>Home>Craft Ideas>Decoupage>Decoupage over Oil Stain

Decoupage over Oil Stain

Products to Use to Decoupage Oil Stained Wood

Thanks very much for the information provided on the website, especially Instructions for Preparing Wood for Decoupage Projects.

However, the article was a general introduction, and I'm looking for a specific product recommendation.

I used an oil-based stain on plywood and now want to decoupage the surface with a very large, relatively intricate, white paper cutout.

I am hoping to find a decoupage medium that will adhere well to the stained surface, double as an adhesive for the paper cutout, and provide a crystal clear, waterproof surface - like some oil-based, waterproof Mod Podge or a crystal clear, adhesive, oil-based polyurethane.

Does anything like that exist? Perhaps an epoxy clear-coat?

Matt

---

I’m afraid there’s no single product that will do all the things you ask.

But don’t worry, you only need two (or maybe three). Two coats of polyurethane are absolutely necessary to seal the oil stain and prevent it from causing your decoupage to lift.

Water-based polyurethane is easier and safer to use (no volatile fumes) than oil-based. The advantage to oil-based polyurethane is that it gives a super-smooth finish. That’s not usually of benefit when you’re going to decoupage over it anyway.

So, since you asked for specific product recommendations, I would use two coats of DecoArt DuraClear Poly Varnish to seal the stain.

Then I would use Durwin Rice’s* recipe of approximately 50% Mod Podge and 50% wallpaper paste for gluing the image(s) down.

You mentioned that the design is quite intricate. Durwin’s mix has more slip than Mod Podge alone. This will allow you to position the delicate pieces without tearing.

For finish coats, I would use pure Mod Podge because it is more durable than the wallpaper paste/Mod Podge mix after curing.

* Durwin’s recipe, including details on how to adjust it for the specific use, is found in his beautifully illustrated book New Decoupage.

---

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

  |Top | Decoupage | Crafts | Home |