Decoupage Comics on Wood

Preventing Ink Bleed in a Decoupage Project

Hi!

I have question on what product to use with a craft I am making out of an old dresser, pressed wood ... yuck!

I have taken comic strips, very thin paper I know, and pasted them on with wallpaper paste front and back, on the dresser and drawers! Looks amazingly awesome, but I want to put a clear finish on it to protect it from future spills in my son's room.

I used Decoart brand triple thick gloss glaze on one of the dressers and it was a disaster, making the paper look spotty.

Any suggestions for the rest of the dresser?

Thanks a million!!

Erica

My guess is your comics suffered ink bleed. Read my friend and decoupage artist, Kay Davies', tips for avoiding ink bleed.

Your DecoArt Triple Thick should work just fine once the ink is sealed.

If, on the other hand, the spots are due to ink on the back of the comics showing through when they are moistened, I'm afraid there is no saving the work you have done.

No wait, I take that back.

Try this on a small inconspicuous spot. Have copies of some comics made on white paper. Kay uses inkjet copies that she prints herself.

If you want to be extra safe, have laser copies made. The toners are less susceptible to bleeding than ink.

Use decoupage medium to glue on a small sample of copies over the comics you already glued down.

Then try the Triple Thick. If the colors of the first layer of real comics don't show through, you don't have to remove them (which would be very tedious and time-consuming!).

P.S. Wallpaper paste is OK as a decoupage medium but Mod Podge or diluted Elmer's Glue-All is more durable. Master decouper, Durwin Rice, recommends a 50/50 mix of the two in his book, New Decoupage.

Wallpaper paste isn't as strong as PVA glue (like Elmer's or Mod Podge) but gives the paper good slip, allowing you to slide each piece into place and flatten it without tearing. Durwin says a 50/50 mix gives you the advantages of both products.

Here is a list of all decoupage related articles on The Artful Crafter.