What's the best way to decoupage wooden furniture?

Question

It's a nightstand and its matching dresser that have been painted white. (flat paint) I want to add paper cutouts of Dora the Explorer to it for my neice.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

I like to wet the objects to be decoupaged by misting them with a little water because it is easier to get out the bubbles and have them lie flat. Simply put down a coat of decoupage medium on the surface, put the image on the medium, smooth and put another coat of the medium on top of the image. The easiest way to smooth the image is either with a credit card or a brayer. Depending on the depth you desire, put up to 8 coats of decoupage medium on top of the image, allowing each coat to dry in between. If you have brush strokes or bubbles, use steel wool between coats after they dry. Finish with a couple of coats of non-yellowing polyurethane to protect the surface.

A little short cut I've used in the past that works well, is to spray the back of the image with spray adhesive, like Super 77 instead of coating it with decoupage medium. It enables you to reposition for a few minutes and usually sticks better without having bubbles under the image.

Answer 2

I need more info to answer this. What is the furniture in question? Is it painted or stained? What are you wanting to put on it--fabric or paper?