Beginner Decoupage?

Question

I'm very interested in Decoupage making...I have never attempted anything like this before and wonder if it is very difficult ?or are there any books that would be suitable for a complete beginner...in fact any info you can give me would be a great help I'm sure.. Many Thanks

Answer 1

Decoupage is one of those crafts where the finished product is sometimes deceptive. Depending on what you make, the finished product can be so stunning that it appears to be professionally painted. By looking at the finished product, you would think decoupage would be complicated, but it isn't.
Decoupage is actually quite simple! If you can cut and paste, you already know most of the techniques involved. Basically, you cut out pictures; you glue the pictures onto an object; and then cover the object and pictures with a few coats of glue/decoupage medium to protect it.
Of course, you can buy supplies and other items that are made specifically for decoupage. One of the nice things about this craft, however, is that you can also use supplies that you probably have laying around the house right now.
First, you need something to decoupage a picture onto. You can decoupage pictures to almost anything: furniture, photo albums, shelving, frames, boxes, vases, mirrors, and so on!
Find the item you want to decoupage onto and make sure it is free of dust and dirt. You might want to seal it first; what you use to seal it will depend on what it is made out of. You might also want to paint the item.
Next, you need the pictures to decoupage. The pictures can be cut out of magazines, catalogs, or books. You can print out clip art and poems and verses. The options are endless: cut out pictures from wrapping paper, wallpaper, packages, greeting cards, fabric, etc. You can also buy designed paper made especially for decoupage.
Once you have your pictures and an item to decoupage, you will need to gather a few more supplies. As I said previously, you can use items you probably have laying around your house.
White Glue - Use this as your decoupage medium! Glue your pictures down and seal them. I prefer to dilute my glue with a bit of water.
Popsicle Stick - Used to help smooth out wrinkles and removed excess glue.
Cotton Swab - Used like a paintbrush the spread around glue.
Damp Rag - To wipe up excess glue and other clean up.
you can buy items to use; some are made especially for decoupage.
Decoupage Medium - You can find this in pretty much any craft store. Used to glue the picture to your item and seal it.
Brayer - This is like a miniature rolling pin designed to help remove wrinkles, remove excess glue, and stick your picture down better.
Foam or Small Paint Brush - Used to apply and spread decoupage medium.
Craft Knife - Used to cut out detailed pictures.
Sealer - You can use your decoupage medium or glue as a final coat, or you can use, polyurethane, acrylic spray, etc.

I hope this helps, my mother in-law is really into decoupage, and she suggested that you go to your local library they will have books on decoupage.

Answer 2

The answers you have may be confusing if you do not know that there are two related crafts called decoupage. The flat varnished technique is sometimes called Italian or Ornare decoupage. For this you need to cut your image very precisely. You can use a matching colour paint on the background to help the glued on image to blend on to the surface.

More recently the term has come to be applied to the 3D layered effect used in card making or as deep frame pictures. The best quality printed sheets have images with slight variations rather than being identical and this gives a more realistic look. You can also lightly impress the back of the top layers for a curved realism but not to deep or it will not cover the layer below.

Answer 3

You don't need a book. Decide what you want to decoupage, cut out your pictures, and glue them down with decoupage. You can even put it over the top of the picture. Put it on with a small craft brush. Use a credit card (the ones you don't use that come in junk mail) and squeegee out any air bubbles.

Answer 4

Decoupage is fun and easy. Just choose a
pattern or picture you wish to use, apply decoupage to the back and place picture on surface. Smooth out wrinkles and all air bubbles
and apply more decoupage on top to act as a sealer and finish. If you want to decoupage a
picture take the picture to a copier and ask for
a photo copy. It will work better.

Answer 5

For books, I reccomend you try your local library. There is many books out there that can give you great ideas. Start with something simple such as small wood plaque then work your way up to harder projects. Decoupaging is a simple but fun hobby. Here's a link for Mod Podge, which is one of the most popular medium to use.

http://www.plaidonline.com/apMP.asp

Answer 6

Decoupage is great and can be one or multiple layers, find a picture or stamped image you wish to decopage, for one layer adhere with a strong liquid glue on your surface and then glaze, mod podge is great for this, alternitavely, for 3d decopage, start with 1st layer of the full image, then pick out and cut things you want to stand out, and adhere with 3d foam or glue dots (available from any craft store), then keep building layers upto about 4 or 5 to make your image stand out, the either place in a box frame or on a card. for more info try splitcoaststampers.com they have resources on almost every technique, I wouldn't say you need a book but if you do try search press books they have a nice book on the subject

Answer 7

Decoupage Projects: How To
http://www.allsands.com/home/crafts/decoupageprojec_syh_gn.htm

How To Decoupage
http://www.geocities.com/remedypage/craft/1.html

here are a couple of links that tell you how to get started

Answer 8

Simple, all you need is some repeat pictures, some sticky foam pads and some backing card, sharp sissors or a craft knife and you're away! You can use sillicone glue, but it has to be special for decoupage else you'll get oily marks showing through on your picture

http://www.craftybargains.co.uk/index.aspx?r=DEC

Answer 9

well if your in san diego you can go to artist and craftsman supply and it also depends on what kind of paints you get. but i use oil paint which is more expensive than acrylic paint which i sgood for beginners i went to this store the other day and got 6 oil paints for like 42 buck which is damn good for oil paint..this store is so awesome they sell all the art supplies you can think of nd they are always discounted (dick blick is really expensive) i know this artist and craftsman supply store has othe locations and a website with prices to all the items they sell so you can compare prices.dont go to wlmart they have a really small selection and michaels an get a little pricey but they always have ssales so that a good place to

Answer 10

Interesting that you should ask! I just answered another of your questions.

Decoupage techniques can be used on a number of things. I've started my own business of decorating walking canes for the people, like myself, who dispise those drug store "things."

I think that the gal who wrote the firs response summed up the "in's & outs" pretty well, so I won't go into all those details.

It's fun, very rewarding, and makes you look like an artist even if you don't think you are.

Good luck at it. Feel free to send an email for pointers or for my website. (Grin......)