Basic decoupage techniques for beginners and experienced needlewomen and decorating secrets. What materials do beginners need for decoupage Basics of decoupage

Decoupage is a technique that allows you to transfer finished images to various surfaces. Most often, decoupage is done on wooden household items or decor. But options for decorating candles, ceramic dishes and fabrics using this technique are also common. This method of decoration, compared to others, is the least simple to implement and will not require large expenses. Among other things, decoupage takes much less time and effort than, for example, artistic painting on wood. We invite you to find out how to do decoupage using step-by-step photos.

Features of the decoupage technique

Decoupage is a kind of applique, so it is quite simple to do. The desired picture, applied to paper, is glued to the surface and covered with varnish. Only thin paper products are suitable for this technique. Among them there are three types:

Photo of decoupage bottle

Ordinary paper napkins with a pattern;
Pictures printed on very thin paper using a regular home printer;
Special paper for decoupage. It can be purchased at art and hobby stores.

Photo of decoupage box

Items needed to get started:

Picture. Ordinary napkins are suitable for training. Special paper for decoupage, as a rule, is quite expensive, so you shouldn’t spend it on your very first practice decor.

Photo of priming the board

Photo of applying the napkin

Varnish for coating. You can choose a varnish with a matte or glossy effect.
Photo of the varnishing stage
Brush. A small flat brush made from synthetic fibers works best. If the work is large, then a larger brush will be useful.
Photos of decoration

Making decoupage step by step

Step 1. First of all, the style of future work is determined. A decorative object and drawings for it are selected.

Step 2. Surface preparation. If necessary, the wood is sanded, primed or coated with acrylic paint.

Preparing the frame for decoupage. Photo

Step 3. Cutting out the images. Everything here is extremely simple - you need to cut out pictures from the top layer of napkins along the desired contour. To ensure a smooth transition of napkins into a wooden surface, they are sometimes torn rather than cut. This creates a thin, jagged edge that will blend smoothly into the background.

Photo of surface priming

Step 4. Now you need to decide on the approximate position of the drawings on the object. You can simply apply napkins to the finished surface and evaluate how the design will look on the finished product. When the placement plan is ready, you can proceed to the next step.

Photo of white paint coating

Step 5. Gluing the image. Decoupage differs from conventional appliqués in that the glue is applied not to the back of the image, but to the front of the image. First you need to attach the picture to its placement location. Then, glue is applied on top of it with a brush. It is best to start from the center of the drawing. A napkin soaked in glue may begin to stretch and tear, so you need to be very careful at the gluing stage. This step is repeated with all drawings for the item. After this, you need to give the product time to dry.

Photo of brushes for decoupage

Step 6. When the glue has dried, you can add any drawings with a brush and paints to the pictures. Acrylic paint and a thin nylon brush are best suited for these purposes.

Decoupage glass jar

At first glance, it may seem that this technique is difficult to perform, but this is not at all the case. With the proper level of training and the availability of all the necessary materials, anyone can handle decoupage. Knowing what is decoupage and how to do it. They will help you quickly master the technique, and step-by-step photos will allow you to imagine what products can be made.

In this article I would like to cover in detail the decoupage technique. Convenient master classes will help even beginners master this needlework.

The pleasant-to-hear word “decoupage” immediately evokes associations of something elegant and beautiful. That’s right: the things touched by this art amaze with their special charm. And, what’s most interesting, absolutely anyone can master the decoupage technique. Let's talk in this article about how this miracle happens.

Decoupage technique for beginners

The decoupage technique has its basics things beginners need to know:

You can glue the picture in different ways, but the best way is smooth it out from the center to the edges. There should be no bubbles or folds to begin with.
It is recommended to glue using the old proven method, that is PVA glue. It will hold the drawing very tightly

IMPORTANT: Do not try to do everything quickly - it is very important to let the furniture dry thoroughly. And not with the help of a hairdryer, but in a natural way.

Don't neglect acrylic paint- this way the image does not look alien, and the thing itself becomes more elegant. Apply paint preferably with a roller

How many layers of varnish should there be? As a rule, the best results are obtained when there are two layers. Moreover, before applying the second one, you must wait for the first one to dry.

IMPORTANT: Construction varnish will work, but acrylic is preferable, as it is odorless and does not cause allergies.

It is useful for beginners to know that acrylic paints and varnishes are washed off with plain water during the first 24 hours after work. Thus, not entirely successful work can be easily corrected
Whatever the idea, the thing must go through the preparation stage. It includes cleansing both from various types of contaminants and dust.

IMPORTANT: It is advisable to use a solution containing alcohol, however, just a damp cloth will do.

