Decoupage is a type of decorative needlework. To update the familiar home environment, the decoupage technique is used. The basis of applied needlework is decorating surrounding objects with ready-made drawings. The closest comparison is an application that every person is familiar with. A variety of materials are used that have a smooth and dense surface.
The basis of needlework is gluing a selected pattern (special or regular napkins, newspaper or magazine paper, fabrics, other materials) onto the surface of almost any product with a dense texture. It is not allowed to use a porous plane. The background is usually painted white to preserve the brightness of the design.
Types of applied arts:
- The classic method of decoration involves gluing a picture onto a smooth surface. Various reliefs, slopes, and curves are excluded. After gluing the pattern, the product is treated with several layers of varnish. Then the errors are sanded down with sandpaper to a uniform coating. If necessary, techniques of coloring, tinting, and artificial aging of the material are used.
- The reverse decoupage method is used for glass surfaces. In this case, the image in the figure is glued face down on the reverse side, and the order of work is performed in the reverse order.
- Volumetric technique combines the techniques of artistic painting and sculptural creativity. In this case, a three-dimensional panorama is recreated on the surface of the object.
- The smoky pattern involves a complete combination of motifs on the background and image. As a result, the work is similar to the artist’s original painting.
The decopatch technique is reminiscent of a patchwork quilt, in which the storyline is created from multi-colored images of different sizes that are not connected by color or theme.
Despite the variety of techniques, needlework is quite accessible to beginners who have decided to take up decoupage for the first time.
Necessary tools and equipment
The word decoupage translated from French means “to cut,” so the work requires tools that allow you to cut out and paste the design onto the selected surface. You must first select the item to be decorated.
Basic tools:
- manicure scissors with blunt tips;
- glue brush, brushes for applying varnish to the surface;
- sponges to smooth the paper surface and remove folds;
- fine-grained sandpaper;
- PVA glue diluted with water;
- multi-colored paints, preferably acrylic;
- white primer. Acrylic or water-based paint is often used, which is diluted with water to the desired thickness;
- drawings for special purposes or independently selected.
To draw small details of the picture, thin natural bristle brushes are suitable. A ruler, eraser, and pencils may come in handy.
For needlework you need thin paper with a pattern printed on it. The following types of material are most often used:
- napkins made of three layers, of which only one with a printed pattern is used in work. The material has low strength (it breaks when stretched), so it is necessary to adapt to it when doing needlework. Napkins cost about 15-18 rubles per package;
- paper made from rice or mulberry fiber is less susceptible to deformation, but the cost of one element reaches 70 rubles;
- paper decoupage cards have low elasticity, so they use the material on a flat surface. Cards cost from 30 rubles.
In addition to special materials, pieces of wallpaper, glossy pictures cut out from newspapers and magazines, and thin multi-colored fabrics are used. Every home has raw materials for handicrafts.
Bottle decoupage for beginners
Decorating glass bottles, which have a smooth surface, is accessible to beginners in decoupage techniques. The result is a beautiful and original container for wine, which can be used for its intended purpose during special and festive events. 
As a covering, special napkins are chosen, which are torn to better compose the pattern.
- Before starting work, you must completely remove the old label. To do this, soak the bottle in warm soapy water for 20-30 minutes. The surface is cleaned with a metal sponge to remove the adhesive layer. The dried product is thoroughly disinfected with acetone or alcohol liquid.
- 1-2 layers of acrylic paint are applied to the surface, after which has dried, all irregularities are processed with fine sandpaper. The pasted pattern looks brighter against a light background. If it is necessary to darken part of the surface, use appropriate paints, applied with a soft sponge.
- A suitable picture is cut out from a three-layer napkin for decoupage needlework using nail scissors. You can tear out the pattern. In this case, the edges are better connected. The prepared area on the bottle is carefully treated with glue. It is more convenient for beginners to use PVA diluted in half with water. A napkin fragment is glued onto a wet surface, fixing the image from the center to the edges.
