAPKIN DECOUPAGE

Materials Required: Object to paint, acrylic color paints , varnish, brushes, sanding paper, undercoat (if your wood object old one or not smooth ), decorative napkin (it must be three layer napkin), decoupage glue

Steps of work:

Prepare the object as explained above.
Paint the object with main color; except the area which you will stick the picture on. Leave to dry min. 20 minutes
Cut the picture from the napkin according to shape.
Saperate two layer of the napkin. You only need last layer which is very thin and with picture.
Spread the decoupage glue with clean brush on to object where you are going to stick to napkin. You don’t need too much glue , only thin coat. and stick the napkin immediately on to objcet. Adjust with you finger very gently tuches.
Be careful for air bubbles;
Spread the decoupage glue in front of the picture as well with very good and dry brushes. Leave to dry.
Put the second coat decoupage glue onto all object when it gets dry.
Decorate the object with metallic finger paint.
Varnish with acrylic varnish. .Leave to dry 12 hours.
(If it is to be washed or used in the kitchen: you must use synthetic varnish & Also varnish minimum 3 times. Wait for 12 hours for each varnish steps)



3 Dimensional Decoupage

This craft is the art of taking a number of identical art prints, cutting, shaping, moulding and mounting the cut pieces with silicon gel to give elevation and create a three dimensional effect. In Canada Australia and the US it is usually known as Paper Tole. In Japan it is known as shadow box.

What and where to cut is determined by careful study of the subject matter. The subject is divided into background, middle and foreground and the layers added so as to promote the foreground to prominence by using more layers.

This art is related to decoupage in that the base print is glued down to a backing board or onto a three dimensional object, and some of the same finishing techniques can be used. Decoupage however, normally uses selected parts from many different prints. A simple three dimensional project can be accomplished with as few as three or four identical prints, a highly detailed print can use any number depending on the effect required by the individual artist.

This craft is not new but has recently seen a strong upsurge in popularity. Virtually any art print can be used to make a three dimensional picture but those with hard edges and strong contrasts within the picture are the easiest to do as they offer the best cutting options. Flowers are the most popular subject by far. The most intricate are animals or birds. Specialist techniques have been developed to cope with the problems raised by fur and feathers. These techniques are extremely detailed and intricate taking intense concentration. The finished results however can be breathtaking.