As for the types of techniques, then there are few of them:

Classic - This is when the picture is attached using a dry, wet or hot method, and then varnished and then polished. You can also tint it

Artistic or smoky- looks like a real painting thanks to the successful combination of the picture with the background

Reverse - recommended for processing transparent surfaces
Gluing occurs on the reverse side of the item being decorated.
Decopatch or patchwork - in other words, similar to a patchwork quilt

IMPORTANT: Decopatch can be achieved on any materials, but beginners are recommended to use special paper.

Volumetric - very similar to relief painting. Fabric and so-called structural paste will help with this. They also use a material that is very similar to eggshells

What you need for decoupage: tools, materials

First of all, it's yourself decoupage object. And it can be anything from furniture to small plates. Any surface is allowed - wood, glass, fabric, plastic, ceramics, porcelain, metal

IMPORTANT: It is better to take the first steps in decoupage on wooden surfaces.

Napkins special for decoupage with images to suit your taste

Cards for decoupage— they are a little more difficult to work with than with napkins, but the paint on such cards is of good quality. Beginners are recommended to purchase cards on rice paper - they are thin and durable, and do not stretch when working.

Scissors It is recommended to use those that are small in size and have rounded ends - this will guarantee that small parts can be cut out of thin paper without any problems
Brush you need a flat one, the width is desirable within a centimeter or two - varnish and paint are applied to such tools simply excellent. And keep in mind that the larger the item being processed, the larger the brush should be

This brush is what you need for decoupage

Glue - as previously mentioned, PVA is still desirable, although you can purchase special glue for decoupage just for fun

IMPORTANT: Usually, after gluing a picture, craftsmen treat it with paints and varnish. Sometimes the adhesive properties of the varnish are enough, but it’s better to keep PVA with you.

Varnish - and again a flight of fancy is guaranteed. Matte, glossy, acrylic, diamond glitter effect and craquelure - a choice for every taste. The advantages of decoupage varnishes are that they are odorless, do not turn yellow over time and, which is important during the work process, do not allow brush marks on the surface
Sandpaper - an indispensable assistant in preparing the surface for work
Primer It is also advisable to purchase, as it perfectly levels the surface and helps reduce paint costs. The best choice is an acrylic non-toxic water-based primer

Decoupage for beginners from napkins: master class

The smooth ceramic surface of the plate is what beginner decoupage artists need. It is still not recommended to eat food from such a plate, but as a decorative item it is incomparable. You will need to stock up:

1. Actually, with a plate
2. Alcohol wipe
3. Napkin for decoupage
4. Stationery file
5. Spray bottle with water
6. Glue
7. Acrylic varnish
8. Acrylic paints
9. Brush
10. Roller

Decorative plate made using decoupage method

Let's get started:

First of all, we take alcohol wipes - they are excellent degrease the plate. After it has dried thoroughly, you need Apply PVA to the entire surface. And leave it to dry again
Now It's time to start making decoupage napkins. You need to carefully separate the first layer with the pattern from it.

IMPORTANT: Many beginners mistakenly believe that the drawing should look up after applying the napkin to the surface. In fact, it is applied with the front part precisely to the surface.

Place a layer on the file so that it does not tear. Then spray it all with water from a spray bottle.
That's all - the file can be applied to the surface of the plate
Next with a roller smoothing is carried out in the direction from the center to the edges. This must be done, otherwise excess moisture and air will interfere with the normal attachment of the image. However, you can do without a roller - a flat brush will serve as a good alternative
Now the file is removed and the remaining moisture is removed an ordinary napkin. You can coat it with varnish or paint, glue three-dimensional elements from colored napkins

Decoupage bottles for beginners

Will come in handy:

1. Bottle
2. Acrylic paints and varnishes, special varnish for decoupage
3. Sketch
4. Alcohol
5. Picture to your taste
6. Sponge or sponge. Preferably several pieces - depending on the number of expected colors

Let's get started:

Alcohol, as in the case of a plate, degrease the surface. The surface dries out
Acrylic paint needs to be poured in some container

IMPORTANT: Paint is applied to the bottle not with a brush, but with a sponge or sponge using blotting movements.

Do not skip this point under any circumstances! It is important to wait until each layer of paint is completely dry. It is recommended to apply two of them per bottle
Fill a deep container with water, Dip a sketch of the drawing there
Try it on How does the sketch fit the size of the bottle?
The glue should be diluted with water from the ratio 2 to 3
Apply this adhesive mixture to the bottle with a brush.. Choose directions from the center to the edges
It is recommended to use a sponge dipped in paint to go over the part of the bottle not occupied by the picture. This way you can achieve smooth transitions
Dry the bottle properly - Only then can a second coat of paint be applied. And let it dry again
Now you need to coat the product with varnish for durability. You can tie a ribbon around the neck

Decoupage furniture for beginners

Real vintage furniture is very expensive, but that’s why decoupage is needed - to imitate antiquity and decorate initially faded furniture. Beginners should start with something big - for example, from the chest of drawers. You will need:

IMPORTANT: If you want to create truly vintage-looking furniture, do not skimp on craquelure varnish. It will give the necessary cracks when drying, which will create the desired visual effect.

