Decoupage (the paper technique) is easy to apply and offers a quick, inexpensive way to decorate almost any kind of surface, with striking results. There are no limits to its use: you can decorate anything from a wall to objects and furniture.
Here we show you how to apply the technique to the ceiling of a small space, such as a hallway, by choosing a series of black-and-white images and creating an abstract composition of “birds and flowers”.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
black-and-white photocopies (designs of your choice)
scissors and a craft knife
paper glue (glue stick)
decoupage glue (Atlacol)
paintbrush
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. First, decide on the theme of your composition and choose suitable images. We chose nature as our theme and picked images of birds, flowers, butterflies and beetles. You can find images in all sorts of books. We would advise choosing images of objects, animals and so on with a clearer form, so that you can cut out their outlines easily.
2. Once you have chosen your images, make black-and-white photocopies, experimenting with scale/size and brightness contrast. You can also scan the images, edit them in a suitable image-editing program and then print them on a printer.
3. Gather your photocopies and carefully cut out the designs with scissors, then use the craft knife for the details. Don’t worry if you aren’t very good with crafts: any imperfections in the cutting won’t show on the ceiling!
4. Clean the surface where you will apply the decoupage thoroughly. Proper surface preparation is essential so that the designs stick well and the edges don’t peel away. You can also freshen up the wall with a coat of white paint, or choose a different color from the existing one to suit the tones of your composition.
5. Use a ladder and stick on the cut-out images, positioning them to achieve the effect you want. Spread paper glue (glue stick) over the entire back of each image and stick it down, pressing lightly to smooth out any creases in the paper.
6. Finally, apply the decoupage. Dilute the decoupage glue (Atlacol) with water so that the mixture is fairly thin, but take care that it stays tacky. With the paintbrush, spread a thin layer of glue over the images you stuck on earlier, paying particular attention to the outline of each one. Wait for it to dry and repeat the process, applying 3 to 4 thin coats of glue.
Source: http://www.designspongeonline.com/
2 Once you have chosen your images, make black-and-white photocopies, experimenting with scale/size and brightness contrast. You can also scan the images, edit them in a suitable image-editing program and then print them on a printer.
3 Gather your photocopies and carefully cut out the designs with scissors, then use the craft knife for the details. Don’t worry if you aren’t very good with crafts: any imperfections in the cutting won’t show on the ceiling!
4 Clean the surface where you will apply the decoupage thoroughly. Proper surface preparation is essential so that the designs stick well and the edges don’t peel away. You can also freshen up the wall with a coat of white paint, or choose a different color from the existing one to suit the tones of your composition.
5 Use a ladder and stick on the cut-out images, positioning them to achieve the effect you want. Spread paper glue (glue stick) over the entire back of each image and stick it down, pressing lightly to smooth out any creases in the paper.
6 Finally, apply the decoupage. Dilute the decoupage glue (Atlacol) with water so that the mixture is fairly thin, but take care that it stays tacky. With the paintbrush, spread a thin layer of glue over the images you stuck on earlier, paying particular attention to the outline of each one. Wait for it to dry and repeat the process, applying 3 to 4 thin coats of glue.
