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Decoupage

HSM staff

Decoupage is a great way to breathe new life into old wooden pieces or give new ones a little more pizzazz. The process is easy, but does take a fair amount of time. You'll find that the results are well worth the effort.

MATERIALS

Wooden item to decoupage (frame, box, table, chair, etc.)
#400 sandpaper
Cotton rags
Decorative paper
Cutting mat
Newspaper
Mod Podge
Clear polyurethane
Paint, primer, stain (optional)

TOOLS

Small, sharp, scissors
Craft knife
Foam brush(es)
Bone tool or popsicle stick

The first step in decoupage is to prepare the wooden surface. This process will differ depending on the finish that is already present on your item. For unfinished ones, apply stain or primer and paint to achieve the desired effect- you may also leave I unfinished. For pre-finished ones, use sandpaper to lightly sand the surface to give it some tooth. After wiping the surface clean, you may then choose to add primer and repaint or leave it as is.

Second, you will need to cut out the items you will use to decoupage. Prime the paper’s surface with a layer of Mod Podge first and allow it to dry. This will stiffen the paper making it a little easier to cut. You may find that some areas are easier to cut with scissors and others with a craft knife. There is no right or wrong tool to use, but do use a cutting mat to protect your work surface when using a craft knife. Once your pieces are cut out, lay them on top of your item’s surface and play around with the placement. When you are pleased with the look, proceed with the following step-by-step instructions.

Cover your work surface with newspaper.
Use a foam brush to lightly coat the back of one piece paper with Mod Podge.
Place the paper on the item's surface.
Gently press all the edges down and remove any air bubbles using a bone tool or popsicle stick.
Continue in this manner until all the pieces have been “glued” down.
Use a sponge brush to apply (at least) five even coats of Mod Podge over the paper cutouts and item's surface- allow to dry 15-20 minutes between coats (remember to rinse your brushes out in between coats so that they don't stiffen).
Wet sand with #400 sandpaper until smooth and wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Apply 3-4 coats of polyurethane; allowing to dry, sanding, and wiping clean between each coat.

Tips:

Choose paper that is of a medium weight. Thin paper will tend to tear or fold while thick ones will not adhere easily- wallpapers and scrapbook papers can work well for decoupage.
Select papers with images, patterns, or colors that complement your decor.
Try to cut paper at an angle so that the resulting edge is not as blunt and lays flatter on the surface.
Play around with the technique on a scrap piece of wood before moving on the actual piece to familiarize yourself with the process.

Did You Know?
Decoupage (or découpage) is the art of decorating an object by gluing colored paper cutouts onto it in combination with special paint effects, gold leaf, etc. Commonly an object like a small box or an item of furniture is covered by cutouts from magazines or from purpose-manufactured papers. Each layer is sealed with varnishes (often multiple coats) until the "stuck on" appearance disappears and the result looks like painting or inlay work. The traditional technique used 30-40 layers of varnish which were then sanded to a polished finish. This was known in 18th century England as The Art of Japanning after its presumed origins.
Source: Wikipedia.org

FYI
Decoupage is derived from the French word "decouper" which means to "to cut out".

Resources and Inspiration

The art of decoupage can be used not only on wooden pieces, but on glass, jewelry, and more. Check out Decopatch and see what others have been inspired to create.

Sometimes finding just the right images to use on your project is the most difficult part of decoupage. The Paper Studio has a large assortment of decorative papers that you can view from the convenience of your home.

Some artists have created truly remarkable examples of artwork using decoupage. See more than one hundred pieces create by members of the National Guild of Decoupers.