| Decoupage is an old Japanese technique of | | | | just great ideas too. |
| decorating using thirty layers. Today, we don't | | | | Decoupage can be a messy project. If you keep a |
| generally use thirty layers and our decoupage designs | | | | damp cloth near by to clean up messes and keep |
| usually come from magazine pages or paper cut outs | | | | your fingers clean so you don't muddy up the next |
| instead of fancy rice paper and other paper that was | | | | piece that you intend on using. |
| designed specifically for this medium. Now, decoupage | | | | Although decoupage is French for "to cut" sometimes |
| is the art of gluing designs to a box or a piece of | | | | if it better to tear your pictures or papers out. This |
| furniture in combination with special effects, gold | | | | gives your designs a more antique look and they |
| leafing and painting techniques. Each layer is then | | | | sometimes lay down flatter than if you were to have |
| varnished over to get rid of the stuck on look. | | | | cut them. |
| Usually, multiple layers of varnish are used. | | | | Make sure that you always use copies of your |
| Decoupage is a very popular handicraft at the | | | | photos and original documents. That way, if you need |
| moment. There are many different techniques that | | | | that photo or that copy of your marriage license, |
| people use depending on the type of piece they are | | | | then you can still use it when you need. On this note, |
| working on. It is often called the "poor man's art". | | | | never use photos copied from an ink jet printer |
| The list of items that people use are numerous. | | | | either. The ink will just smudge and run. |
| There is not anything that you can't use to | | | | One of the most important things to make sure that |
| decoupage with. Often times, people use napkins, | | | | you purchase when you are starting out are utility |
| stickers, newspaper clippings, scrapbooking papers | | | | knives and a straight edge paper cutter. That way |
| and sometimes even fabric. | | | | your photos will come out straight. Also use the |
| Decoupage is a great get-together activity to do | | | | finest scrapbooking papers for best results. |
| with your friends. You can trade decorations and | | | | Make sure that you give each layer plenty of time to |
| spend hours together hanging out and working on | | | | dry before you apply each layer. If you do not give |
| your projects. Here are some great tips that will also | | | | proper drying time, then your project will look sloppy |
| help to not only improve your decoupage, but are | | | | and unfinished. |