4. Bitumen
5. PVA
6. Scotch tape

Let's get started:

First of all, unscrew all metal handles- they will only interfere with work. Most often, chests of drawers are polished - in this case sanding and primer required

IMPORTANT: If the dresser is not polished, do not waste time sanding and priming. It is enough to simply apply acrylic varnish.

Now it's time for gold paint. It needs to dry well

Measure a centimeter from the edges. Apply tape for an hour so that this tape protrudes. It's the same with drawers.

Apply white enamel on top of furniture and on drawer faces

It's time for craquelure- Apply it to the side panels of the dresser
When an hour has passed after applying the tape strips, remove them. The same surface that was previously under the tape must be paint brown

IMPORTANT: Apply brown paint with a sponge - this is how it will adhere best

Part of the chest of drawers painted with enamel process with sandpaper. You need to try until the golden paint shows through.
Cut out those designs from decoupage napkins that you want to stick on furniture. Glue them with PVA and smooth them out. Wait for the glue to dry
Cover the furniture with craquelure again. This time, try to ensure that the craquelure varnish covers the entire surface of the chest of drawers along with the drawings

Wait for the craquelure varnish to dry. Cover the surface with it again. Wait until it dries - after that cracks will begin to appear.
Fill any cracks with bitumen- this is the final stage of work

Glass decoupage for beginners step by step

To start you can try working with a glass jar, a favorite for storing coffee. It is well known that grain or ground coffee will best retain its aroma if stored in a glass container. So, for a themed jar you will need:

1. The jar itself with a lid
2. Alcohol-soaked napkin
3. Sponge and clip for stationery. The latter is advisable if you don't want to get dirty with paint.
4. White acrylic paint
5. Napkin for decoupage
6. Aqualak
7. PVA
8. Flat wide brushes
9. Toothpick and old toothbrush
10. Real coffee beans
11. Burnt umber is a paint that will help create a slight aging effect
12. Twine
13. Bitumen varnish

Let's get started:

First of all, of course, you need degrease the jar with an alcohol wipe

Now The jar is covered on all sides with white paint. Don't forget about the lid

IMPORTANT: The background is applied using blotting movements with a sponge fixed in a clamp - this is convenient and effective.

All this should be good dry out
Now on PVA the drawing is glued. Since the can is convex, the image is best applied in parts. Don't forget about the lid either.

Both the jar and the lid are needed cover with aqualac

The lid should be decorated coffee beans. They are glued with PVA

Now let's make it old. A toothbrush is dipped into the umber, and a toothpick is used to spray onto the jar and lid.

IMPORTANT: Umbra should first be slightly diluted with water.

Now it's all dried, then varnished
If you want to add a little more aging, cover the edges of the lid with bitumen varnish. Some areas of the can can also be coated

Tie the twine- and the jar is ready!

Decoupage for beginners step by step on wood

It's best to start with something simple - for example, from the cutting board. This thing will serve to train decoupage skills and will be used often in everyday life. So, stock up:

1. The board itself
2. Acrylic paint in white and gray colors
3. Decoupage napkin
4. Acrylic varnish
5. Water in a glass
6. PVA
7. Sponge
8. Brush
9. A toothbrush that isn't used
10. Candle
11. Sandpaper

We create beauty:

Apply white paint to the entire outer surface of the board using a pressing motion.. Start application from the top of the board

IMPORTANT: For convenience, the sponge should be cut into 2 or even 3 parts.

Carefully comes off the napkin or that piece of the image is cut out, which is necessary

From the right piece The topmost layer with the picture is separated. This should be done as carefully as possible

Add PVA to a glass of water in such a ratio that the end result is the consistency of liquid sour cream. Place the required piece of the image on the board. Dip the brush into the glass and drop a little solution into the middle of the drawing

The glue needs to be spread over the pattern with a brush.. The pattern should be carefully smoothed out in order to avoid wrinkles and the effect of bubbles.

By a similar principle paste other images

About the edges of the board you need rub the candle

Further paint the edges with gray acrylic paint. Apply it with a sponge using pressing but gentle movements.

IMPORTANT: Do not overdo it with the amount of paint - there should be a little of it.

