Decoupage

http://www.favecrafts.com/Techniques/Mod-Podge-Basics-from-Plaid
Mod Podging Basics or how to get a perfect decoupage project every time

Special thanks to Plaid, makers of Mod Podge, for sharing these instructions with us.

Wrinkles are a common problem for many Mod Podge beginners. Please read these instructions thoroughly for hassle-free Mod Podging. We promise that if you follow these instructions, you will have success and be a very happy Mod Podger!

Gather These Supplies – You will ALWAYS need these items on hand for any project. It is assumed with all of the instructions in this book that you have the following items at your disposal: Mod Podge, paper towels, foam plates or palette, scissors, craft knife and mat, water basin, craft glue, ruler and tape measure, pencil or pen, sandpaper.

1. Prepare surface

Almost any surface can be used to create a decoupage project. Appropriate surfaces include wood, papier mache, terra cotta, tin, cardboard, glass and craft foam. Only SOME plastics are suitable for decoupage – we recommend testing a small area before completing your entire project to make sure that the Mod Podge will adhere.

Here are some surfaces that may need some extra attention in their preparation. All other surfaces can be decoupaged without any preparation, although you should always make sure that the surface you are working with is clean and dirt free.

Glass – Wash and dry with a lint free cloth to remove surface oils.
Tin – If it is an older tin surface, clean with a 50/50 vinegar and water solution. A wire brush can be used on stubborn rust spots.
Wood - Sand unfinished wood surfaces with fine grit sandpaper until smooth. Fill any holes with wood putty and sand again. Wipe clean with a damp paper towel.

You don’t have to, but you will want to paint many items before decoupaging if your surface is unfinished. We recommend FolkArt or Apple Barrel Acrylic Paints for basecoating.

Prepare Items to be Mod Podged
Most items, especially thicker papers, are ready to be Mod Podged as is. Here a few tips you should know before beginning.

Fabric – Wash and dry the fabric (do not use fabric softener). Iron and then lay out on a covered work surface. Wax paper is preferable for covering your table. Using a brush, paint a light coat of Fabric Mod Podge onto your fabric.

Allow to dry. This will allow you to cut the fabric like paper without frayed edges.

Paper – If you are working with thinner sheets of scrapbook paper, it may help to spray your paper with a clear acrylic sealer before Mod Podging. Spray both sides and allow to dry before using.
Tissue Paper – There is nothing that you need to do to prepare tissue paper, but just be advised that because it is so thin, it is very difficult to Mod Podge without wrinkles. The good news is that wrinkles are typically part of the charm of using tissue paper and add a little character to your surface. Mod Podge tissue paper carefully so that it doesn’t tear.

2. Plan your design
Cut out your paper or whatever it is that you are planning to decoupage. Experiment with design elements to determine the layout of your piece. Add interest to your design by using large and small pieces, layering and overlapping elements and coordinating colors.

3. Adhere your design
Adhere each element with the Mod Podge finish of your choice. Always start with the underlying design elements and work your way upward. Apply a medium coat of Mod Podge to the surface. Too little Mod Podge and you will get wrinkles – you can always wipe away excess Mod Podge. Place your item(s) to be decoupaged on top of the Mod Podge and smooth thoroughly.

Keep smoothing until all of the bubbles are removed.

When working with large pieces, smooth from the center outward. Air bubbles can be removed with the Mod Podge Tool Set. Use the squeegee with smaller items such as trays – it was developed specifically for getting into corners.

Use the brayer for larger items such as furniture.

Wipe away excess Mod Podge with your brush.

For very small elements, brush adhesive onto the project surface and apply each element with tweezers.

Note: Once you have adhered all your elements to your surface, allow the design to dry for NO LESS than 15 minutes before moving to step 4.

4. Seal your project
Add a protective coat of Mod Podge to your project using a sponge or flat brush. Allow to dry and then repeat. The number of coats you finish with is up to you, but we recommend at least two.

For a very smooth finish, wet a piece of #400 grit sandpaper with water and sand lightly between coats. Wipe dry and polish with #0000 steel wool on the final coat.

To avoid tackiness, use a clear acrylic spray.

5. Add embellishments
Once your project is dry, add embellishments as desired. Adhere them with a suitable adhesive such as hot glue, craft glue or epoxy.

Mod Podge Dimensional Magic can also be used as an embellishment. Dimensional Magic creates a raised surface similar to an epoxy sticker. It can be used on top of a Mod Podged surface, on top of a painted surface and works especially well with jewelry.

Your project is now complete! Allow it to dry for 24 – 48 hours before using.

Find our favorite decoupage projects in this collection of Decoupage Ideas + 3 Tutorials