- It is recommended to smooth the picture with a brush or sponge, “driving away” excess glue. Perform the procedure over the entire surface of the bottle, gluing the drawings in a certain order or randomly. The space between the stickers can be shaded with acrylic paints of a suitable color. It is allowed to add missing details with a thin brush.
- The finished drawing is covered with a layer of glue. When the product is completely dry, apply 1-3 layers of clear acrylic varnish on top. In this case, a second layer is applied after the previous one has completely dried. The souvenir is ready. If necessary, it can be washed with warm water.
Furniture Conversion for Beginners
Decoupage needlework allows you to continue using old furniture, updating its appearance beyond recognition. 
- It is first recommended to disassemble the products into separate fragments. It is advisable to replace or clean the fittings. Glass surfaces must be degreased by treating them with alcohol and dishwashing detergent without dyes.
- Metal products must be cleaned with an acidic solution (use vinegar and water in equal proportions). Then the dirt is cleaned off with a wire brush.
- Wooden products are processed with fine sandpaper to smooth out all irregularities as much as possible.
- A primer is applied to the treated surface; after complete drying, it is recommended to clean the surface with zero-grade sandpaper.
Pictures-images are attached to the furniture surface in various ways:
- With the standard technique, renovation materials are glued to the surface of furniture fragments. After drying, the area is covered with several layers of colorless varnish.
- Reverse decoupage extends to the enhancement of glass surfaces.
- The artistic technique gives the effect of volume to the picture. In this case, manual shading of the colored background is performed, combined with the finishing of parts of the pattern.
- Using fragments torn out with uneven edges for decoration. Napkins, material that imitates the appearance of plastic, and designer paper are used.
- The volumetric technique uses fragments of napkins to create a unique finished picture. After the surface has completely dried, fragments of the image are drawn more clearly.
Step-by-step instructions for decoupage on glass
Decoration on a transparent surface is performed on the outer or inner surface. For example, a vase or bottle is decorated on the outside, since a liquid is poured inside, long-term contact of which with the varnish is not desirable. If transparent dishes are used for eating, decoupage is applied on the opposite side so that microparticles of varnish do not get into the food.
If the working surface is smooth, you don’t have to prime it, but be sure to degrease it. If desired, the background is pre-applied with acrylic paints of the selected color. 
Step-by-step instructions for decoupage needlework on glass:
- materials and necessary tools are laid out at the workplace;
- the image is cut out from a napkin, rice paper or printed on your own using waterproof paint;
- a future picture is planned on the glass, the location of the pattern is marked with a marker, so that if it moves, the picture can be returned to its intended place;
- the napkin is moistened in clean water and pasted onto a surface pre-lubricated with PVA glue, without waiting for the layer to dry;
- It is more convenient to straighten the napkin from the center to the edges in order to smooth out all the folds and level out air bubbles;
- carefully lubricate the product with glue diluted in half with water, applying a layer with a soft brush;
- when the adhesive base is completely dry, it is recommended to open the decoupage surface with varnish;
- The entire product is placed in the oven, gradually heating it to 150°C.
After complete cooling, the glass decorated object can be used.
Dishes can be given the appearance of historical antiquity by covering the surface with many cracks characteristic of antiques. The artificial aging technique is called craquelure.
A quick-drying varnish is applied to a not completely dry painted surface.
Box decoupage
Decorating a wooden box in decoupage style allows you to create a unique souvenir with your own hands. Required for work:
- small box made of wood;
- It is advisable to dilute PVA glue in half with water;
- acrylic paints and varnish;
- scissors, brushes with natural bristles;
- napkins for decoupage.
The surface of the product should be painted with white paint 2-3 times, allowing it to dry thoroughly each time. Prepare applications from a single sheet or individual components.
