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Decoupage Coasters

Decoupage for Wet Surfaces

Greetings from Knysna, South Africa.

My wife and I recently tried our hand at making drink coasters by decoupaging photos (printed on our inkjet printer onto gloss photo paper) onto 90x90mm superwood.

We have been moderately successful but would appreciate advice on best method, especially on final clear coating.

Many thanks,

Steve & Theresa

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I’m impressed that you have been moderately successful decouping glossy photo paper.

Aren’t you plagued by the three decoupage gremlins of Bubbles, Bulk and Bleed? The gloss coating on photo paper tends to lift and Bubble when moistened. The paper is quite Bulky for decoupage and so it is hard to hide the edges, no matter how many coats of sealer you apply. Inkjet ink tends to Bleed when moistened, though special techniques can get around this.

Finally what do you gain by using glossy paper when you will be putting sealer on top anyway?

The final sealer defines the finish: gloss seal gives a gloss finish and matte sealer, a matte finish.

I’m very intrigued. Have you developed techniques to address these issues that you would share?

To answer your question on best method, I’ve gone to my two favorite decoupage gurus: my decoupage bible, Durwin Rice’s New Decoupage and contributing editor, Kay Davies, our resident decoupage expert.

Durwin uses many types of paper in his work, from magazines to catalogue pictures to pictures from art books published for the purpose of being cut up and decoupaged.

But what he uses most, and pretty much swears by, are laser copies. “There is unanimous consensus among the cutters in my studio: the easiest paper to cut is the [plain] paper that comes out of the laser copier.”

He explains that some magazine paper is too flimsy and tears when moistened, making it hard to position and seal. Thicker papers (like photos and some magazines) leave edges that are hard to conceal. Durwin uses laser copies, rather than inkjet, because the ink is less subject to bleeding … and, I guess, because he can afford to.

Kay Davies also uses copies in her work, but like you, she uses an inkjet printer for its convenience and affordability. She has developed techniques to minimize ink bleed. Read her Decoupage Tips.

For more of Kay’s ideas on decoupage, type her name into the Google search box (on many of our pages) and select The Artful Crafter before clicking the search button.

So there we have it – the experts’ paper of choice for decoupage is plain old copier paper. Whether laser or inkjet – the weight, thickness and strength are ideal.

As for the final clear coat, Kay and Durwin are on the same page here as well.

The final coat defines the finish. So you can start with a matte coat and if you decide you want a gloss, finish with a gloss.

Kay works exclusively with water-based sealers. Both Kay and Durwin recommend water-based sealer for adhering your images. They favor Elmer’s Glue-All and Mod Podge.

For high use items (like coasters), Durwin likes to finish with two coats of oil-based polyurethane. Be careful here and remember the old maxim that oil and water do not mix.

You need to be sure the water-based layers are cured – not just dry to the touch – before applying the oil-based top coats.

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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