Everything for decoupage: a list of materials and tips for choosing

Today, quite a few people are engaged in various types of creativity. Among them, it is worth noting such art as decoupage.

Decoupage is a very ancient technique. It is based on decorating various objects and surfaces using different materials, for example, fabrics or colored paper, or other materials at hand. This technique appeared in the Middle Ages. However, as an art, it was first mentioned in the 15th century, in Germany.

Decoupage really became popular in the 17th century in Venice. At this time, furniture was quite popular, which was decorated with patterns with Japanese or Chinese motives. And since such art was not available to everyone, the masters learned to make various imitations, using available materials for this. They were simply pasted onto furniture, which looked no less beautiful than the originals.

There are several decoupage techniques.

• Volumetric... Most often used to paint boxes, bottles or even eggs. Here, in addition to paper, buttons, ribbons or even broken glass are often used. Using this technique, Christmas toys are made.
• Classic. This technique is most commonly used by beginners. Here, ordinary napkins are used, which are glued to the surface in any way, and then varnished.
• Decopatch. Knowing this technique, you can turn an ordinary object into a beautiful painted piece. Most often, thin paper is taken for it, which is either cut or torn into small pieces. Then, with their help, the entire surface of the selected object is decorated. As a result, everything is varnished.
• Backward. In this case, all drawings are applied on the back of any transparent surface. In this way, you can paint plates or bottles.
• Artistic. This technique is most often used for wooden surfaces, which allows the design to smoothly connect to the matched surface.

It is very important to choose the right tools for decoupage, this is especially important for novice masters. After all, their choice will largely depend on how much this hobby will take root in the life of a creative person. Therefore, it is imperative to purchase several tools.

• Synthetic fiber brushes. Several of these need to be wider so that the primer can be applied. It is best to take one number 10, and the second number 20. And also one must be very thin, for example, No. 2, so that with its help it was possible to paint on irregularities.
• Rubber spatula. You will need it to apply the paste or to repair small cracks in the workpiece. If for some reason a spatula was not purchased, you can use an old plastic card.
• Sandpaper. It is necessary to buy sheets with different grain sizes.
• Sponzhiki. It is best to purchase foam sponges. However, you can also use a regular dishwashing sponge or even those designed for makeup.
• Palette. It can be purchased in a store or you can use ordinary cardboard for these purposes, which you can then simply throw away.
• Various auxiliary tools. Everything will depend on the chosen technique. For example, you may need scissors, a container for cleaning brushes, or other necessary tools.

Material for creativity is no less important, especially if decoupage is done at home. It is necessary to approach this issue with special attention to those who are just starting to engage in decoupage. To get started, you need to purchase a few basic materials.

• Motives. Many people use napkin motifs, as this is one of the cheapest materials. However, working with them will not be so easy. Therefore, for those who do it for the first time, it is better to buy special decoupage paper. It is a little more expensive, but in the work it will be easier to attach it so that it does not get folds or even holes.
• Acrylic primer. Some craftsmen simply skip this step, but it is very important in decoupage, since its use will save on paint, and also make the surface smoother, which will greatly simplify the work in the future. In addition, the primer significantly increases the adhesion of the material and workpiece. In addition, it allows you to hide all the defects that are on the surface. Very often a white primer is used instead of paint.
• Acrylic paints. When the master has already decided in what color scheme he will work, you can buy paints. However, you should not buy them in large quantities, it is enough to take small jars. In addition, it is not necessary to buy all the necessary colors, because they can be obtained by mixing several already purchased paints. In addition, the process will be enjoyable, and will also help to understand the shades more. For those who cannot quickly decide on their choice, it is best to purchase a whole set of acrylic paints that can be used in the future.
• Acrylic varnish... Most likely, not a single type of decoupage is complete without varnish. It is best to choose one that will be made on a water basis, because it is completely odorless, rinses well from the brushes used, and also dries quickly.For those who are decoupage for the first time, it is best to take a semi-matt varnish. Experienced craftsmen choose its gloss depending on the style of work.
• Glue... Most often, ordinary PVA glue is used for gluing various motifs. To find it of good quality, you will need to run a lot, because the one that is sold in ordinary stores quickly turns yellow and sometimes flakes off. You should buy exactly the one that is intended for decoupage. In addition, there is a glue that combines both glue and varnish.
• Finish coating. In order for a beautiful picture to last for a long time, it is imperative to apply a layer of topcoat to the thing at the end of the work. The most common options are refined shellac with a beautiful glossy effect or satin gel polish that turns yellow over time.

For beginners who are fond of decoupage, it is best to pay attention to the sets that are already sold with everything necessary for a particular technique. For example, the craquelure kit includes the following materials:

• craquelure glue, approximately 20 milliliters;
• decoupage glue, also 20 milliliters;
• acrylic paints, most often glossy; this includes four primary colors that can be mixed if necessary to obtain the desired shade - these are blue, red, white and yellow.

In addition, for those who want to paint a plate, you can also buy a set. It will include everything you need, namely:

• glass plate;
• decoupage card;
• several brushes;
• glue.

Many masters use various little things for decoupage, namely:

• regular glass bottles;
• cookie boxes that for some reason were not thrown away;
• old boxes gathering dust in the attic;
• other household items that require a second life from the owners.

However, not every person has this. In this case, you can buy ready-made blanks, of which a large number is provided. In addition, they can be made from different materials. Most often, inexperienced specialists are recommended to purchase caskets for a start.

When choosing napkins for decoupage, preference should be given to three-layer ones. But the drawing can be chosen at your discretion. The main thing is that it fits not only in style, but also in image. For example, you can choose napkins with neutral motifs for antique-style items.

For those who prefer modernity, they should be taken with more abstract designs. And also the color of the napkins is of great importance, which must be bought in the same color scheme with the selected background of the product. In addition, all materials must be taken of good quality in order to avoid any problems in the future.

Having decided to do decoupage, be sure to get started with all the features of the various techniques. When the choice has been made, you need to pick up all the materials and tools that you need, and only after that start working.

An overview of everything you need for decoupage is presented in the next video.