The outside surface is covered with a layer of glue. Without waiting for it to dry, fragments of the picture are applied, carefully smoothing the pattern, protecting the product from forming wrinkles. The top of the box is coated with a layer of glue, after which it dries, the box is opened with 2-3 layers of acrylic varnish.
Watch processing
The wooden base of the watch dial is usually renewed. First you need to disassemble the product into its components, separating the arrows and numbers. 
The work is divided into 2 stages: decorating the circle along which the hands move, and the outer contour of the clock. The first part of the decoupage is updating the arrow space:
- a circle is cut out of paper;
- the dial is cleaned and puttied, if necessary;
- napkins or rice paper are glued onto the prepared plane, the pattern of which is made in a circle of paper;
- the picture is glued to the base, leveling the plane;
- the top of the napkin is treated with glue;
- after the workpiece has dried, the middle of the dial is covered with a paper circle, and the outer part is decorated;
- a structural paste mixed with acrylic paint of the desired color is applied to the surface;
- the finished surface is varnished 1-2 times and lightly sanded after drying;
- The watch is assembled by inserting the hands and numbers into place.
How to decorate a tea house
Using the example of decoupage of a decorative house “May Roses” for tea bags, the processing of hard-to-reach places is practiced:
- It is first recommended to finish the surface of the house with a primer, dry it, sand small irregularities with sandpaper, and cover the working surface of the product with white acrylic paint in several layers. It is recommended to maintain one direction of strokes.
- The corners, the plane under the roof canopy, and the figured arch must be painted with background green paint.
- For more comfortable work, a napkin with images of pink bouquets must be ironed with a hot iron and then lightly sprayed with aerosol quick-drying varnish.
- Paper moistened with water is placed on the file so that the image hangs slightly over the edge.
- Smooth out the glued pattern to completely eliminate wrinkles and bubbles.
- Cover the surface of the house and the lid, painted green, with several layers of acrylic varnish.
As a decoration, place a butterfly figurine on the roof, and glue a decorative bouquet of roses above the arch.
With each completed job, the master’s qualifications increase. Perseverance and a flight of imagination help make your home beautiful and cozy.
What is decoupage? Decoupage is the perfect hobby. With it you can create works of art from wood, glass, ceramics, stone and many other materials. In this case, you do not need to be able to draw, sculpt or carve; all that is needed for decoupage is imagination, the ability to see beauty in simple things, patience and the desire to transform.
Historical reference
Since the 15th century, this technique has been used to decorate furniture in medieval Northern Europe. Later, when trade with the east flourished, decoupage was used to counterfeit Chinese and Japanese furniture painting.
This decoration technique became especially popular in France, hence the roots of the name; “decoupage” is a French word meaning “cutting” and reflects the whole essence of the process of decorative technique.
French mademoiselles loved to decorate their boxes with idyllic pictures in the style of Boucher or Watteau. To this day, the most popular designs for decoupage are floral motifs in romantic colors.
Decoupage as a decoration technique
What is decoupage today? In the context of the modern handmade world, decoupage is a simple and inexpensive technique for decorating various items, from furniture to tiny accessories. In order to transform an ordinary surface, you need to select a ready-made drawing made on thin paper, cut it out and glue it to the selected object. This is decoupage.
It sounds surprisingly simple and crude. It would seem, where is the art here? What item would benefit from having some kind of design glued onto it? But not everything is so simple - decoupage is not simple, and you can’t do it without an artistic approach to the matter.
A correctly selected, carefully cut and beautifully designed design can give a second youth to pieces of furniture and decor. A beautiful Christmas ball will be an original gift for the New Year; On Easter you can surprise your loved ones with beautiful Easter eggs; A uniquely designed bottle of wine will decorate any holiday table.
All this can be done with your own hands and without any special costs using a decoration technique called decoupage. The photos presented in this article only open the door to the magical kingdom of decoration.
Necessary materials
The following materials are required for decoupage.
