The word “decoupage” from the French language can be translated as “carving”; skill is based on this process.
By the way, even Madame Pompadour herself used a similar type of needlework to decorate objects. It was France that became the ancestor of decoupage, from there art spread throughout Europe. By the way, in some countries there were even their own schools for the study and improvement of this technique (among them Poland, Germany, China).
What is decoupage? This decoration of various objects with pieces of cloth, clippings from magazines and newspapers, from cardboard. Such elements are glued to the surface of the decorated object, and then they are coated with varnish, paints or other coloring materials in order to give an attractive appearance to the object. For example, it can be a decoupage of a bottle, often it is full. Subsequently, it is presented as a souvenir or an original wedding gift.
As a basis, you can choose glass products, porcelain or clay, plastic or wooden. You can decorate furniture, accessories, for example, mirrors or vases, or you can create whole compositions on photo frames or an amazing tea service.
Decoupage of wedding bottles is very simple: use pictures from magazines or beautiful vinyl wallpapers. Cut out the desired images, and then, degreasing the surface of the bottle, paste the pictures. After the glue layer has dried, paint over the joints or transitions between the pictures, you can use beautiful gold or silver tones, in addition, use bows, rhinestones or other similar accessories. Then the resulting masterpiece must be varnished in several layers, each of which must dry.
The most important thing is to choose the right pictures, that is, the paper should be thick enough so that it does not crawl after applying the glue, and the pattern should be located on one side so that it does not appear after getting wet. Decoupage specialists recommend using postcards or paper to wrap gifts.
By the way, to make out not smooth surfaces, but, for example, curved (decoupage on a bottle), use small pictures. Thus, after the glue dries, they will not protrude or distort the pattern due to the concave or curved surface of the object.
Similarly, even self-made screens can beautified. A very interesting gift will be an album made in the style of decoupage, it can be presented for holidays such as the birth of a baby or marriage.
What is decoupage? This is a whole art, imagination and the inner world of man are manifested here. You can create an amazing masterpiece even from a simple box.
If you decide to look for the answer to the question of what is decoupage, get ready to get a lot of answers, among which there are very interesting and informative master classes on this type of needlework. You will be offered to decorate or update the interior by adding an unusual table, the table top of which will be made using decoupage technique. An old wardrobe can be decorated with an amazing ornament, using it instead of expensive stained glass, and, of course, lampshades, cute coasters for cups or books, flower pots or vases.
At the end of the article I want to make a small conclusion about what decoupage is. This is the inner world of a person, this is the flight of his imagination, worldview and attitude, sometimes it is an emotional explosion or the consequences of events. In addition to the above, it is also a great opportunity to get to know yourself, as well as create a unique handmade gift, which is much more appreciated than purchased products.