A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO DECOUPAGE

Decoupage can add that little ‘je ne ç'est quoi’ to any piece of furniture. With such a variety of designs available of the market, it’s usually choosing a design you want to use that’s the tricky bit!

You can decoupage with a number of different mediums - decoupage paper, napkins and even wallpaper to name a few – and, if you’re anything like me, once you get the bug for decoupaging, you’ll be forever squirrelling away napkins into your shopping basket or trawling the internet for hours looking at the plethora of designs and prints out there!

The following is a step-by-step guide to help you create your own decoupage design using Frenchic Finishing Coat and I have used a couple of napkin prints for this example. Using wallpaper will need a slightly different prep but I will add that at the end should you have some fabulous wallpaper left over that you want to use. If you fancy having a go, don’t forget to take ‘before’ and ‘after’ photographs and, if you want, send them to us. We love to see what other people create and would love to add your work to our Facebook page (if you’re happy for us to). Any questions, then drop us a line. We’ll happily help where we can and offer advice to give you the best results.

Don’t be disheartened if your paper wrinkles, rips or doesn’t look perfect first time around. Like anything worth doing, it takes a little bit of practice although, if you’re really not happy and want to start again, a quick sand, wipe down and repaint will take you straight back to Step 2!

Bonne chance!

Follow the Guide:

STEP 1 -

Prep the surface of whatever it is you want to decoupage on to. If it’s not yet painted, give the surface a key with sandpaper and clean with a Sugar Soap solution. Rinse and allow to dry. Paint with whichever colour you so choose although, a word of slight caution, most napkins (as used in this example) are printed on to a white (or light) coloured background. So, for best results, I’ve always found using a light coloured paint allows for a seamless blend between napkin and background. I’ve used Frenchic Ivory Tower from the Original Range for this example.

Don’t forget: If the surface is already painted, just make sure it’s clean (using a Sugar Soap solution), rinse and allow to dry.

STEP 2 -

Whilst your piece is drying, select what napkin(s) you want to use. I prefer to tear out the patterns as it gives a better blended look between the napkin and the piece of furniture, but there’s nothing stopping you from cutting the patterns out with scissors – it is faster!

Once you’ve got all the pieces you think you’ll want/need, each of these pieces needs ‘splitting’. Napkins are usually ‘three-ply’ and it’s the top, printed layer that you’re after. This will take patience (although a damp finger will often help – just go careful how ‘damp’ you make the napkin as it will rip).

If you’re using decoupage paper then you have none of this to worry about as it’s already suitable for applying straight away.

STEP 3 -

Once your surface is dry, take a paint brush with soft bristles and dip it into the Finishing Coat. Apply to the area you wish to start at and then take your first ‘cut-out’. I apply with my finger to the middle to ‘stick’ it to the piece of furniture and then, gently and with a drop more Finishing Coat, start your brush from the middle and sweep outwards. You’ll need enough pressure to get the napkin to stick and stay flat, but too much pressure and the napkin will rip.

A word of caution: Don’t be tempted to ‘over-work’ the napkin. Once they become wet with Finishing Coat they will rip if you play with them too much. It’s at this stage that you can easily remove the newly applied piece if it becomes overly wrinkled, rips, or is in the wrong place.

STEP 4 -

Continue with Step 3 until you have created the look you are after. When you’re happy, set the piece to one side to dry. It’s very important you let it dry fully before going back to work on it otherwise you run a significant risk of damaging all your hard work.

STEP 5 -

Once it’s fully dry, apply another coat of Finishing Coat across the whole area. The first coats gave the surface adhering properties and ‘sticks’ the napkin down. The next coats (you’ll probably want at least two more, applied only once the previous coat is dry) help seal the surface, stick down any loose edges, and will make the surface waterproof. You can also add more decoupage if you need to, following Steps 3 & 4, then repeat Step 5.

SECRET WALLPAPER TIP: Wallpaper as it appears on the roll is too thick to decoupage with. However, a short soak in warm water (because, let’s face it, sticking your hands in warm water is much nicer than sticking them in cold water!), will allow you to peel and separate the layers of paper, leaving you with just the printed top layer. Once you’ve allowed that to dry off, go to Step 3 and off you go!