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It has been practiced for eons and even some kindergartners know how to make these wonderful pieces of art. Making decoupages can beautify any home without hurting your budget.

If there is a photo, a letter, a piece of music, perhaps concert or movie tickets, or just beautiful pictures of landscapes or flowers, that you would like to keep almost forever, you can use decoupage to preserve these things against anything – your bedside or coffee table, your walls, your head board, etc. Basically, if you can stick glue on it, you can probably put some decoupage over it.

Here are some tips for a successful decoupage experience.

First, choose the paper design you would like to stick to the object of your choice. Most people put decoupage on food trays, side tables, coffee tables, doors, or any relatively flat surface. You can also work on irregular objects, but of course it will be more challenging.

Once you have chosen your paper design, you can now take care of collecting materials and tools for your project. You will need cutting instruments, like a pair of scissors (some people choose scissors with a pointed end, so that it can cut around tricky corners) or a cutter. You will also need glue, of course. Clear glue is the best to use. Include in your list some Popsicle sticks or a brayer, which looks like a small rolling pin or paint roller. The sticks or the brayer will be useful to flatten out the paper design onto the surface. Also, get a paint brush or an old rag to spread the glue, and another rag to clean up any glue drippings (you can also use wet naps or wet wipes for this). You will also need some old newspapers to place underneath your work area so you would not make a mess while doing the decoupage. Lastly, you will need a sealant (also sometimes called a ‘sealer’) as a final coating for your project so that it will be protected from moisture or scratches.

When you have chosen your paper design and gathered the materials for your decoupage project, you are now ready for the actual decoupaging experience! First, get a damp cloth and wipe the surface where you will put your design. Let the surface dry completely. Once dried, use your paint brush to spread some glue on the surface and then lay your paper design on top of it. Use the Popsicle stick or a brayer (if you have one) to flatten the paper design over the glue. Use your paint brush to apply another coat of glue over the paper design for good measure and let it dry completely. It is best to leave it overnight in a well ventilated area or four at least 3 hours in a sun-lit area. When the surface has dried completely, you can go ahead and apply a coat or two of the sealant or polyurethane gloss. You can apply it using a paint brush or spray it on the surface. Once the sealant dries, your decoupage artwork is now ready for use or display! Congratulations!

For more information about painting supplies , like ProtectGuard or Zinseer sealant or painting tools and instruments, you can visit Ray Munn stores or browse our online shop for your convenience.