Gray paint should be applied to the rest of the surface, but this time with light rubbing movements

Sand the edges. Since they were treated with a candle, they will turn white

Now gray paint is applied in a small amount to the toothbrush. Swipe along the stubble away from you - this will make splashes

Splashes - another decoupage trick

And now make splashes of white paint like this

The final stage - varnishing the board

Apply varnish and the Provence style board is ready

Decoupage boxes for beginners

This master class is a kind of basis from which you can build on when creating other boxes. You will need:

1. Blank for the box
2. Flat brushes

IMPORTANT: It is advisable that the brushes are made from non-natural materials

3. Brown acrylic paint
4. Light enamel
5. Toothbrush
6. Candle
7. PVA
9. Rice paper, decoupage card, napkins
10. Patina. As an analogue, it is permissible to use brown oil paint
11. Acrylic varnish
12. Sponge
13. Double-sided tape
14. Various accessories - buttons, lace, etc.

Now you can start:

All irregularities are carefully removed. The surface needs to be cleaned Cover with brown acrylic paint. The box should dry well
Now use a candle to rub all the corners and edges

IMPORTANT: Do not remove excess candles with your hands - it is better to use a toothbrush for this purpose.

The surface is covered with white enamel and dried

Take any metal thing. Use it to scrape off the paint in those places that were previously rubbed with a candle.. Carefully remove excess paint

Dilute the glue in water in a ratio of one to three. Using a wide brush, apply the solution to that area of the box. where the image will be placed
Attach a picture and at the top coat with PVA again. Move from the center to the edges. In this case, you need to smooth out all the unevenness
Remove excess glue with a brush. Leave the workpiece to dry

Soak the cards in advance for decoupage in water
Patina or oil paint corners and edges need to be covered

Now it’s the turn of acrylic varnish. The box needs to dry after this.
The bottom of the box should cover with double-sided tape- fabric will be attached to it

IMPORTANT: Do not forget to pre-moisten this fabric in the adhesive solution - this will get rid of wet threads.

Decorative items also need a preparatory stage. The lace should be soaked in instant coffee with sugar. Then they are slightly wrung out and placed on the battery. No need to rinse

All that remains is to glue the lace, braid and buttons. Preferably with transparent glue

Decoupage for beginners watches

Clock decoupage is great for beginners. Stencils, dials, hands and other watch blanks can be easily found in bookstores or craft stores

So, take the blank. You don’t have to worry about where to attach the arrows - the blanks, as a rule, have holes. There is also a hole for batteries

IMPORTANT: However, you need to prepare the future dial. If it is wooden, sand it; if it is plastic, degrease it.

Now you can start designing the dial. There are absolutely no restrictions - when choosing, focus on the interior features and imagination. They even sell ready-made decoupage sheets in the form of dials.

Glue the image onto the blank. Keep in mind that if the paper is rice paper, there is no need to soak it. Smooth out all wrinkles

Decoupage of tea houses for beginners

What you will need:

1. Wood blank
2. Thin acrylic relief paste
3. Spatula-palette knife, thanks to which it is convenient to apply primer and remove excess
4. Acrylic paints
5. Rice card
6. Matte varnish in the form of a spray
7. Matte acrylic varnish
8. Gel with 3D effect
9. Glue
10. Stencil for future tiles

Let's get started:

First of all, you need prime blank for a house

Cut out from the map the necessary pictures

IMPORTANT: Make a centimeter reserve.

Paste all the images in the right places. However, glue only the middle of the pictures.

Here's why you shouldn't paste the entire image at once. Apply relief paste under the free edges with a palette knife.- this is all done for the volume of the house

You can draw bricks with relief paste. A toothpick will help with this
Using a stencil and volumetric paste , you need to apply tiles
Mix the paints in advance - It may happen that the desired shade is not available in finished form

Now it begins house painting process

For greater similarity don't be afraid to post additional details- lantern, stonework

Paint the lantern and masonry. Add cracks on the walls for credibility

Paint the roof

IMPORTANT: You should not paint the inside of the house.

It is recommended to use dark umber in order to finish the roof - so it will be brighter

Many people who love decoupage things think that only masters can do this art. But masters are not born, but made! Moreover, many of the techniques are quite simple to perform, so you should never be afraid to get creative.

The design of the interior elements dates back to the 17th century. It was then that the gluing of paper appliqués onto furniture, floors, and walls was widely used, so that the varnished appliqués looked like drawings.

Secrets of decoupage for beginners

Decoupage is the art of decorating an interior, various objects, and accessories using cut-out ornaments made of paper, fabric or leather. Its development began in the 15th century in Germany. In the Middle Ages, craftsmen used this type of technology in furniture making.

Decorating furniture using decoupage

It rapidly developed and spread throughout the world, and already in the Victorian era, many independently mastered this unusual art of decoration. Now everyone can create decoupage with their own hands.

