Great Ideas For Decoupage Cards

With so many great ways to enhance the beauty of your hand designed decoupage cards it's easy to fall into the trap of applying as many techniques as possible on every project. Seasoned decoupage artists, however, see the value of a simpler, more organic design to help embellish the details of your hand-made cards.

One of your first considerations is which medium to choose. The range of color palate and the richness of texture make Mulberry and handmade paper the ideal mediums for most projects. Of these, handmade paper is especially versatile and pliable. With just a bit of moisture, for example, you can produce eye-catching frayed borders or frames.

If cost is a consideration, you can make your own blank cards and matching envelopes instead of buying prepackaged ones. A sheet of paper folded parallel to the grain will do. But how do I find the grain you ask? Just lightly bend the sheet in each direction. The grain lies in the direction where if folds most easily. Never fold against the grain since the resistance this causes creates untidy fold lines.

Of the many ways to compliment your decoupage, embossing or stenciling are the most common and effective. Similarly though less often thought of, rubber stamps can add a subtle feeling of depth to images by creating a palimpsest-like background layer to your surface image.

For lettering and messages try this embossing technique:

First, wipe the card with a pinch of Talcum Powder so the embossing powder doesn't stick where you don't want it. Next, create your message using ink (whether written or by using inked stamps) and then, while the ink is still wet, sprinkle a frosting of embossing powder over the words. (Prevent mistakes by using a little ink and clear embossing powder.) Finally, apply heat to the powder to melt it. It's best to use a heat gun for this but if you don't have access to one, place your paper on a cookie sheet in a pre-heated oven (325°C). I highly recommend a practice round on a test page, rather than risking scorching your hard work and having to start from scratch. Carefully monitor this process and remove your paper the moment the embossing has melted. Some neophyte decoupage enthusiasts will try using a hairdryer for heat-activation but the results are less than satisfactory.

Some other embellishments your might try? Beads, colored stones, stickers, eyelets, glitters and tassels all can make for wonderful complements. Just let your imagination and sense of taste guide you.

Karen
Decoupage Your Life

For more information on the "New" Decoupage please visit Decoupage Your Life. For Hints, Tricks and Tips on the amazing world of decoupage, Decoupage Your Life is The place!

Great Ideas For Beautiful Decoupage

Decoupage is an art technique used to embellish and adorn objects. It involves applying paper cut outs or pictures in a different number of surfaces such as wood, glass and ceramic to create a beautiful design layout.

With decoupage household items such as picture frames, napkin boxes and candles can be given a new look to match your home decor or turn a plain dish into a sophisticated dinner plate with the theme or design of your choice. Decoupage allows you to get creative with thousands of different objects around your home.

Transform your old and dull furniture and turn it into a beautiful fitting that will make a stylish addition to any room. An old coffee table or even a chest of drawers that has seen better days can gain an uplifting new look and be utilized once again. Use primary colour papers with gold edges to achieve an oriental effect in your designs or use neural colour papers to give your furniture a modern yet classic look.

Low cost yet personalised gifts can also be created. A coffee mug decorated with reindeer and snow flake designs as a Christmas present or a flower theme with paper designs of tulips and roses to fill a photo album cover for mother's day. With so many great ways to transform ordinary items into beautiful creations, your imagination is the only limit when it comes to decoupage.

There are three basic and easy steps for decoupage: to cut, paste and varnish. However, in order to achieve the perfect decoupage there are a few tips that you need to follow:

First of all, before you start make sure the surface of the object is clean and free from any substances otherwise materials will not stick properly.

Second step is to brush decoupage glue onto the surface of the object and start applying your cut- outs carefully until the whole area has been covered. You do not need to apply glue to your paper cut outs as these are delicate and can break easily. Finally, always let all the glue dries thoroughly before applying varnish to realize the aesthetic effect.

As you can see, decoupage is extremely simple but to make life even a little bit easier, you can purchase die cut designs which are perfect for layering and are ready to apply onto any surface, saving you the time and effort from cutting paper designs.

Decoupage materials are available in various online stores or at arts and crafts centres where you will be able to choose from a vast array of designs and colours to match any theme.

Scott King is a consumer specialist who reviews the latest decoupage and other products on the market.