It is possible to give a piece of furniture or household object a new lease on life.Cut or tear the paper or fabric.Apply the material with a clear-drying glue.Put more glue on it and let it dry.Decoupaging wooden furniture or terra cotta pots for the garden is a fun craft once you've gotten the hang of it.
Step 1: You can protect your workspace from messes by covering it with paper.
There are sheets of newspapers or cloth on the floor.Cleanup will be easier if you prevent damage to your work surface.An apron or an old t-shirt can be used to protect your clothes.
Step 2: Pick the material you want to apply.
Paper and light fabric can be used to cover your surface.The paper is decorative and a good weight.Wallpaper Magazines, catalogues, greeting cards, fabric or paper napkins, and Pages from old books are some of the types of material that can be used for decoupage.
Step 3: You can choose the surface you want to decoupage.
You have a good idea of what you want to do with the item.You might want to change a chair, mirror, or box.You can apply a coating to wood, metal, glass, or ceramic.Considerupaging includes vases or pots, plates, trays, mugs, or bowls.
Step 4: Cut the material to fit the object.
Use a craft knife or sharp scissors to cut the paper into shapes.If you want a rustic look, tear the material so it has rough edges.Decide if you want to place a few pieces or a lot of them.You might just want to cut 3 large pieces of paper that fit in 3 drawers.If you're decoupaging a small box, you might want to rip a variety of materials and overlap them on all sides of the box.
Step 5: Put a small amount of glue in a dish.
You can buy decoupage glue online or at a craft supply store.If you want to buy just glue, choose PVA glue since it will dry clear.Set a small amount on your work surface by pouring it into a dish.If you prefer, you can use a glue to make the item and apply a standard varnish later.If you can find a spray glue that is clear, you may be able to use it.
Step 6: Attach the material to the surface with a brush.
The paint brush or foam brush should be put into the dish.Press the piece onto the object if you're decoupaging a small item.If you want to spread glue directly on the object, use the brush.If you brush the glue onto an entire draw, you can quickly press the material onto the surface.
Step 7: If you want to protect it, dry it and varnish it.
Before you use the item, leave it in aventilated space and let it dry.If you want to protect the item from peeling, spread another layer of glue across the entire surface and let it dry.You can buy a varnish that is glossy or clear.
Step 8: If you are going to stain or paint the furniture, you should fill the holes with sand.
Remove the hardware from the furniture and lightly sand it with medium-grit sandpaper if you want to apply a new coat of paint.Remove the dust and fill the holes with wood filler.Sand the filler to smooth any bumps.Each time you sand the furniture, wipe the dust away.
Step 9: If you want to make the furniture look better, apply primer or paint.
If you want to change the look of the furniture, apply a primer and let it dry.Put your choice of paint on.latex paint will bubble and blisters when you decoupage, so you should avoid it.
Step 10: It's a good idea to clean and dry the furniture.
Allow the furniture to dry for at least 24 hours before you start.It's a good idea to wipe the furniture clean if you're not painting it.Allow it to dry completely.
Step 11: Cut out the material you want to apply.
You can cut the paper or fabric with scissors or a craft knife.If you're decorating a room, you can cut wallpaper or tear book pages.
Step 12: Decide where to put the material.
It's a good idea to plan where the pieces of paper and fabric will go if you're decoupaging a large piece of furniture.If you want to see where they're positioned before you glue them to the furniture, lay them out.If you'll be making a patchwork effect with lots of smaller pieces, a plan is helpful.
Step 13: Put glue on the furniture and apply the material.
Put the paint brush or foam brush into your glue and spread it over the furniture.Place the paper or fabric on the glue and use your fingers to smooth it out.If you're decoupaging a large piece of furniture, avoid coating the whole thing in glue before placing some of the material on it.You won't have a chance to apply the glue before it dries.
Step 14: Continue until you have used all of your material.
If you spread more glue and put more material on the furniture, you don't have to wait for the material to dry.
Step 15: The furniture should be dry for at least 2 to 4 hours.
Leave the furniture to dry in aventilated space once you've finished decoupaging it.Before applying a varnish, the furniture should be dry.The manufacturer's instructions about drying time will vary by product.
Step 16: The furniture should be sealed with another coat of glue.
Put a thin layer of glue or varnish on the furniture.It will protect the furniture from wear and keep the materials in place.Let the first coat dry before applying another coat of glue or varnish.
Step 17: The pots should be painted and sealed.
As you wipe them clean, get out as many clean pots as you can.If you want the pots to be colorful, you should paint them with acrylic paint.Then coat the inside of the pot with a sealer.If you don't want to paint the outside of the pot, you'll need to apply a sealer to protect it from water damage.
Step 18: Cut the material you want to apply.
Cut out the design, image, or shape from your paper or fabric and place it on the pot.If you're covering the pot with photos of roses, you should cut the outline of the roses with the stems and leaves.You could tear the material instead of cutting it.To make an abstract design on the pot, you can cut out shapes.
Step 19: To coat the bottom of the material, use a brush.
Attach the paint brush or foam brush to the glue.Cut or torn material should be spread with a thin layer of it.If you want a large, bold image on your pot, just use 1 image.Cut images onto the sides of the pot for a fun pattern.
Step 20: Press the material onto the pot.
Put the material on the pot and smooth it out with your fingers.It may leak out of the sides if you put too much glue on the back.If you have bumps on your pot, use a cotton swab to wipe away the excess.Continue to apply the rest of your materials.If you want to overlap other pieces over the material, you don't need to wait for it to dry.
Step 21: Put a layer of glue on the pot.
Spread the foam brush evenly across the outside of the pot by dipping it in glue.It should be applied with a thin layer so it dries quickly.The pot should be dry.If you want an extra layer of protection, brush on another layer 15 minutes after the base layer has dried.If you've decoupaged thin materials or the pot won't be placed outside, you only need to apply 1 layer.