DIY furniture decoupage is an inexpensive and effective way to update furniture

Styles and types of decoupage

Decoupage has a large number of styles, many of which have appeared not so long ago.

The decoupage technique is often used to decorate small objects.

The most popular are:

Shabby is chic. It arose at the end of the last century. Its features: colors of light delicate shades, floral patterns, the presence of a worn effect;
Provence. This style is used when decorating an item to look like French antiquity;
Vintage style. Characteristic features are: the effect of aging, the use of new and old objects in combination;
Ethnic styles: Japanese, Indian, African, etc. Decorating objects using the “ethnic decoupage” technique is based on traditional motifs of each individual country. Indian, for example, is characterized by geometric patterns, rich and bright colors;
Simple City. The style is accessible to everyone, since its peculiarity lies in the use of all kinds of available means: magazines, newspapers, children's drawings, etc.;
Victorian. Things are decorated in the classic English style of the era of Queen Victoria;

Old or ugly furniture can be radically transformed with your own hands using the decoupage technique

The decoupage technique is stylish interior items at no cost, made with your own hands, and with pleasure

Time does not stand still, so many types of decoupage are no longer relevant today.

The most popular are:

Classical. It was from this type that decoupage originated. His technique involves gluing paper designs onto a surface;
Decopatch. The item is decorated using small pieces of paper;
Volume. Three-dimensional objects are used for decoration;
Art. The peculiarity of the view lies in the desire to create a holistic image;
Back. This decoupage is done on transparent glass objects. It differs from the classic one in that the ornament is attached to the inside;
. A great alternative to the classic look. Such decoration is done only on fabric items that do not need to be washed at temperatures above 40 degrees.

What and where to buy for decoupage

The first questions that arise before someone starting to create using the decoupage technique are: what to prepare for work and where to buy it all.

As a rule, there are no problems with the assortment of special products for this handicraft in modern stores. But, if they still lack something, there are also numerous Internet services that sell the necessary accessories.

The most necessary materials and tools for any type and style of decoupage include:

blank - an object or surface chosen for decoration;
brushes of various thicknesses and materials, selected depending on the type of work;
acrylic paints and varnish;
special decoupage appliqués, self-cut figures and images or other decoration elements;
glue;
sandpaper for grouting.

Decoupage is a technique for decorating household items, interiors, and furniture using cut out motifs

The decoupage technique allows you to transform surfaces and objects created from a wide variety of materials. This could be: a wall, a leather wallet or handbag, a glass vase, a metal or wooden blank, a fabric bag for storing herbs and much more.

The material, as well as the color scheme of the future product, are selected depending on what style is chosen for decoration. Acrylic paints and varnish are used due to their unpretentiousness. And this is very important, since this is where, as a rule, all work begins. Glue can be used as specialized or universal PVA.

Decorating objects using the decoupage technique is one of the forms of artistic expression of our identity, preferences and interests

All the necessary materials are available to almost everyone, and the technology is not so complicated, so decoupage is quite accessible for beginners.

You can, for example, master several simple techniques for decorating furniture or bottles and candles.

Decoupage furniture

Furniture skillfully decorated using the decoupage technique looks very rich and elegant, regardless of the style chosen for it.

You can decoupage furniture with your own hands in two ways:

Using the entire surface of the object, using the decopatch technique.
Using part of an object - decoration is made using one or two pictures.

Newspaper deco patch on chairs

It’s very easy and simple, for example, you can decorate an old chest of drawers.

Chest of drawers using decopatch technique made from newspapers

The following tools are prepared for this:

paper clippings;
alcohol;
unnecessary rags;
sealant;
brush and sponge;
polyurethane varnish;
leather strips for handles;
glue;
sandpaper.

A chest of drawers of any shape and size is suitable for decopatch

The chest of drawers is cleaned with fine sandpaper, then wiped with a cloth soaked in alcohol and wiped well with a rag. The prepared surface is covered with glue using a brush or sponge. Cut newspapers are thoroughly moistened with water and applied to the surface. It is very important to smooth the glued material well so that there are no air bubbles left underneath it. This is done in the direction from the center to the edges of the chest.After which the entire surface is covered with several layers of varnish, each layer takes an hour to dry.

Decopatch is one of the techniques that is close to decoupage and is often used together with it

Handles, pre-decorated with leather, are screwed onto the finished dry surface to the edges of the drawers and the creatively decorated chest of drawers is ready.

Decoupage chest of drawers

An excellent occasion to master the decoupage technique can be a birthday, wedding, New Year's holidays or any other special event.

Decorated bottles or candles will be an original gift.

Decoupage bottles - an easy way to stylishly decorate your home

The beauty of such gifts is that they are always unique.

