THE MAGICAL WORLD OF DECOUPAGE PART 2 GUIDELINES FOR EXECUTION

     GUIDELINES FOR EXECUTION

     By definition, decoupage is an applied art or craft, but with the help of certain mediums, structural and wax pastes, ink, gold leaf, and other artistic effects, it rises to the level of fine art. 

     If you want to step into the magical world of decoupage, start boldly. The technique is not difficult, but it is learned through practice. It’s perfectly normal if your first one or two projects end up in the trash. The third one will surely turn out better, and each one after that will exceed your expectations. Gradually, you will dive deeper, revealing your own unique style.

     Here’s how to get started:

• Choose your surface and prepare it. If necessary, you can paint it. If not, just make sure it is clean and dust-free, as imperfections become more visible with each layer of varnish.

• Select the details you want to apply and cut them out.

• Arrange the images on the surface. Use tweezers to position smaller details. Do not rush to glue until you are sure you like the composition.

• Find a suitable medium to bond the layers together so that the final product looks good and remains functional.

     ADDITIONAL EFFECTS

     Once you master the basics, you can continue to experiment with various additional effects:

• AGING – You can give your item an antique look after decorating it with decoupage in several different ways.

1. With a one-step or two-step crackle medium. One-step crackle medium is applied between two layers of acrylic paint in different colors and cracks the top layer. Two-step crackle medium is applied as a final self-cracking varnish over the decorated surface. The cracks created with the two-step crackle can be emphasized by applying antique pastes in a contrasting color.
2. With paraffin (candle wax). Once the first layer of acrylic paint is dry, coat it with paraffin. Apply a second layer in a different color on top, and after it dries, sand selected areas lightly.

• RELIEF – You can add an extra dimension to your decoupage by combining it with relief effects. This can also be achieved in various ways.

1. Relief from lace – Lace texture can be a beautiful finishing touch when decorating with decoupage. It is glued in the same way as other elements. If you want to stiffen it, you can coat it beforehand with decoupage relief paste. This will make the relief deeper and give it a stone-like appearance.  
2. Relief with stencils and structural pastes – EM ART offers a range of reusable stencils, as well as decoupage paste for stencils. The paste is applied with a spatula and smoothed out evenly.
3. Relief made with “decoratin” – The material is poured into a silicone mold and left to dry for 12 to 24 hours, depending on temperature and thickness. If the element is thicker, it may settle and need refilling, so it’s best to monitor it. The resulting casting is very precise and flexible and can be glued onto any surface. We also offer ready-made "Decoratin elements", and the variety of silicone molds is certainly worth your attention.
4. Relief with wooden figures and beer cardboard shapes – The selected elements are glued to the finished piece and painted to blend with the rest of the design. The edges can be highlighted with wax for definition.