BGPayne Crafts

Decoupage Roses

You Will Need:

• Decoupage Prints
• Large Cards
• Large White Envelopes
• 3D Foam Pads
• Ribbons
• Sharp Scissors
• Tweezers
• Craft Knife
• Cutting Matt
• Shaping Matt or Folded Cloth
• Shaping Tool or Teaspoon
• Scrap Card
• Pencil
• PVA Glue
• Cocktail Stick - Or Similar

Start by cutting the edges off one of the decoupage prints. Measure the width of this print. Deduct this width from the width of the card. Cut a piece of scrap card half of this width. Use the scrap of card as a template to draw lines an equal distance from the top and each side of the card blank. Use double sided tape to stick the decoupage print onto the card using the pencil lines as a guide.

Put a blob of PVA glue onto some scrap card. Use the cocktail stick to apply a little of this glue along one edge of the decoupage print. Put one end of the ribbon onto one corner of the decoupage print and hold it in position with one finger. Place the length of ribbon along the edge of the decoupage print and cut off the excess. Smooth the ribbon onto the card with a finger.

Cut out each layer of the decoupage by following the cutting guide. If this is your first decoupage project you will probably find it easier to use scissors. Craft knives are more accurate once you have mastered the basic technique. Some general cutting advice is included.

Cutting - Draw bridges between delicate pieces that may be damaged during cutting, removing them just before you use the piece. Very fine hues, such as stems, may be widened by coloured pencils (not felt tips), to make them easier to cut. The print may be roughly cut out through it may be easier to cut out enclosed finer sections first. If using scissors pierce the piece first from above and cut it out from below. As you cut the outer edge consider adding special effects such as feathering and serration to gain better effect. As you cut, try and bevel the outer edge by slamming scissors or blades under the print, this will help to hide any harsh white edges. Any visible edges should be concealed using a soft lead pencil or coloured pencil. As you cut out the pieces number them in either the order you intend to apply them or draw or trace a copy of the picture and number the pieces on the drawing and the cut outs. Cutting may be done with small scissors or a craft knife and cutting board.

Shaping - Extra depth can be given to your design by shaping the pieces as they are applied e.g. shaping the curves of a sail, the petals of a flower. This is done by cutting out entire piece and placing it face down on a suitable shaping mat then rubbing it gently with a shaping tool or the back of a teaspoon. Shaping tools and mats are available but you can start with the back of a teaspoon and a softened surface (a folded cloth, piece of thin, firm loam etc.).
Another technique that can be used to add more detail is feathering, mainly used for feathers and hair the piece is cut out and then a series of small cuts are made into the piece at the appropriate angles. A further shaping technique is slicing whereby larger cuts than feathering are made and each cut section can then be shaped individually e.g. flight feathers of a large bird, scales of a fish.

Mount each cut out onto the card using the 3D foam pads, in the order they are shown in the cutting guide.

Download a printer friendly copy of this project.

You will need a copy of Acrobat Reader to open the file. If you do not already have a copy you can download one from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.php