Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

Some of you crafty brides....please lend me some inspiration.

I got the idea (from this section of the WC board - thank you!) to take a plain wooden chest from a craft store and decouapage the box using cut outs of my wedding cards so I can store some wedding keepsakes inside and utilize the cards without having too much clutter.



My problem is: the only decoupage projects Ive seen are the kind that use specific drawings that make a scene or pattern. Obviously, my wedidng cards are a mish mosh of different cliparts, words, photos, etc..

So how do I put them all on there without it looking like garbage? Suggestions?

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

pehaps you can decoupage a printed paper to back the cutouts that is uniform - (like making a scrapbook).

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

Stef, I am not sure how you would do this so that you can still read the message in the card, but what if you made each side of the box in a particular theme or a specific color. Then I can see it kind of working. For example flowers in reddish/pink tone on one side, wedding bells cards on another, bridal dress and couple cards on another side. I can see it working with pictures, but how can you make the words/wishes show is more of an issue. Or you can just make some kind of funky shaped cutouts of well-wishes, and cover the box in them?

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

Stef,
I dont have any ideas for you, but i would love to see the finished product if you didnt mind, i have been trying to think of something to do with all my cards..

if you go to the micheals website they have a message board there, maybe you can get some ideas..

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

The cards that had long notes in it or special sentiments are being kept seperately...but most of the cards just had a signature or a short obligatory congratulations...so Im just using the covers of the cards.

There is no common 'theme' to any of the cards...some have brides, some have flowers, some have words,...its a big mess!

Anyone know if I can add a little paint into the decoupage so I can give all the cards a similiar color tint? Or would that ruin the decoupage?

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

i think that you can glaze over the whole thing when it is dry then put the poly/varnish over that.

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

Suzanne; I cant find the forum on the Micheal's site. Can you help?

Antoinette: There is only one bottle of decoupage 'juice' that I use for both gluing down and glazing over. Have you ever done this before? Am I using the wrong stuff?

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

actually , i havent done this before but i have watched some craft shows where they have, they decoupaged and then brushed over an additional glaze to add an antiqueing(SP?) effect to the finish, i cant see why you wouldnt be able do the same thing with a glaze/sheer paint. I would test run a piece of old wood with this technique before hand and test run your idea of tinting the dec. as well.

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

I decoupage all the time. First, cut out the design that you plan on using, as close to the outline as you can, then just start playing with things. You'd be surprised at how things go together when you just start placing them randomly. I kind of get an idea of what I'm going to do before I start with the glue, but sometimes I just go with the flow. Usually I use just white elmers school glue (sometimes I add a little bit of water), or this stuff called mod podge that you can get at the craft store. I put a bit of glue on the surface that I am covering, then I put glue over each picture that I add. You kind of have to work quickly, otherwise, the corners will dry down, and if you're really looking for a collage effect, you'll probably want to put a bit of the next picture a little bit under, or over the last picture that you put down. (does that make sense?) After the project has dried for a day or two, sometimes I add a layer or two of clear polyurothane to help seal the project. Here's a scan of a little box top that I made to keep stamps in (sorry, it's the only thing I have at work)

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Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

That looks very cool!

Do you think using cut outs of the wedding cards will look too disorganized to be worth the hassle? I want to utilize/keepsake the cards in some way but not if its going to be a hideous eyesore :D

I bought a bottle of Anitas Decoupage stuff at the craft store. The directions say to use that as both the glue and the glaze. Do you think I can add the paint to the glue/glaze so I get a more uniform coloring?

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

I think the cut outs will look great together, definitely not an eyesore, but it might not be something that you'll want as a centerpiece on your coffee table. Then again, it could (and probably will) turn out great! If you have the time, I think it's worth a shot. I mean, so what if it comes out bad, what else are you going to do with the cards anyway? I don't think I would group things as flowers, cakes, dresses...etc. I would just jumble them all together, but that's just me.
I never used Anita's stuff, but I'm sure it's fine. As far as adding color to make it more uniform, I don't know, I've never tried. If I were you, I would decoupage a few pieces of newspaper to a cardboard box, and experiment there. What color do you have in mind? If it's a color that you can get as food coloring, maybe you could mix that with a bit of elmers? (elmers can be used as the glue, as well as the glaze if you add a bit of water) I would say that you can add it to Anita's, but I don't know the consistency of the stuff, and adding anything might make it too watery.

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

I decoupage all the time and the best advice I could give you is to start cutting out the things you want to decoupage and start pasting, it will come together beautifully. It is hard to picture beforehand but it definitely won't look like a mish mosh because all of those wedding cards I assume have a common theme (cakes, ribbons, bows, wedding 'stuff'). Let us know how it turns out!

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

Wow - that's a great idea Stef!

I wouldn't think it'd look too messy, but maybe you could use a focal point somewhere on the top of the box? Like the pic shown, the stamps are all the same size, so it looks uniform, but still very creative. If you cut many cards in different sizes, it may be nice to have a focal point on either side, or the middle.

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

What do you think I could use as a focal point?

I have a bunch of my wedding invitations left over so I could use those also but they are sort of big and wouldnt really go with the rest of the cards.

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

What about using cards you gave each other or from someone special to both of you as the focal point?

I think this is a great idea. I hope it comes out nicely and cant wait to see pictures when you are done.

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

For a focal point, what about using a program? Or, if someone gave you a large card, or a card that's a bit unusual in some way. Or, you could use an invitation too....

BTW - can someone post the link to the Michael's message boards? I never knew that existed!

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

i have decoupaged, but thin stuff, like pics from magazines that were easily moistened with the glue.water mixture and were very pliable, is it different with the thicker stock that cards are made out of, do you need more glue? this is a great idea, I am all over it! thanks sonic!

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

Are you using ModPodge? thats the best stuff to use. (I decoupage a lot)

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

Tracy: No - I bought this stuff by Plaid or Anitas. I saw ModPodge there too but I didnt realize it was better. Whats the difference between ModPodge and the other stuff. Give me some tips please :D Ive never done it before.

Re: Has anyone decoupaged before? Help!

THe other stuff may be good too, but i use ModPodge. I think they're basically the same stuff. I think plaid makes mod podge, either way plaid is a good company for that. Just as long as your not using ELmers glue... LOL...

I like how that pic is up top. Just cut snippets off the cards and stick them askew on the box. Some phrases you like, pics you like (doves, rings). I don't think you can go wrong with it. Just play around with the pieces before you glue them on to get an idea of what looks nice.

I don't think you can varnish over the glue. Won't 'stick' right. Maybe paint the box a pretty color in case bits of it show. (Folkart paints are good).