Advanced Decoupage Box

Being Versatile

Decoupage Versatility

Decoupage can be as easy or as complex as you choose.

I made this set of decoupage jewelry boxes for the decoupage guide I wrote for Barnes and Noble.

The guide included step-by-step instructions for four projects for beginner to intermediate decoupeurs - but is on hold for now.

Project #1 was decoupage under glass: one circle of gift wrap tissue paper glued to the back of a glass plate, sealed and painted. What could be simpler?

On the boxes above, which were project #4, I wanted to leave the reader with as many different techniques as I could while still keeping it an intermediate level undertaking. I really had fun with this concept.

The box lids were masked off and painted with black acrylic.

The images were cut out.

Some required disassembling, either because parts were too small to keep attached (like the tulip stamens) or to reassemble the design in a different way (for the rectangular box).

There were also interior spaces which needed to be cut out.

Then the images were glued down, some by placing glue on the back of the image and others (very small pieces) by placing glue on the box. Two coats of Mod Podge seal the images.

To give the boxes a patina, I rubbed on Jacquard Pearl-Ex powder pigments. Finally I sealed everything with three coats of Krylon Crystal Clear acrylic.

I count ten different techniques. That may be a decoupage record for me. I hope readers will appreciate the lessons.