Decoupage - first acquaintance

Needlework is becoming more and more popular every year. People try to diversify their lives by bringing a little color to their home. Unique handicrafts are appreciated all over the world. Tired of all mass stamping, masterpieces are gradually being replaced handicrafts... Today we will talk about decoupage - an art that amazes with its diversity and beauty.

What is decoupage

Decoupage is an art that is based on decorating various objects such as furniture, interior items, kitchen utensils, etc. For this, special paper drawings, various laces, photographs are used, which the masters glue on the object and fix with special means. This kind of art attracts more and more creative people, as it captures from the first minutes.

For example, in the modern education system, the main goal of which is the comprehensive development of children, it is increasingly recommended to include needlework lessons in the curriculum. Decoupage allows you to develop motor skills, imaginative thinking, creativity, a positive attitude to life, teaches you to see the beauty around you. In addition, children are given a chance to show themselves and thereby increase their self-esteem.

Adults also liked this type of needlework. Many needlewomen, making unique crafts, have a decent addition to the official salary. That is, decoupage can be not only a hobby, but also a way of earning money.

Where to start studying decoupage

Those who have ever seen works using decoupage technique will certainly think about the process of creating such exquisite products. At first glance, it seems that it is quite difficult to do something like this on your own. But this is debatable. Let's talk in more detail about how to achieve excellent results in this type of needlework.

Where do you start? Of course, with the study of decoupage techniques, its types and the main stages of the workmanship.

There are 5 types of decoupage. These include:

• back;
• straight;
• art;
• deco patch;
• volumetric decoupage.

Experienced craftsmen know the following techniques and techniques to help create various effects on the product:

• craquelure;
• patination;
• lace effect;
• marmorization;
• scuff effect;
• shading;
• toning;
• gold leaf.

With the theory familiarized, then it's time to start practice.

What you need for decoupage

Before you start creating a masterpiece, you need to prepare all the tools. What exactly?

• The basis. This can be a book, a flower pot, any piece of wood, furniture, candles, a bottle, a kitchen board, etc. The main thing is that the base is not too dark, otherwise the applied drawing will change color and may look ugly.

• Paper motive. Most often, paper napkins with beautiful patterns and special paper for this type of needlework are used. If they are not available, you can get by with newspaper clippings, paper for wrapping gifts and other materials at hand. It is important that the drawings are printed on thin paper and do not spread when glue is applied.
• Scissors. If there is an opportunity and desire to engage in this type of art in the future, it is better to purchase special scissors, but if not, it is quite possible to get by with ordinary sharp scissors.
• Brushes, 1-2 cm in size. They are suitable for applying both varnish and paints.
• Glue. Professionals use special professional glue, and for a beginner, ordinary PVA diluted in half with water will be enough.
• Varnish. Here it is worth thinking about what effect you want to achieve. For example, to make the product shine, it is recommended to cover it with a glossy varnish; for the aging effect, a matte varnish is used. In the case when furniture is the basis, experienced craftsmen recommend taking care of the correct coating in advance, since only moisture-resistant varnish can ensure the safety of the pattern for many years.

As you can see, the list of the main tools that will be needed to create a unique product using decoupage technique is not that long. Of course, it can be supplemented constantly. For example, various rhinestones, decorative elements, acrylic paints for painting and complementing the applied composition, primer, thermal tapes, brushes of different sizes are often used. But the above list includes all the basic elements that will allow a beginner to make their first product.

Decoupage ideas

Decoupage is an art direction in which it is very difficult to create two identical pieces. Whatever one may say, manual work is unique in that even repetitions of one master can differ significantly from each other.

A large assortment of drawings and foundations allows you to create masterpieces even on things that are familiar to everyone. Moreover, you can implement design ideas by making several elements in the same style. For example, it can be kitchen utensils that will make the room unique.

The most popular decoupage bases are boxes.

Bottles with alcoholic beverages are in second place in popularity. Such original gifts will be appreciated by everyone.

More difficult are the works associated with the compilation of large compositions. Thanks to decoupage, you can give a second life to old furniture.

Even batteries, decorated with a composition in this technique, look stylish and original.

As you can see, all ingenious is simple. You just need to find all the tools and give yourself the opportunity to plunge into childhood, show imagination and a little perseverance.