- The surface to be decorated is any object that is planned to be transformed. It's best to start with smooth, level surfaces, such as a box, cutting board, flower pot or bottle. Degreasing liquid or wet wipes to clean the surface from stains, dust and grease.
- Ground coating; for glass and ceramics, a layer of acrylic paint is enough; for wood, it is best to use a professional primer, and apply the paint after the primer layer has dried.
- Designs suitable for the selected surface. Napkins, newspaper and magazine clippings, or even pre-printed drawings are suitable for this purpose.
- Scissors; It is best to use small thin scissors to more accurately cut out small details of the design. You can cut out designs using a stationery blade.
- Decoupage glue or PVA glue.
- Set of brushes and sponges; Instead of sponges, you can use small pieces of sponge, which are convenient for applying a primer layer of paint to the surface. A flat brush made of artificial fibers is most convenient for smoothing the paper while applying a design to the surface, and thin brushes are necessary for applying additional lines and finishing touches.
- Fine sandpaper or very fine polishing paper is especially necessary when working on wood.
- Acrylic varnish for the finishing layer.
Of course, you will need a number of containers for paints, a palette, masking tape and a container of water. The above materials are enough to master the decoupage technique. However, there are a number of additional accessories and materials used in this technique: various kinds of sparkles, gilding, varnishes for artificial aging (craquelure) and sandpapers for polishing and rubbing.
DIY decoupage
For the first works, it is best to decorate objects with smooth and strong surfaces, use PVA glue (it dries transparent and is easily washed off) and drawings made on napkins. In this case, even if the first attempt at decoupage comes out lumpy, you can carefully wash everything off the surface with water and try again.
In terms of technique, decoupage for beginners is no different from professional decoupage - the same tools and materials, the only difference is in manual dexterity, knowledge of textures and the ability to foresee the end result.
The main task when applying a pattern to a surface is to glue it so that no folds, lumps of glue or air bubbles form under it. To do this, the drawing is moistened with water and smoothed over the surface using a wide flat brush. This is not easy, especially considering how easily a wet napkin tears. It may take several attempts before the drawing fits perfectly.
One of the little tricks is to apply the design using a plastic file. To do this, the drawing is placed “face down” on a regular file (not in the file, but on top) and smoothed out using a brush and water. The design must be completely covered with water and fit tightly to the file, without wrinkles.
Using a file, the design can be easily applied to a surface coated with PVA glue. The main thing is to carefully remove all the water from under the file after application; you can use a spatula or a soft towel for this. This method is convenient for working on wide and flat surfaces.
Decoupage of glass objects
In modern needlework, turning bottles into objects of art occupies a separate and honorable place, but not only bottles can be transformed using the decoupage technique. With your own hands, you can create unique and bright things from ordinary plates, vases, glasses and jars that will become home decoration or a wonderful gift for loved ones.
Used bottles can be transformed into exquisite vases and souvenirs using only acrylic paint, glue, varnish and selected designs on paper. Decoupage makes you see the potential in familiar and boring things and turn them into unique ones. It is this attitude towards surrounding objects that best answers the question “what is decoupage.”
Easter decoupage - photo master class
The Internet is replete with various options for coloring eggs for Easter, and Easter decoupage offers a new approach to this interesting tradition.
Using the decoupage technique, you can decorate wooden, plaster and plastic blanks, as well as eggs, which will then be eaten. Boiled eggs are best decorated with a paste made from starch or flour, and coated with egg white for shine; thus, no harmful chemicals are used when dyeing Easter eggs.
Decoupage furniture
Once the answers to the question “what is decoupage” have been received, and your hands are familiar with the basic steps, you can move on to a more complex level and start decorating furniture using the decoupage technique. The master class on decorating pieces of furniture is different in that it is more reminiscent of the restoration process, turning grandma's old chest of drawers into a work of art.
