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Decoupage Problems

Avoiding Air Bubbles on a Decoupage Project

I've never tried decoupage before.

I have an almanac from the mid 1800's that I found as a child and I wanted to decoupage some pages on wooden plaques.

I have cut pieces of extremely smooth poplar wood into 8 1/2 x 11 sheets and put a base coat of "MinWax" oil base stain on them.

Rather then using the original pages, I have scanned them and printed them on an ink jet printer using both regular copy paper and a heavier photo quality ink jet paper.

I have tried using both "Mod Podge Matte-Mat" and a spray "Creatively Yours" adhesive. I have tried coating just the page, both the page and board with the products and rolled them out with a wallpaper roller to get all the air bubbles out.

They look great when they dry, but when I begin to add the overcoats of "Mod Podge" air bubbles appear, which will not roll out, even if I use a needle to attempt to get the air out.

Any advice you may be able to provide me will be greatly appreciated. I will add your site to my favorites as I am retired and would like to try my hand at this as a hobby.

Thanks again.

John

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Oh, you’re mixing oil with water!

Boy do I empathize with the pains you’ve gone to. I think your problem is the oil-based stain and its incompatibility with the water-based Mod Podge.

Actually, the two finishes can be compatible, but you must allow lots of time for each layer to cure - this can take weeks.

It's a lot easier to start with a water-soluble and alcohol-based wood stain. Then your Mod-Podge can do its job properly with less bother.

But since you’ve already cut and stained your wood (and presumably have lots of scraps for testing), try using an oil-based sealer (not shellac which is alcohol-based) to close all the wood pores. Sand it with fine sandpaper.

Once thoroughly dry, Mod Podge should work just fine. Put the Mod Podge on the wood only. This makes it easier to handle and position the artwork.

Another solution is to let each sealer completely cure, so that all the solvents have dissipated. This might require several weeks of drying between each coat.

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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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