Decoupage is the art of layering images to create beautiful 3D pictures. These decoupage designs are very effective when used on homemade cards. Though decoupage might seem a little intimidating at first, it is actually surprisingly fun and easy to make.
Decoupage Supplies
- The most important material a decoupage artist needs is several versions of the same image. This might be a picture found online, a printed photograph, or a recurring image on patterned paper. Craft stores will also sell packs of repeated images intended for creating decoupage designs.
- Double-sided sticky tape or decoupage sticky pads are needed to create the 3D layering look; simply gluing together the pieces will not create the desired effect. Special yellow sticky pads for decoupage crafts are available at most craft stores. An image of these is provided at the end of this article.
- Scissors will be needed to cut out the shapes.
- These are the only decoupage supplies needed, but to create a homemade card certain other materials may be desired, such as card, coloured papers, glue, glitter, coloured pens, beads, ribbons and other embellishments.
Many craft stores now sell decoupage kits containing all the materials needed to make stunning decoupage cards, including step by step instructions. These are a good way for beginners to introduce themselves to the craft of decoupage art.
Create Decoupage Designs
Look at the chosen image and decide which parts of the picture would look most effective in 3D. Leaving one version of the picture complete, cut out this area from the rest. For example, a picture of a rose might look very effective if the actual flower were 3D, popping out from the stalk and leaves. Leave one complete picture of the rose intact. Then cut closely around the flower in each other image.
There should now be one complete picture, and several smaller sections of the image. Take these small pieces and look for any natural layering in the image. For example, a flower’s petals or bird’s plumage form layers where they lie over each other. Decide which layers will be emphasised in this image and cut these out.
Decide which layers will need to be higher than others. Petals overlapping others should be placed higher, as should objects in the foreground.
Now simply attach the layers to the original, complete image. Each new layer will need more sticky tape or sticky pads to raise it up one more level. Attach lower layers first and work up; it’s much less fiddly that way.
This process is very easy once the crafter gets the hang of it. The only difficult bit can be deciding which layers need emphasising and which should be placed higher or lower. Flowers are a good place to start as the natural layering of their petals is easy to imitate. Alternatively, decoupage kits are available that contain pre-cut layers and instructions where to place them. The best advice is to experiment, practice, and have fun!
Decoupage Card Making – A Decoupage Rose
Below this article are some images of a decoupage rose homemade card. This was created using patterned paper with a recurring rose motif.
First, several images of this rose were cut out. One was left complete, and the others were cut into small pieces, around the natural shape of the petals.
Then, the pieces were attached to the complete rose image in three layers to create a 3D effect. The natural layering of the rose’s petals was followed to create a more realistic image.
Finally, the rose was attached to a blue card with a yellow diamond centre to create a simple yet elegant design.
Victoria Hooper - Victoria Hooper is the acquisitions editor and acting editor for Polluto, a Spectrum Fantastic Arts award winning magazine published by ...