Some tips for decoupaging holiday accessories:

To highlight small details and contours, it is better to use contour paints, to fill in the image - stained glass paints, acrylic paints work well on glass and ceramic products;
It is better to take fabrics such as silk, satin, velor or velvet;
Corrugated paper is not used in decoupage of bottles, candles and glasses, as it quickly deteriorates;
Before decorating the bottle, it must be thoroughly cleaned and primed;
In order for the decorated bottle to open well, the neck under the cork is wrapped with thin wire;
It is better not to apply many layers of varnish, glue, foil and napkins to this area;
You should not leave the bottom of the bottle undecorated;
Ornaments cut from napkins are great for candles.

The workpiece is applied to the candle and easily sunk into it using a hot spoon. But you should not hold the spoon on the candle for too long, so as not to deform the product. Having mastered an art form such as decoupage, modern handicraft lovers can not only transform old furniture and accessories, but also feel at least a little like Venetian craftsmen.

Decoupage candles

Even expensive or fashionable things cannot replace handmade items. They may not be as professional, but they will contain a piece of your love. Nowadays there are many types of needlework and techniques. One of the popular ones is decoupage. This is a special method of decoration that creates a painting effect on the surface. Decoupage has a long history. With its help, back in the 12th century, the most skilled craftsmen created masterpieces.

Decoupage allows you to turn any, even the simplest objects or surfaces into original and unforgettable. Using the technique, you can decorate small boxes and bulky furniture, both wooden and glass, plastic, paper or fabric surfaces.

The basics of decoupage are simple - it is an applique that is made from decoupage cards, special or regular napkins with beautiful images, labels, postcards, fabrics with drawings and more. To work you will need some materials and tools.

Materials for decoupage

Glue. You can use special glue designed for decoupage or PVA.
Primer. It will be necessary when performing decoupage on wood. The substance will prevent the paint from being absorbed into the wooden surface. A construction acrylic primer is suitable for these purposes. To level the surfaces, you should get acrylic putty. This can be found in hardware stores. On other surfaces, such as a primer for decoupage, use white acrylic paint or PVA.
Brushes. Needed for applying glue, paint and varnish. It is better to choose flat and synthetic brushes, as natural ones fade. Their size may vary depending on what kind of work you will be doing, but No. 10, 8 and 2 are most often used.
Paints. Useful for decorating backgrounds, drawing details and creating effects. It is better to use acrylic ones. They come in many colors and fit on different surfaces. The paints are water-soluble, so they can be washed off with water before they dry. To obtain translucent shades, thinners are added to them. As an alternative to acrylic paints, you can purchase simple white water-based paint and pigment colors for it.
Blanks for decoupage. Everything is limited by your imagination. You can use bottles, trays, wooden boxes, flower pots, vases, frames, mirrors and lampshades.
Varnish. Needed to protect items from external factors. The object is coated with varnish at the initial stage of work and at the end. For decoupage it is better to use alkyd or acrylic varnishes. For the finishing coat it is convenient to use aerosol varnish, which is sold in automotive stores. But to create craquelure you will have to purchase a special varnish.
Scissors. In order not to spoil the picture, it is worth choosing sharpened scissors with gently moving blades.
Auxiliary Tools. To simplify the work, you should get a sponge, which is useful for painting large surfaces. They will also help create different effects. A roller will be convenient for gluing large or dense pictures. You may need toothpicks, cotton swabs, a toothbrush, masking tape, sandpaper, and a hair dryer to quickly dry paint or varnish.

Decoupage - execution technique

You should prepare the surface of the item you are going to decorate. If it is plastic or wooden, it should be treated with sandpaper. Then you need to apply a layer of primer: PVA or acrylic paint. If you are doing decoupage on glass or ceramics, the surfaces of the objects need to be degreased. You can use acetone for this.

While the surface dries, cut out the desired pattern from the napkin. This needs to be done as accurately as possible. Separate the bottom 2 plain layers of paper. You should only have the top color left.

Apply glue to the surface, attach the image and carefully smooth it out.
Place the image on the surface and apply glue on top. Do this carefully so as not to stretch or tear the picture.
Cover the wrong side of the image with glue, then apply it to the surface and smooth it out.

To avoid the formation of wrinkles on paper, PVA can be diluted with water. It is recommended to smooth the image or apply glue to it from the center to the edges.

When the image is dry, coat the product with varnish several times.

Video - how to do decoupage for beginners

Decoupage is a type of decorative needlework. To update the familiar home environment, the decoupage technique is used. The basis of applied needlework is decorating surrounding objects with ready-made drawings. The closest comparison is an application that every person is familiar with. A variety of materials are used that have a smooth and dense surface.

