Wrapping Paper for Decoupage, Done!

The Day after Christmas has always been such a downer. So much hype and anticipation and then there’s the day after.  You wake up still cleaning up boxes and paper and organizing new and old stuff and the dreaded task ahead of taking down the tree and decorations.  I find there are some things that make the 26^th less hum drum.

First, plan to leave on a trip! Second, stay home in PJs watching movies all day. Third, have a crafting extravaganza! J Fourth, go out on the town doing something completely new. Fifth, of course, stay home and play with all the new stuff! What did I do? A little of the cleaning, a little playing with new stuff and a little bit of crafting.

I was so happy to sit down and try this decoupage technique.  After having this sign for years, literally, I finally did this craft and it only took about an hour.  This is how I did it.

1.  Precut the shapes from the wrapping paper (I used Mary Engelbreit Designs) before you start the craft, this can take time.  Keep in mind to also cut the shapes that are partial at the end of the paper roll, as these may come in handy when you are laying it out on surface edges.

2.  Lay out the cut pieces on your surface as you like it before you use the decoupage adhesive.

You may have to trim some even more to fit around edges and such.

When you have it how you like it, you can start the decoupage technique.

3.  Brush the adhesive on the back of the paper with the sponge applicator and put it where you want it and smooth it out on the surface. I did this for all the pieces that went on the one section I was working on.

** I was a little stingy with the glue at first because I didn’t want it to be gloppy. TIP: If you are too stingy with the glue on the paper piece, it will stick right away and you can’t reposition it. A little more buys you time for it to dry so you can move it if you need to.

4. Clean as you go any excess that gets in a wrong spot before it dries.

5.  After all the pieces were down; I brushed a small layer of adhesive over the entire surface as stated in the directions. I tried to keep the  strokes going in a vertical direction (up & down) for a neater finish.

 Here is how it looks when the the surface was coated with the decoupage. A little shiny but not glossy, as I had feared!

B E F O R E

 A F T E R

(You can click on the pics for larger view)

I am not sure if you can easily read what it says with all the flowers,

it looks neat with the colors behind in on the "before" picture but it's too late now!