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Decoupage on China

How to Decoupage a China Lamp

Hello lovely craftie,

I have an old lamp that I'd like to use in my flat - except that the china base has a very ugly design painted on it. I thought decoupaging it would be nice.

Common sense says to sandpaper it first, to remove some finish and create some rough surface for the glue to adhere to.

Could you give me some advice on how much I should sandpaper it down?

Also, I would like to use the pictures from a Dover Publishing Company catalogue - they are free (and I am poor!), and the ClipArt catalogue is full of wonderful, copyright-free examples - there are plenty of Victorian patterns there for me to use.

But, of course, the catalogue is printed on very slightly glossy, normal weight paper. Do I have to go through the process of scanning and printing on card, or can I get away with simply cutting out the images (I'm also a bit ill, and tire easily. Cutting and pasting is cool - sitting at the computer and scanning heaps - ouch!)

Though I would like it to turn out well, of course, so I may not have a choice.

Your advice on these two questions would be hugely appreciated. :-)

Oh, also - PVA for sticking to the china? Or something else? I've seen images on the web of work artists have done on china objects, so it is do-able.

All the best, and have a magical day.

Megan

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First let me say how much I enjoyed your breezy clever letter. I’ve never been called “lovely craftie” before and I love it! Thank you. :-)

No, it’s not necessary to sand a ceramic (or glass) surface before decoupage.

As for using original cutouts from your catalogs, yes you can. The only caution is that if you damage the original, you have no fallback.

That’s why most decoupers go to the copy center to have laser copies made. Laser copies are less susceptible to ink bleed than ink jet copies.

[As an aside, I know decoupers who have gotten around the ink bleed problem and use ink jet copies that they print from their home computer printers. Read my friend and master decouper, Kay Davies’ decoupage tips.]

If you’re sure you want to use the originals, do a test first. Cut out a few images you don’t care about losing and find a small pane of glass for your test.

Be sure to sand any sharp edges of the glass so as not to cut yourself. [No more sanding required, I promise.] This test will also allow you to refine your technique and gauge how much adhesive is needed to decoup onto a glassy-smooth surface.

Put a large gob of PVA (I recommend Mod Podge or Elmer’s Glue-All on the area for your first image. You do want to use a lot of PVA. This minimizes bubble formation and makes it easier to smooth out any that do develop.

Since you are dealing with images that have ink on both sides of the paper, you need to add an extra step called “relaxing” – not you, the paper. [“Relaxing” is cool, not tedious like “sitting at the computer and scanning heaps”].

If the two sides of the paper have different tensile strength, the test as well as the cure is to drop the paper into water. If it curls, it would cause problems and fight with the adhesive unless you relax it first.

Find a basin or bowl large enough to hold a single image and fill it with water. Drop in an image and let it “relax” until it stops curling and floats freely without wrinkles. Pluck the image from the water. All the better if you have a bit of glue on your fingers. This makes it easier to lift and position the image.

Once in place, put a gob of PVA on top of the image and smooth it out using your fingertips. Work from the center to force out any air bubbles.

When you’ve got all your images in place, gently wipe the excess from around the edges of each image with a damp – not wet – sponge. Don’t wipe over the image itself. Remember you want lots of PVA for a smooth glossy finish.

Now it’s your turn to sit back and relax while your decoupage work of art dries and cures. It is dry and can be touched or gently moved when the PVA is perfectly clear. It may take several days for the PVA to cure completely giving your lamp a hard and durable finish.

May you have a magical day too! Thanks for making mine.

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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