The basis of needlework is gluing a selected pattern (special or regular napkins, newspaper or magazine paper, fabrics, other materials) onto the surface of almost any product with a dense texture. It is not allowed to use a porous plane. The background is usually painted white to preserve the brightness of the design.

Types of applied arts:

The classic method of decoration involves gluing a picture onto a smooth surface. Various reliefs, slopes, and curves are excluded. After gluing the pattern, the product is treated with several layers of varnish. Then the errors are sanded down with sandpaper to a uniform coating. If necessary, techniques of coloring, tinting, and artificial aging of the material are used.
The reverse decoupage method is used for glass surfaces. In this case, the image in the figure is glued face down on the reverse side, and the order of work is performed in the reverse order.
Volumetric technique combines the techniques of artistic painting and sculptural creativity. In this case, a three-dimensional panorama is recreated on the surface of the object.
The smoky pattern involves a complete combination of motifs on the background and image. As a result, the work is similar to the artist’s original painting.

The decopatch technique is reminiscent of a patchwork quilt, in which the storyline is created from multi-colored images of different sizes that are not connected by color or theme.

Despite the variety of techniques, needlework is quite accessible to beginners who have decided to take up decoupage for the first time.

Necessary tools and equipment

The word decoupage translated from French means “to cut,” so the work requires tools that allow you to cut out and paste the design onto the selected surface. You must first select the item to be decorated.

Basic tools:

manicure scissors with blunt tips;
glue brush, brushes for applying varnish to the surface;
sponges to smooth the paper surface and remove folds;
fine-grained sandpaper;
PVA glue diluted with water;
multi-colored paints, preferably acrylic;
white primer. Acrylic or water-based paint is often used, which is diluted with water to the desired thickness;
drawings for special purposes or independently selected.

To draw small details of the picture, thin natural bristle brushes are suitable. A ruler, eraser, and pencils may come in handy.

For needlework you need thin paper with a pattern printed on it. The following types of material are most often used:

napkins made of three layers, of which only one with a printed pattern is used in work. The material has low strength (it breaks when stretched), so it is necessary to adapt to it when doing needlework. Napkins cost about 15-18 rubles per package;
paper made from rice or mulberry fiber is less susceptible to deformation, but the cost of one element reaches 70 rubles;
paper decoupage cards have low elasticity, so they use the material on a flat surface. Cards cost from 30 rubles.

In addition to special materials, pieces of wallpaper, glossy pictures cut out from newspapers and magazines, and thin multi-colored fabrics are used. Every home has raw materials for handicrafts.

Bottle decoupage for beginners

Decorating glass bottles, which have a smooth surface, is accessible to beginners in decoupage techniques. The result is a beautiful and original container for wine, which can be used for its intended purpose during special and festive events.

As a covering, special napkins are chosen, which are torn to better compose the pattern.

Before starting work, you must completely remove the old label. To do this, soak the bottle in warm soapy water for 20-30 minutes. The surface is cleaned with a metal sponge to remove the adhesive layer. The dried product is thoroughly disinfected with acetone or alcohol liquid.
1-2 layers of acrylic paint are applied to the surface, after which has dried, all irregularities are processed with fine sandpaper. The pasted pattern looks brighter against a light background. If it is necessary to darken part of the surface, use appropriate paints, applied with a soft sponge.
A suitable picture is cut out from a three-layer napkin for decoupage needlework using nail scissors. You can tear out the pattern. In this case, the edges are better connected. The prepared area on the bottle is carefully treated with glue. It is more convenient for beginners to use PVA diluted in half with water. A napkin fragment is glued onto a wet surface, fixing the image from the center to the edges.
It is recommended to smooth the picture with a brush or sponge, “driving away” excess glue. Perform the procedure over the entire surface of the bottle, gluing the drawings in a certain order or randomly. The space between the stickers can be shaded with acrylic paints of a suitable color. It is allowed to add missing details with a thin brush.
The finished drawing is covered with a layer of glue. When the product is completely dry, apply 1-3 layers of clear acrylic varnish on top. In this case, a second layer is applied after the previous one has completely dried. The souvenir is ready. If necessary, it can be washed with warm water.

Furniture Conversion for Beginners

Decoupage needlework allows you to continue using old furniture, updating its appearance beyond recognition.

It is first recommended to disassemble the products into separate fragments. It is advisable to replace or clean the fittings. Glass surfaces must be degreased by treating with alcohol and dishwashing detergent without dyes.
Metal products must be cleaned with an acidic solution (use vinegar and water in equal proportions). Then the dirt is cleaned off with a wire brush.
Wooden products are processed with fine sandpaper to smooth out all irregularities as much as possible.
A primer is applied to the treated surface; after complete drying, it is recommended to clean the surface with zero-grade sandpaper.

