How to Decoupage: Learn Decoupaging

Image by Flickr User CreAtions2007

Decoupaging is a great way to decorate your art using varnish, glue and a few of your favorite clip art and paper designs. For those who aren't as artistic in the painting department, it can be a great way to decorate your art without having to create your own designs from scratch. Best of all, decoupage allows you to decorate almost anything from pottery to fabric to picture frames and much more.

What you will need:

• Something to decoupage on. This can include fabric, paper,frames,scrapbook albums and pottery.
• Your art. This can include clip art, magazine clippings, old catalog clippings, lace or fabric and any other paper like items that you would like to decorate your items with.
• Scissors.
• Craft Glue. A simple craft white glue can be used. Simply dilute it with a bit of water to make it more fluid in texture.
• Popsicle Stick or smoothing tool.
• Paint Brush
• Sealer. This can include a lacquer or acyclic adhesive.
• Rice or wax paper.

The process:
1. Spread your rice or wax paper over your work station.
2. Cut out your paper clipping so that they appear exactly as you would like them to appear on your decoupage items.
3. Take your liquid glue mix and brush over the area to be decorated.
4. Take your clippings and apply them to the glued area until the are securely attached.
5. Take your lacquer and generously apply an even coat to your clippings.
6. Continue to apply more clippings following steps 3 to 5.
7. Allow to dry for about a hour.

The key to decoupage is to have your clippings appear as if they are apart of your item. If you can still see the clippings' edges or they appear to not have blended thoroughly with your canvas, continue to add your varnish until they appear to have become one with your canvas.