Decoupage is a simple technique with which you can renew and recycle many objects made of wood, glass, brass, etc. To do this you just have to cut the paper, paste it on the surface and varnish. East “before and after” of recycling a box with decoupage It is just an example of what can be done with this technique.
My mother had a box at home that she used as a jewelery box and that, despite her years, continued to fulfill its function. The paper with which it was covered had yellowed over time, so I took it with me to rejuvenate it and give it a more up-to-date vintage look.
exist different types of glues or mediums for decoupage depending on the surface on which the paper is to be adhered. For non-porous surfaces, if we do not want to use a specific glue, a previous primer can be given to ensure good adhesion of the paper.
The box I wanted to update was lined with paper and protected with a varnish, so what I did was sand the surface to remove the varnish and be able to paint it.
To paint the box I used blackboard paint in spray. Blackboard paint or chalk paint adheres to the paper without any problem, in addition, with its aerosol version sanding is avoided since to decorate with the decoupage technique it is convenient that the surface is completely smooth. Otherwise, and depending on the thickness of the paper, it is easier for the unsightly wrinkles to be noticed.
The next step was sand the trim areain this way it was possible to remove part of the paint and give the box a more vintage touch.
For decoupage you can use different types of paper such as rice paper, napkins, magazine clippings, photocopies, etc.
Particularly the papers that I like the most when decorating with decoupage are napkins and rice paper. The napkins are so thin that the result seems to be painted directly on the object, but they are very delicate and can easily be torn when working with them. Rice paper is a bit thicker than a napkin and less flexible, but it is more durable.
On this occasion I have used rice paper decorated with roses on a background of lace and turquoise manuscript.
First of all, what I did was decorate the lid of the box, for this I cut out a rectangle leaving a margin of half a centimeter on each side, I adhered it with Mod Podge (you can buy it at this link) and I eliminated the excess margin with sandpaper.
In the front part I tore the paper instead of cutting it, in this way it merged with the paint providing a more natural appearance.
For the back I cut out the area of the paper that drew a doily.
Finally, on the sides I cut out the roses to adhere them directly to the painting.
Once the paper on the box had dried, I sanded the surface with very fine-grain sandpaper, insisting a little more on the edges of the paper with the paint. In this way it was possible to give worn appearance and reduce the small unevenness that forms between the paint and the paper.
On the other hand, in order not to create so much contrast between the white color with which I had painted the box and the rice paper, what I did was give several strokes with pink and turquoise acrylic paints (in this link you can see another box in which I used a similar technique).
To finish I applied a couple of layers of Mod Podge, sanding between them to get a soft touch result and also seal and protect the rice paper.
Summarizing…
We review the steps so that nothing is left in the inkwell:
1º.- Sand the surface to ensure good adhesion of the paint.
2º.- Paint the whole box and sand some areas to give it a vintage look.
3º.- Cut or tear the pieces of paper that we are going to use to decorate the box.
4º.- Adhere the paper with glue for decoupage or medium.
5º.- Sand the paper with very fine sandpaper to give it a worn appearance.
6º.- Apply varnish or the same glue that we have used to fix the paper throughout the box, in this way it seals and protects the result.
What do you think of this idea? recycle a box with decoupage? If it still fulfills its function, why discard an object or piece of furniture just because it is outdated or old? There are many techniques and ways to give it a second chance and bring it back to the present. Make use of them to recycle!
If you liked this post, you can see many more ideas about recycling and DIY projects at .
