How to decoupage wood tutorial - Flea market flip ideas

I have millions of upcycling ideas. They seem to sparkle in my head, when I see things on flea markets and other places. Decoupage paper on wood is one of the best techniques one may use for upcycling and restoring old things, giving them a new life. There are many décor styles you may use and one of them is my beloved shabby chic.

Here are few samples of my work in this style and today we will learn how to decoupage an item using step by step decoupage techniques:

shabby chic decoupage on wood, box and bottle decoupage

Shabby chic main attributes:

This style uses three main colors: white, pink and gold. You may add some other light shades of color, such as green and blue.

All things you make should look shabby, as if they are old and a bit worn out.

So, you may crack the paint on them using crackle or use other tricks to make them shabby.

 This is a collection of my shabby chic upcycled and decoupaged things: bottles turned into vases or candle sticks and the box.

Shabby chic glass bottle vase, upcycling decoupage project

shabby chic upcycled bottle into a cancle holder

recycling project: old box into a new one with decoupage

I am going to use my shabby chic restored box to illutrate this decoupage tutorial.

How to decoupage on wood in 7 steps:

1. Clean the surface well
   
You need to wash and clean the surface of the item and then remove all traits of oil. Use spirit or window cleaning spray for this purpose. If any oil is left on the surface, then the paint would crack off and damage your decoupage paper on wood.


2. Use sandpaper to even out
   
Now if there are any dints or bumps on the wood surface, which is often the case with old wooden things, you may even them out with sandpaper.

If the dints are deep and you don’t like them there, then use some putty to make a smooth surface.
Let it completely dry up before you go on with the recycling art project.





decoupage how to

3. Paint it over
   
You may use white paint to cover the wood. In my case it was an old wooden box. It used to be black and ugly with old handmade paintings on the top.

So, I had to put several layers of white paint to make it look nice. In any case, use at least two layers of paint for your craft project. The first one may be a thin layer used as a foundation.

No problem if the under layer of old paint can be seen through it. Let it dry up and then make another thicker layer.




4. Apply the napkin
You should use only the top thin layer of it. Carefully separate the layers and cut out the part of the pattern you want to use for decoupage. Now, how to use modge podge on wood?

First of all, you need to pick your glue. You may use modge podge glue, or some other glue.

Personally I glue the napkin using the varnish. I find it so much easier this way. I use transparent acryl varnish for wood. 

Here is what I do:
- Apply a thin layer on the wood surface;
- Place the napkin on it;
- Use brush with more varnish to glue it down;
- Let it completely dry up.

You have just few seconds to even up and glue the napkin piece, because once it gets too wet, it starts to tear. So, if you do not have much experience, please, use smaller bits of pattern.


1. Add gold
   
I use dry golden powder. I just dip a wet (with varnish) brush into it and apply to my upcycle craft item. On this particular wooden box I have painted the entire inside of it with gold.


2. Put several layers of varnish
   
You need to put at least 3 layers of varnish. After you apply each of it to your uncycling project, let it dry up and then you may use fine sandpaper to even it out a bit. Repeat the whole process over and over again.


3. Decorate

   

   Final decoupage how to on wood shabby chic box

   This is what I love the most. In this case I used some pink lace, real dried up rosebuds and metal chiave di violino.
   
   I used got glue gun to attach all those décor items on the wooden shabby chic box.

As you see, this process has many steps in it. It is easy to do, if you got handy with it.

It did take me several years to get good at it, but I have developed my creativity along the way and enjoyed every movement of crafting.



Grab and share the decoupage box pictures from this post on Pinterest and other social networks. Come back for more recycled craft ideas for adults!

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