Decoupage Wallpaper

Creating a New Tabletop Using Decoupage

Hi.

Love your site.

I'm new to decoupage, but I want to change the look of my kitchen table top, which I think is a form of plastic (faux butcherblock right now).

Anyway, I think I want to use Wallpaper or Shelfpaper for the new look.

I see this on your site: "Wallpaper - after gluing to your project; let set; then peel off the backing layer."

I'm confused. What backing layer.

Won't it all be glued to the table?.

Can you please clarify how I can use wallpaper.

Thanks!

Steven

My apologies for incomplete or misleading instructions. I think you're referring to the Image Sources section of my article on Decoupage Methods. That's the only place I could find the phrase you refer to; and I just removed it to prevent any further confusion. Thank you!

Of course you're correct. When decoupaging wallpaper onto a surface design-side up, there is no way you can remove the backing layer after gluing the paper down.

When I wrote the article I had just done a decoupage glass plate and used wallpaper as a background.

In decoupage under glass the images and background paper are glued design-side down onto the back of the plate. I found the wallpaper to be thicker than I desired, so after gluing I removed the backing paper.

Before you decoupage your table top, you might want to read this article on Decoupage Finishes for Commercial [or Heavy] Use.

Hi Eileen,

Thanks! That Heavy Use section is very helpful, in terms of a top protective coat.

One more question, I'm having trouble finding wallpaper remnants that I like.

Which is a better medium of the following, in terms of thickness problems, wrinkles, or bleeds?

1) Tissue Paper
2) Gift Wrapping Paper
3) Wall Paper
4) another suggestion that would work well for a kitchen table ( I want to avoid anything with words or prints on it)

THANKS!

Steven

My favorite paper for decoupage is plain old copier paper. It is the perfect weight; doesn't tear easily like tissue paper or napkins; is thin enough so that the edges are indiscernible with just two sealing coats; and allows me to print or copy any design I like over and over.

Of course, if you will be using one of the thicker finishes for heavy use, you needn't be concerned about the thickness.

If the colors are bright I use bright white paper. I print my decoupage images using an inkjet printer and then seal the ink with three coats of Krylon Crystal Clear to prevent ink bleed.

Great.

Thanks!

Steven