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Paper Decoupage | ||||
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 Do
you wish you had some hip Easter, Mother's Day, and Father's Day gift
ideas other than the same old gifts you always give? |
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 If
your answer is "yes" to any of these questions, then why
not create your own decoupage frame gift?
If April showers are getting you down, now is the perfect time to get ready for some springtime fun with paper. From Easter to Mother's Day to Father's Day, there's lots of special spring days to look forward to no matter what the weather. For gift giving, a decoupage frame (with a lovely picture of you and your mom or dad) that you made yourself is the ideal present. Deco what? Come on now, you remember decoupage, don't you? You were probably in fourth grade art class or maybe stuck inside at home after school on a rainy day when you first began "doing decoupage." You spilled glue all over the desk (and yourself). In fact, glue was everywhere! Your teacher or mom were probably already launching into some serious clean-up intervention and you weren't even done. After your sticky fingers were finally cleaned and the varnish had dried, you probably created a pretty neat little box that you decoupaged all by yourself. Here's your chance to step back into your artistic past by producing a unique, one-of-a-kind present today that's unavailable in any store, mail order catalog, or web site. Best of all, with some of today's new and improved products, you can skip the varnish as well as some of the mess. So, if your ready to "do decoupage," let's get going! |
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STUFF YOU'LL NEED: 1) A picture frame (you pick the size). 2) Acrylic paint (a small spray can in your choice of color). 3) A print or picture at least 8-1/2 x 11 in size to cut-up and adhere to the frame. 4) Packet of instant coffee (optional). 5) Scissors. 6) Mod Podge Gloss Lustre (use this combo glue/varnish or a similar goop product). 7) Any kind of brush (to apply Mod Podge). 8) Cloth for clean-up. 9) Photograph of you, your parents, your baby, your dog, your bunny, or whatever to insert in the finished frame (black & white or color photo: You make the call). THE 7 SIMPLE STEPS TO MAKING A DECOUPAGE FRAME: This Paper Play Project is pretty simple, pretty satisfying, and makes for a pretty present... 1) Clean off the frame, especially if it's dirty. 2) Depending on your preference, you can either leave the frame color "as is" or spray paint on a new color. Be sure to let it dry overnight. 3) If you like, you can give your print or picture an aged look by staining with instant coffee. Carefully sprinkle the coffee granules on the print. Be sure to experiment so you don't ruin your picture. 4) Cut up the print or picture you're going to glue to the frame any way you wish. Some people like a collage look while others prefer neat, symmetrical cut-outs. 5) After cutting up the picture, simply apply the Mod Podge to the back of it and glue to the frame. 6) Then, once all of the picture pieces are in place, apply the Mod Podge over the cut out pictures. Mod Podge should be dry in 10 minutes. Use a damp cloth for any spills. 7) Insert the photo in the picture frame, gift wrap it and you're finished. Then wait for the smiles as you present your decoupage masterpiece! |
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Are
you feeling a little under the weather this spring and looking
for a fun indoor activity?
Does
the very thought of making a homemade gift seem too difficult,
too time consuming, and frankly, too embarrassing?
