Are you interested in learning to decoupage, but have put it off for whatever reason….It’s messy, I don’t know where to get started, it’s expensive….Fear not – it’s none of those things (well, maybe a little messy!) and it can be a lot of fun! Here are some varied ideas for new decoupage projects that you can incorporate with a handful of materials and your own imagination!
Once you take something more labor-intensive like furniture out of the equation, you’ll find that this artform has a whole lot of possibilities. These are a handful of my favorite projects that you can use for decoration, gift giving occasions, and much more!
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Materials to Get Started
First, the paper material – You won’t have to look far and wide here; things you may have on hand already like gift wrap paper, magazines, napkins…even comic books will provide a good supply of images and, generally, the bold pictures will be easy to cut out (if you’re not saving them for collector’s purposes.)
The substance for affixing them, mainly something like Mod Podge
Trinket Boxes
Get yourself some boxes – either old shoeboxes, or some pre-shaped ones from craft stores. Boxes provide interesting results when done with decoupage. Here’s an example of a box I decorated once many moons ago…this cute heart-shaped box came from Michaels or a place like that at the time. I just used pieces of old drawings, magazine clippings, and some odds and ends.
I think I was in high school when I made this, it was something I did just for fun! Some of these drawings, I think I must have been into paper dolls at some point. I later on finished it off with a coat of Mod Podge.
Three Dimensional Letters
I love this idea I found on Instructables, a collection of images used to make a name or word sign. The creator used already premade letters and pages from comic books to create this…I like it, what do you think? I’m thinking about doing something like this myself as I have some of my late husband’s comic books stored away that I think would be great to use in such a project.
Image credit: Infinite Crafts
I thought of this idea as I was attempting to sell some of these comic books with mixed results – the ones that I’ve got, I feel like, are too good to just discard. This is a great way to make some art with something that might have otherwise ended up in the trash!
Yes…You Can Decoupage On Clay!
If you haven’t tried it yet, you should….this post I found is all the proof you need. Something thin like a cocktail napkin or tissue paper would be ideal as it will conform to the shape of the sculpted object, and make a nice imprint all around the perimeter of it. Application of the varnish should follow.
Then, the rest is up to you…you could turn it into a refrigerator magnet, a paperweight, cnady or jewelry dish…it’s all up to you.
Image credit: hobbyman.se
Oh btw, I love the shade of blue used there.
Decoupage Empty Bottles
I love this idea personally because it only takes a few really interesting cutouts if you’ve got a unique bottle that’s getting the “treatment”. Arrange the cutouts manually without gluing first for practice and to see if the arrangement agrees with your sense of design.
I like the idea of having one large main cutout and a few smaller related image cutouts that complement the main one. When you’ve got the layout just like you want it, then start applying the glue and affix your images. Bravo!
Picture Frames
Picture frames make great decoupage fodder – for best results, choose one that has a smoother design without lots of flourishes so the art cutouts will adhere better. As you need to see how the frame will look once upright, it’s a good idea to attach your cutouts loosely with small pieces of tape to work out their positioning.
Remember to remove the back and glass before starting work; if any. Try to wrap your cutouts over the edges of the frame. You may want to prop up your frame to be certain that you have gotten into all the nooks and crannies with varnish.
Image credit: Maximas
I love this approach I found, also on Instructables…all different kinds of paper media in a similar color scheme, what do you think?
Make sure that you have newspaper below to catch any drips and gently wipe drips from the underside with a cloth. I usually use wax paper under items I am trying to dry, or aluminum foil as they don’t stick. Leave it in position for a couple of days to dry thoroughly.
Hope you enjoyed! May this guide will be a source of inspiration for you concerning fun and easy decoupage projects if you’re a beginner! Have fun ❤️️ .
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