Pictures-images are attached to the furniture surface in various ways:

With the standard technique, renovation materials are glued to the surface of furniture fragments. After drying, the area is covered with several layers of colorless varnish.
Reverse decoupage extends to the enhancement of glass surfaces.
The artistic technique gives the effect of volume to the picture. In this case, manual shading of the colored background is performed, combined with the finishing of parts of the pattern.
Using fragments torn out with uneven edges for decoration. Napkins, material that imitates the appearance of plastic, and designer paper are used.
The volumetric technique uses fragments of napkins to create a unique finished picture. After the surface has completely dried, fragments of the image are drawn more clearly.

Step-by-step instructions for decoupage on glass

Decoration on a transparent surface is performed on the outer or inner surface. For example, a vase or bottle is decorated on the outside, since a liquid is poured inside, long-term contact of which with the varnish is not desirable. If transparent dishes are used for eating, decoupage is applied on the opposite side so that microparticles of varnish do not get into the food.

If the working surface is smooth, you don’t have to prime it, but be sure to degrease it. If desired, the background is pre-applied with acrylic paints of the selected color.

Step-by-step instructions for decoupage needlework on glass:

materials and necessary tools are laid out at the workplace;
the image is cut out from a napkin, rice paper or printed on your own using waterproof paint;
a future picture is planned on the glass, the location of the pattern is marked with a marker, so that if it moves, the picture can be returned to its intended place;
the napkin is moistened in clean water and pasted onto a surface pre-lubricated with PVA glue, without waiting for the layer to dry;
It is more convenient to straighten the napkin from the center to the edges in order to smooth out all the folds and level out air bubbles;
carefully lubricate the product with glue diluted in half with water, applying a layer with a soft brush;
when the adhesive base is completely dry, it is recommended to open the decoupage surface with varnish;
The entire product is placed in the oven, gradually heating it to 150°C.

After complete cooling, the glass decorated object can be used.

Dishes can be given the appearance of historical antiquity by covering the surface with many cracks characteristic of antiques. The artificial aging technique is called craquelure.

A quick-drying varnish is applied to a not completely dry painted surface.

Box decoupage

Decorating a wooden box in decoupage style allows you to create a unique souvenir with your own hands. Required for work:

small box made of wood;
It is advisable to dilute PVA glue in half with water;
acrylic paints and varnish;
scissors, brushes with natural bristles;
napkins for decoupage.

The surface of the product should be painted with white paint 2-3 times, allowing it to dry thoroughly each time. Prepare applications from a single sheet or individual components.

The outside surface is covered with a layer of glue. Without waiting for it to dry, fragments of the picture are applied, carefully smoothing the pattern, protecting the product from forming wrinkles. The top of the box is coated with a layer of glue, after which it dries, the box is opened with 2-3 layers of acrylic varnish.

Watch processing

The wooden base of the watch dial is usually renewed. First you need to disassemble the product into its components, separating the arrows and numbers.

The work is divided into 2 stages: decorating the circle along which the hands move, and the outer contour of the clock. The first part of the decoupage is updating the arrow space:

a circle is cut out of paper;
the dial is cleaned and puttied, if necessary;
napkins or rice paper are glued onto the prepared plane, the pattern of which is made in a circle of paper;
the picture is glued to the base, leveling the plane;
the top of the napkin is treated with glue;
after the workpiece has dried, the middle of the dial is covered with a paper circle, and the outer part is decorated;
a structural paste mixed with acrylic paint of the desired color is applied to the surface;
the finished surface is varnished 1-2 times and lightly sanded after drying;
The watch is assembled by inserting the hands and numbers into place.

How to decorate a tea house

Using the example of decoupage of a decorative house “May Roses” for tea bags, the processing of hard-to-reach places is practiced:

It is first recommended to finish the surface of the house with a primer, dry it, sand small irregularities with sandpaper, and cover the working surface of the product with white acrylic paint in several layers. It is recommended to maintain one direction of strokes.
The corners, the plane under the roof canopy, and the figured arch must be painted with background green paint.
For more comfortable work, a napkin with images of pink bouquets must be ironed with a hot iron and then lightly sprayed with aerosol quick-drying varnish.
Paper moistened with water is placed on the file so that the image hangs slightly over the edge.
Smooth out the glued pattern to completely eliminate wrinkles and bubbles.
Cover the surface of the house and the lid, painted green, with several layers of acrylic varnish.

As a decoration, place a butterfly figurine on the roof, and glue a decorative bouquet of roses above the arch.

With each completed job, the master’s qualifications increase. Perseverance and a flight of imagination help make your home beautiful and cozy.