Do-it-yourself decoupage of furniture items is associated with higher financial costs, since more material and processing time are needed. A piece of furniture, be it a chest of drawers, a stool or a table, is larger in size than the accessories, so the quantity of material increases, as does its quality.
In order to achieve the appearance of vintage antique furniture, in addition to the decoupage technique, it is necessary to master artificial aging techniques, which require a lot of time and additional materials.
New Year's decoupage
When the level of proficiency in decoupage techniques has moved from beginner to intermediate and is confidently moving to new heights, you can try decoupage of a fragile Christmas tree toy. To do this, you need to select materials. New Year is the most suitable occasion to use sparkles and rhinestones to create a festive composition.
The toy may be an old and boring relic in need of restoration, or purchased at an art supply store specifically for painting. It could be a ball, a Christmas tree or a symbol of the New Year. You shouldn’t limit yourself only to Christmas tree decorations; you can decorate with candles, bottles of champagne, glasses and even a tablecloth for the festive table.
Master class “Entertaining decoupage or DIY magic”
Author: Neverova Oksana 16 years old.Supervisor: Voronkina Lyudmila Artemyevna, teacher of additional education MBOUDOD DTDM g.o. Tolyatti.
This master class is intended for teachers, parents, and children over six years old.
Target: make a product using decoupage technique;
Tasks:
- Introduce basic techniques for making decoupage;
- Learn the history of decoupage;
- Arouse interest in modern types of arts and crafts
Purpose: interior decoration, gift.
Today, “handmade” things are incredibly popular, it is fashionable to give unique gifts, and decorate clothes and interior items in unusual ways. It’s hard not to succumb to a fresh trend, and now a strong desire is already arising in your soul create beauty with your own hands. The easiest way to achieve amazing results when creating exclusive and spectacular handmade items without lengthy artistic preparation is to get acquainted with decoupage.
Decoupage– a technique for decorating interior items, fabric, wood, glass using paper appliqué. The word decoupage is French and means "cut out". The essence of the decoupage technique is that an image cut out of thin paper is pasted onto the surface of an object, which is then varnished, resulting in the illusion of painting. The more inconspicuously the application is made, the higher the level of skill of the decorator. A decorative pattern for decoupage can be cut out from a regular paper napkin, label, magazine, or you can use special napkins for decoupage.
Decoupage activity is creative and exciting That is, you will not only have a pleasant time creating new and unusual things, but you will also be able to give unique gifts to your loved ones or decorate your home.
Due to the fact that the most common material in decoupage is a three-layer napkin, in many countries decoupage is called "napkin technique".
Do you still doubt that paper napkins can give new life to everyday items?
Then see how an ordinary hardware box from new furniture turns into a magnificent work of art!
For work we need
Hardware box (randomly caught my eye)
White ceiling paint (water-based)
Two three-layer napkins
Scissors
PVA glue
Synthetic brush
Acrylic lacquer
Let's prime our box with white paint
Let's let it dry
We choose a motive, i.e. the design you want to see on this product. I have this napkin with flowers. Separate the top layer (the one with the pattern), the other two layers (white) are not needed.
Cut out the floral motif
Let's grease our box with PVA glue
Let it dry a little - about two minutes
Then we try to glue the napkin evenly, i.e. Apply PVA glue evenly and smoothly. We try to ensure that there is no air under the napkin (we expel it if bubbles form)
When the glue is applied to the entire surface of the napkin, just gently move the brush over it to remove excess folds (only VERY carefully, because the napkin is very thin and breaks easily).
So, now the napkin needs to dry, or rather the glue applied to it
Let's prepare paint to match the background tone (yellow gouache, white water-based emulsion)
Paint over the remaining field.
Let it dry thoroughly (or blow dry)
Cover with clear acrylic varnish.
We admire
The purpose of our box may be different
Flower pots
Book organizer
There's always something you can put in, if only there was a box
I wish you creative success.
