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Decoupage on Teak

Decoupage on Wooden Vases

Hello.

I want to do a collage type decoupage on two wooden vases that are 12 in. high; they are like a teak wood and have a finish on them. Can you tell me what steps I have to take to do this and also some ideas for a design?

It is for a wedding shower gift for my niece and I also want to include seashells and tiny glass stones besides the pictures of their engagement.

If you could give me some kind of direction to follow or ideas, it would be much appreciated. I have decoupaged many years ago and hope I will be able to do this.

Can’t wait to hear what suggestions you have!!

Mary

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Teak has a natural sheen to it when polished. If this is what you mean by “finish” you may not need to do any prepping other than wiping the vases down with alcohol to remove any oil.

Two of the most popular surfaces for decoupage are glass and ceramic; so don’t worry about the teak-like wood being too smooth. Many people think you need a rough surface for the decoupage medium to grab. Not so.

On the other hand, if your vases are finished with anything like lacquer or polyurethane, this article on Decoupaging Used Furniture might help.

Since you say you decoupaged “many years ago”, it may be helpful to take a little refresher course. I think you’ll find some helpful tips in this article about on decouping onto glass and ceramic.

With the teak and seashells, you’ve got very neutral colors. If the tiny glass stones are sea glass, they would fit in very nicely with a natural theme and look. I would select sea glass pieces in muted tones and go for an elegant look.

I’m just brainstorming here and, since I haven’t seen any of your materials I may be waaaay off base; but hopefully I can give you some ideas to jump off from.

I would choose one central photo for each side of the vases. If the colors are too vibrant for the elegant look I envision, I would tone them down in a photo editing software like Photoshop. I might make them sepia (brown tones like an antique photo) or just mute the shades to tie in with the sea glass.

Using a photo editing software also gives you the option to select just part of a picture by cropping. Because of the subject matter, I probably would not cut the photos up as is usually done for decoupage. My vases would be more like a scrapbook page – images to be preserved and enhanced.

Cut out a template the same size as each surface of the vases and then play with various arrangements on the templates until you are satisfied.

You might edge each photo with cutouts from paper doilies and arrange the shells and sea glass artfully over the entire template – to be on the wood itself but with a few strategically placed on the photo.

Once you are happy with your designs, you are ready to begin decoupaging.

One final note: I would hold the stones and sea glass aside almost like a separate project. If you glue them on and then apply two or three coats of decoupage medium, you may not be happy with the (unnatural) finish. To preserve the natural look, they should be applied as the very last step. Just use a good strong craft glue like E6000 or a liquid epoxy.

You can do it, Mary! And I’m sure Aunt Mary’s decoupage vases will be treasured conversation pieces for years to come.

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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