This is my first decoupaged papier mache bowl...it is sort of a hodge podge patchwork-ey wonky shaped bowl...it isn't very good. As I had stated in a previous post, I am working really hard at coming up with new designs for my paper bowls... While, decoupage is not a new idea..and many artists, quite talented, might I add, use this medium in their creations...it is something I have never attempted. And I always wanted to.
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I think the key to being successful at decoupaging is choosing the correct paper to cover said object. This...is where I went undoubtedly wrong. I actually *think* I had the right idea when I began. For starters, I chose a children's book that was given to me by my neighbor, this book had been beaten, ripped...way beyond the point of reading. But, my neighbor gave me the book with the knowledge that I like to find the useful in what would be trash... This book, "The lion, the witch, and the Wardrobe", in case you were wondering, had interesting text, some colorful pictures, although they were somewhat faded....but, none-the-less, I thought it would add interest to the bowl I was about to cover. I should have taken a pic of the bowl after I covered it with the first layer. This is where I should have stopped.
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Another tip at being successful at decoupaging is knowing when to stop. I did not follow my own advice of this tip either. I thought the bowl needed a small hint of extra color. I added a light pink layer of pink tissue paper. Oh..no, no, no...why didn't I stop right there? I then added some blue tissue paper.....squares of it...which gave it a patchwork feel. And...I don't like it. I don't like it in the least.
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I think part of the problem was that it was fun.. I thoroughly enjoyed the process..maybe if I enjoyed the process less, I would enjoy the end product better. I think I will sit in a horribly uncomfortable chair next time..and see if that helps.
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Do you have any tips for me?
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9 comments:
wow that bowl turned out awesome!!
Decoupage is tricky--One thing that helped me was to plan out my composition ahead of tme and stick to it--I only allowed myself to add more than my original plan if I still wanted to do so 24 hours later--but first I'd lay everything out without gluing anything and assess it, then--once i had something i loved--glue it down. It is tempting to add mid-process because decoupaging can be really addictive though--lol.
I like it, really. All of your work is so original looking. I do love decoupage, too. It can be tricky. I tend to create as I go along, sometimes not knowing what the end result will be. But that's half the fun of it, right? Keep playing with it. You'll eventually get what you're "seeing" in your mind's eye. Thanks for sharing and always "keeping it real," for lack of a better term. The new photo of your family is lovely, too.
Well I think it, just like everything else....practice...practice...practice. Plus, it's like being a kid again playing in all of the glorious mess!
I've done a few decoupage items in the past and, you're right, it's very tricky. Paper can look one way before applying the decoupage and different after. I guess perfection (if there is such a thing in decoupage), comes with trial and error. Best of luck!
sewingmom
what a fun process to try creating something brand new out of something unwanted. keep at it!
I have never done decoupage but I wanted to say kudos to you for your first try--it looks pretty good to me!
I don't have any tips but it sure looks like fun!!
As it was said in the previous comments, planning before and pratice, practice are the keys words. Even after many years of practice I do find myself with not so beautiful projects. I think your first try looks great! We judge ourselves so bad. Try different kind of papers (handmade, machine-made...), experiment with different kind of glues. And see what happens! ;-)
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