The name of the technique for decorating objects - decoupage - comes from the French language from the word decouper, which means "cut out". You can decorate almost any surface with cut-out pictures, for example, glass bottles, metal boxes for small things, dishes, furniture. But experienced craftsmen recommend starting work in decoupage technique with decorating wooden objects.
Surface preparation
Prepare the item you are going to decorate. This can be a cutting board, jewelry box, photo frame, or a special piece of wood for decoupage. You will also need a napkin, sandpaper, wood putty, palette knife, wood primer, and a sponge.
The wooden surface must be prepared so that there are no roughness, chips on it, the wood must be even and smooth, only in this case your work will not be in vain.
So, wipe the wood with a damp cloth from dirt and dust, then sand the surface with sandpaper. How smooth the wood has become, check by running your hand over the object. Then wipe the surface with a damp cloth again. If necessary, repeat the procedure with a finer grit sandpaper.
There may be chips on the wooden surface. It is possible to get rid of them with the help of a special putty for wood, which can be purchased at any hardware store. Apply a small amount to the unevenness with a palette knife, when the putty seizes a little, remove the excess and let it dry completely for several hours. Then sand the surface again with sandpaper.
The next stage is priming. If you want to preserve the texture of the wood, apply PVA glue with a brush or dishwashing sponge as a primer. It is also good to use a special primer for wood, which is also sold in hardware stores and art stores. This material will help close all the pores on the wood, thereby reducing paint consumption. In addition, it is much easier to glue napkins with motifs on a primed wood, and the applique looks much more impressive.
Usually the primer is white, but it can be tinted in any shade you need, just add a little acrylic paint or a few drops of a suitable color.
Wait until the soil is completely dry. Sand the surface again with sandpaper and wipe thoroughly with a damp cloth.
Decorating a wooden surface
For this stage, you will need: a decorative napkin, a decoupage card, or any other image. PVA glue, brush and varnish and sandpaper.
Cover the surface of the item in the place where you are going to glue the applique with PVA glue. Cut the motif onto a napkin or decoupage card. Remove the top layer of the napkin with the image, and if you are using a decoupage card, soak it in water. Place the motif on the surface and smooth with a brush.
Let the appliqué dry and cover everything with a clear water-based varnish. Apply several coats of varnish, each drying well. After drying, sand the varnished surface with sandpaper and apply another coat of varnish.
