Decoupage is the art of cutting out paper images and applying them to various objects and even walls. It originated in Italy and France in the 18th century and became highly popular in England in the 19th century as a suitable handcraft for Victorian ladies. However, though the techniques are traditional, the results can be as shabby chic and vintage or as modern and funky as you prefer depending on the images you choose.
You will need to prepare the base so that it's smooth. It's best to start with easy objects with flat surfaces that are already clean - like trays or new, cheap, wooden furniture. Bare new wood will require a coat of shellac to stop the sap seeping out, but that's easy in comparison with the work required to prepare an older piece for decoupage ... though if you have the time it's a great way to recycle old objects.
Then comes the fun bit - choosing your images - whether you go for vintage styleor prefer more modern images, there's plenty to choose from - the only limit to collecting your scraps for this craft is your imagination. To cut out your images use scissors, a craft knife or even a scalpel for intricate detail. Take great care at this stage because any awkward or badly cut shapes will really show up on the finished article.
The next step is to glue your images to your base - a bit like traditional scrapbooking. Use starch or white glue for preference - gum glue can give a brownish tinge. Apply the adhesive to the base, not the paper. Then place your image in position, face up, and smooth it down, working from one side to another to make sure no air bubbles are trapped beneath the paper and that the edges are properly pressed down. Then wipe it over with a damp sponge or cloth and remove any excess adhesive around the edges. If you're using larger scraps then you may like to smooth them down with a roller, again working from the centre outwards, as quickly as possible before any air bubbles form as these may become compressed into creases.
The final stage when completing your handcrafted article is to varnish the piece. The varnish must be thick enough to leave a completely smooth surface so the edges of the paper scraps cannot be felt - you'll need to apply about 10 coats. Modern acrylic varnishes dry quickly and are clear, though you can always tint them with pigment - to give that vintage look for example - if you wish. Then why not team your decoupage piece with some of our vintage-style bunting - for that truly authentic shabby chic look!
As you can see, the basic techniques of decoupage are - like scrapbooking - really easy - just requiring a degree of care and time. But, like scrapbooking, the art is in arranging the pieces to form a pleasing composition. The way to tackle this is to arrange your pieces first on a flat surface, then shift them around until you like the design you've created. Then following this design, fix the pieces to your base with a little blu -tack or sticky tape. Fix tracing paper over the top and trace your design as a final record of where the scraps should go. Then finally peel back the tracing paper a little at a time and glue your scraps one by one, replacing the tracing paper to check the positioning.
Helen Dickson is the owner of the Party Bunting Store. She designs a wonderful range of party bunting and other great downloadables for you to print. Many of her designs are based on real vintage fabrics, so realistic that once you've decorated the room with your bunting your friends won't be able to tell the difference. She also offers a two great ranges of alphabet bunting - wonderful for kids rooms or personalizing messages. Visit her site at http://www.partybuntingstore.com
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