If anyone is interested, please get acquainted with the history of decoupageHistory of decoupage
The history of decoupage begins in the Middle Ages. This decoration technique was invented in the 12th century by Chinese peasants who used thin colorful paper to decorate various objects. At the end of the 15th century in Germany, people started talking about decoupage as an art form. In the 17th-18th centuries, when the fashion for the “East” appeared in Europe and beautiful lacquer Chinese furniture was very popular, the decoupage decoration method aroused great interest among people. Moreover, the demand for lacquer furniture from China was so great that sellers began to produce fakes, mastering the technique of decoupage. Decoupage became known throughout Europe
VENICE
In Venice, the passion for the decoupage technique was called “the art of the poor.” Venetian craftsmen decorated furniture by gluing cut-out images onto its surface and covering the images with a protective layer of varnish. Using the decoupage technique in Italy, stunningly beautiful interior items were created, which were no less in demand than expensive oriental furniture, but cost much less. Nowadays such furniture is rare and very expensive; many modern furniture designers imitate this style.
FRANCE
In France, decoupage was especially fashionable among the high nobility during the reign of Louis XVI. Many famous works made using decoupage were destroyed during the French Revolution. In the Victorian era, decoupage entered the everyday life of the general population of England, where special pictures for cutting with images of flowers and angels began to be printed. It was convenient to cut them out and use them to decorate various interior items. Decoupage was brought from England to America, where it became widespread between the First and Second World Wars.
RUSSIA
Nowadays, the ancient technique of decoupage has become fashionable and famous all over the world again. Using the decoupage technique, clothes, accessories, and interior items are decorated. In Russia, interest in decoupage appeared at the beginning of the 21st century, when this technique became widespread.
Products created with your own hands have always looked and will look much more elegant and colorful than things that are expensive and fashionable. There may not be anything professional or experienced about them, but thanks to them you can feel that they were made with love.
Today there are tens of thousands of varieties of handicrafts and decoration techniques in the world. One of the most common types is decoupage, which allows you to apply decor to the product in such a way that it feels like it has been painted.
This type of decor was invented more than nine centuries ago and is still considered one of the most sophisticated. The decoupage technique can be seen step by step in the presented photos.
This technique gives any thing absolute originality and unforgettableness. You can use the decoupage technique on any interior items, such as furniture, various boxes or watches, whether they are made of wood, glass, plastic, paper or fabric.
The main feature of decoupage is applique, that is, a design that is applied to napkins, cards, fabrics or other products. In order to start decorating, you will need various devices and elements of materials.
Materials
Glue. There is glue for decoupage or you can use regular PVA.
Priming. It is an important tool when working with wood, as it prevents the paint layer from being absorbed into the wood. An excellent solution would be an acrylic primer. Sold at any hardware store. For other surfaces, you can use regular acrylic paint or the same PVA glue.
Brushes. Required for working with paint, glue or primer on a surface. A flat silicone brush is the best choice because natural brushes tend to shed. Standard brush sizes for decoupage are No2, 8 and 10.
Dye. Indispensable when working with backgrounds, small decorative elements and designing various effects. Just like primer, acrylic paint works great. This type of paint is highly soluble in water, and if you don’t like something while decorating, you can easily wash it off.
To create a translucent effect, you can use a thinner. As an alternative to acrylic paint, you can choose water-based paint.
Preparation of the product. Here you need to use your imagination, since absolutely any thing in the house is suitable for decoupage, be it bottles, wooden boxes, flower pots, glass vases and frames, fabric lampshades and much more.
Varnish. The best solution to protect the final product from random factors, such as sun rays. The product must be varnished at each stage of its decoration. The best choice would be alkyd or acrylic varnish.
Aerosol spray varnish can be used when the product is 100% ready. Sold at any hardware or automotive store.
Scissors. You need sharp scissors with a smooth motion, otherwise the picture can be ruined.
