Basic Decoupage

Materials:
board
print
sealer
finish
scissors
glue
brayer
sandpaper
steel
wool
background paint
hanger
sanding block
brushes
wax paper.
*Substitutions may be found for some of the items listed.*


Even though you have a newly manufactured board you should sand the surface to remove any slight bumps that were left on the wood. Wrap fine sandpaper around a flat blook & sand with the grain of the wood until the board is smooth. Wipe the sanding dust from the board & apply a coat of clear sealer.


Most sealers will dry in about 15 minutes then you can apply the second coat. Spray sealers are also available. Light sanding between coats of sealer is advisable. The acrylic paints work well for the background paint. Apply one coat & in about 30 minutes second coat may be applied. After the second coat is dry a light sanding should smooth out any brush strokes in the paint. While the paint is drying you can cut the print to the size that will fit the board. Allow some of the board to show around the print. The straighter the cut edges & the more uniform the border, the nicer the finished project will look.


Place the print face up on wax paper & flow on a coat of sealer. This keeps the inks in the print from bleeding. Do not make brush strokes back & forth over the print or you will run the colors. Seal the edges as well as the face of the print. Place the print upside down on wax paper. Squeeze white glue from the bottle onto the back of the print and spread glue out evenly over the back of the print. Brush glue over edge of print. Pick-up print. Turn print over and position print on the board.


Place wax paper over print and use a brayer or rolling pin to roll over the wax paper. Press fairly hard on the brayer so that the glue is worked out from under the print. Remove the wax paper & use a damp cloth to wipe off the glue that was pressed out from under the print. If the weather is warm & humidity is low glue will dry in a couple hours. If drying conditions are not good you had better wait till next day. When glue is dry flow on varnish and smooth out with even strokes of the brush. After about 6 hours test varnish for dryness. To test, press your finger on the varnish & if it does not show a finger print you can put on another coat. Apply at least 6 coats of varnish before sanding. Use #400 wet or dry sandpaper.


Wet sandpaper in water & use a padded sanding block to remove high spots of varnish. Wipe off with dry cloth & apply additional coats of varnish. If you are trying to achieve a full buildup (40coats) of the varnish then sand between every 5 or 6 coats of varnish. Sand after the final coat & use #000 or #0000 steel wool to give the final finish to the project. To achieve the finest finish use paste wax or oil with the steel wool.