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Decoupage Bubbles

Getting a Smooth Finish

HELLO,

I AM DESPERATE!!!!!!!

I have tried and tried and tried to decoupage under glass plates and coasters.

I always seem to get bubbles. I have tried many different methods and have spent hours and hours on this problem.

I have used Mod Podge and PVA.

I have put the image in water before and have done it without.

I am using a quality matte paper. I am wondering what is the best medium to use and will it help to use regular paper as you have mentioned?

Just call me sleepless in Scottsdale.

I would absolutely do headstands if you could help me with this problem.

THANK YOU

Geri

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Are you referring to bubbles that form in the decoupage medium and harden there?

Or do you mean bubbles and wrinkles that come up each time you apply a new coat of decoupage medium?

If it is bubbles in the medium, you are likely over-brushing.

You can try thinning the medium slightly so that it will self-level more.

Whenever applying a decoupage medium, brush it on as smoothly as possible; then go back and tap on any bubbles to burst them.

Avoid going over and over any area.

This introduces bubbles. I prefer using my hands or foam brushes to apply Mod Podge or PVA glue.

If the problem is bubbles and wrinkles that arise when you add a sealing coat, be patient.

Mod Podge and PVA media never reach a hard cure. Whenever they are exposed to excessive moisture, they re-soften.

This allows moisture to reach your paper images. The paper swells and wrinkles.

The good news is that, as the added moisture evaporates, the paper smoothes right back down as it was before.

If your quality matte paper is heavier than copier paper, it might be making your work harder because it requires thicker glue to get it to lay flat.

The weight and finish (matte or gloss) of your paper are not discernable in the finished decoupage. That’s why I recommend simple copier paper. I use brilliant white to get the strongest possible colors because the colors do show in the finished product.

Finally, if you want to try a different type of decoupage medium, acetate polymer glazes like Liquitex and Golden Gel media are becoming very popular because they reach a harder cure.

However, they tend to foam if over-brushed. So again, apply quickly and disturb the medium as little as possible.

If these tips help, I would love to see a picture of you doing a headstand!

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Hi Eileen,

I asked you about trouble with bubbles under glass. You answered. I promised a headstand if it worked. Here you have it!

I took your advice about not over-brushing and found that thinning the glue really helps. I find good old Elmer’s Glue the best.

Thank you,
Sleepness No More

For more on decoupage, visit The Decoupage Index Page.

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Recommended Reading

These books are excellent resources for decoupeurs. Not only do you get tips and techniques, but also artwork that you can use in your own projects.

New Decoupage: Transforming Your Home With Paper, Glue, and Scissors By: Durwin Rice The Victorian Scrap Gallery: A Collection of over 500 Full-Color Victorian-Era Images By: Dee Davis Absolute Beginner's Decoupage: The Simple Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Beautiful Decoupage By: Alison Jenkins Collage Discovery Workshop: Make Your Own Collage Creations Using Vintage Photos, Found Objects and Ephemera By: Claudine Hellmuth 930 Matchbook Advertising Cuts of the Twenties and Thirties (Pictorial Archive Series) By: Trina Robbins Decoupage: A Practical Guide to the Art of Decorating Surfaces with Paper Cutouts By: Dee Davis

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