Additional tools. This can include a sponge for painting a large area or giving various effects. A roller that will help glue fairly dense elements, as well as masking tape, sticks or toothpicks, fine-grain sandpaper and a hair dryer.
Decoupage technique for beginners
Let's conduct a short master class on decoupage techniques: before decorating, you need to prepare the surface of the product, namely, go over it with fine-grain sandpaper if the material of the product is made of wood or plastic.
At this stage, while the surface of the product is drying, you can prepare paper decorative elements made from napkins in the form of a pattern. Particular attention should be paid to precision and accuracy and to use only the very top colored layer of the napkins used.
Next, the picture must be glued to the product. There are several ways to do this:
- Coat the surface with glue, apply the image and press it until completely dry.
- Apply glue directly to the picture pressed to the surface of the product, but do this with great care, as there is a possibility of damaging the picture.
- Apply glue only to the paper product and then press it to the surface
To ensure that there are no bubbles or wrinkles left in the drawing, the glue should be diluted with water. Apply glue to the image or smooth the pattern to stick it to the surface only from the middle to the edges, this way the image will remain in place and will not tear at the wrong moment. A box made using the decoupage technique will be an unsurpassed product.
Photo of decoupage technique
Our master class today is exclusively for beginners. I will tell you where to start so that your efforts are not wasted. After all, as often happens, there seems to be a desire, and there are enough useful materials with textbooks, and the “first pancake” can at once discourage all the best undertakings.
And if you are still in thought and don’t know which type of needlework to choose, then my arguments, I am sure, will help you decide.
Let me start with the fact that decoupage (or napkin technique) is the simplest, most inexpensive decoration technique accessible to everyone, suitable for absolutely any surface. You can decorate everything with decoupage - from a hot stand to your grandmother's wardrobe. After such a transformation, the item not only looks very beautiful (as if hand-painted), but is unique in every sense. You will soon see this for yourself!
The first thing you should know when starting the decoupage technique is the properties of materials. What they are, why they are suitable or not suitable for you for certain purposes. This simple knowledge, although simple at first glance, has many nuances that a beginner should remember.
Acrylic paint is the most important thing. This is where the main work begins. You can use acrylic purchased at specialty stores, or regular water-based interior construction paint. By the way, in the future you will see that construction paint is ideal for one-step crackle in decoupage. But be careful - construction paint should not be dispersive, otherwise it will not adhere well.
In decoupage, special glue is used (for decoupage) and regular PVA (diluted by 1/3 with water). Both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Specialized glue is ideal for the job because of its consistency, but it costs several times more than PVA (the disadvantage of PVA is that it adheres worse).
Varnish. Decoupage uses a special decoupage varnish and water-based acrylic varnish for construction.
Due to its consistency, decoupage varnish is ideal for coating decoupage surfaces.
Construction varnish is also well suited for these purposes. In addition, it is sold at any hardware store. But you need to keep in mind that when using construction varnish, decoupage requires more thorough varnishing than when using specialized varnish.
Glue varnish for decoupage (2-in-1) is suitable if you just want to understand what decoupage is. This glue is easy to use because (as you guessed) it performs two functions simultaneously.
Additional materials:
Putty. You can purchase it at any hardware store. Perfect for correcting defects on wooden products and creating 3D decoupage. Which is very convenient, since this inexpensive method eliminates the need for artists to purchase expensive 3-D gels to create volumes.
Structural paste also copes well with various defects in products and creates volume.
Color. In this capacity, you can use ordinary artistic gouache by adding it to acrylic paint. Gouache produced by “Nevskaya Palitra” has proven itself well in work, retaining its properties for a long time.
At Nevskaya Palitra you can also purchase acrylic pearlescent paints “Perlamex” and “Metalex” with glitter, wonderful metallics for giving the product effects of gilding, silvering and others.
Of course, for a beginner there is no point in purchasing a large number of paints, colors, etc. at once. This is expensive and impractical. But you should always have a couple of shades of light gold and dark gold on hand. I really don’t recommend buying Decola paints because of their short shelf life.
An alternative to a specialized color scheme for decoupage is its analogue, which is sold in regular hardware stores. It is indispensable when painting large areas - such as a closet or chest of drawers, for example. The colors of burnt umber and autumn foliage are well suited for this type of work. The cost of construction colors is low (two times cheaper than acrylic paints), and the efficiency is no less.
Brushes and sponges. Medium sized flat synthetic brush. Indispensable for final application of varnish.
Sponges can be used instead of brushes when applying acrylic paints to the surface of a product.
Rollers are very convenient for smoothing decoupage cards or napkins.
Spatula for working with putty.
Sandpaper copes well with roughness when working with wooden products and in cases where it is necessary to remove the ends of the napkin protruding beyond the edge of the product. I advise you to purchase the most common types of sandpaper - No. 240 and No. 280.
I will specifically focus on the decor for decoupage. It includes:
Special napkins for decoupage
Napkins for table setting (three-layer)
Rice paper
Printouts made on a laser printer
Each option has its own advantages, but I would advise beginner decoupage artists to start with napkins (regular or for decoupage). They are simpler and easier to use.
Today we will take the first steps into the endless world of decoupage possibilities. Let's start with the simplest product.
Hot stand:
We will need:
Hot stand
Napkins for decoupage
White acrylic paint
Glue varnish
1. First sand the workpiece with sandpaper.
2. Cover with the first layer of acrylic paint.
3. Dry well with a hairdryer at a distance of 20-30 cm or leave until completely dry.
4. Sand again.
5. Apply a second layer of acrylic paint (don’t forget to paint the side of our stand!)
6. Cut the napkin to the shape of the stand.
7. Remove two protective layers.
8. For gluing we use a stationery file. To do this, place a napkin in the middle of the file, fill it completely with water and smooth out the bubbles with a brush - from the center to the edges.
9. Blot excess moisture with a napkin.
10. Apply the file with a damp cloth to the base and carefully remove it.
11. Apply glue or adhesive varnish to a damp cloth.
12. Dry with a hairdryer or leave until completely dry.
13. Remove the remaining napkin that extends beyond the edges of the stand using sandpaper (“zero” or “two”).
14. Apply another layer of adhesive varnish, which will allow us to secure the napkin for hot use.
15. We do the same on the other side.
16. At the end of the work, if desired, the edges of our stand can be aged using the aging effect.
Helpful tips when working: decoupage without folds
Without having much experience in decoupage yet, you may encounter the fact that when gluing the napkin, it puffs up and gathers in folds. Now I will show you several ways to avoid this.
Method A: (only suitable for small areas of the napkin)
1. If our napkin consists of three layers (which is most often), remove the two bottom layers, leaving only the top, colorful one.
2. Using your hands (not scissors!), tear off the desired fragment of the napkin - in this case, it organically merges with the main background of the product, which creates the illusion of a pattern.
3. Cover a fragment of a napkin with glue, moving from the center in a circle. The resulting small wrinkles can be smoothed out by slightly lifting the napkin and then smoothing it out. You need to act very carefully, because a wet wipe is very fragile.
4. Excess napkin extending beyond the edge of the product can be removed using sandpaper. But only after the napkin dries well!
Method B:
1. Separate the colored layer of the napkin.
2. Apply it to the product.
3. Place a dot in the center of the napkin with a brush dipped in water.
4. Carefully lifting the napkin, we continue to saturate the motif with water in a circle, starting from the center. Here you need to be very careful so as not to accidentally damage the napkin at some point.
5. If, when wet, the edges of our napkin go beyond the edge of the product, then they can be removed with your hands while it is still wet. We will sand the small parts later with sandpaper when the napkin is dry.
6. We fix the still damp napkin with glue, while barely touching its surface with the brush.
7. Leave until completely dry.