Decoupage: decorating technique using application that mimics the artistic painting. According to some sources, it was invented in the 12th century Chinese peasants. According to others, the history of decoupage began in the Middle Ages. Cut the picture started to decorate the furniture in 15th century Germany. In this way, expensive furniture masters imitated the eastern inlay. There are also the allegation that the decoupage born in Eastern Siberia. And even that used by the ancient nomads of decoupage to decorate the graves.

The very name is of French origin. Decoupage was extremely fashionable at the court of the French kings. In Italy this art called Arte Povera (poor art). In England, the decoupage technique became known in the days of Queen Victoria. From there, at the beginning of the 20th century, it penetrated to America (as a fashionable hobby).

To us came the fashion for decoupage recently - at the beginning of this century. And every year it is the art of gaining a stronger position in the ranks of the well-known techniques of needlework.

Why is that? Decoupage - creative and very fun. It allows you to spend your time and, and create something special for home decoration. And so today was the decoupage technique mainly for female crafts. The particular attraction of decoupage is that even those who can not draw can use ready-made patterns to simulate the art of painting. What is the essence of such technology available?

What is the technology?

The essence of the process is to decorate any object sticking to it pieces of paper, leather or other materials. The main objective of the master - to remove the boundaries between the surface to be decorated and pasted pattern, creating the illusion of painting or inlay. In general, the process is as follows decoupage.

1. Select item for decoration.
2. Selects the picture for decoration (decoupage motif).
3. Figure glued to the subject.
4. All varnished.

Everything is simple and clear. But not quite. This technique has its own style, its own methods. Each dekupazhnitsy-skilled workers has its own secrets. The answer to the question of the simple and effective way of decorating gives it decoupage technique: how to make the usual unusual, beautiful and unattractive.

Styles and effects decoupage

In Decoupage, as in any other form of arts and crafts have their own styles. The most popular are:

• Shabby-chic,
• simplisiti,
• Provence
• ethno,
• Victorian style.

Styling in Decoupage is achieved by means of auxiliary effects.

Craquelure - the effect of cracking. It is used for visual aging of things. With cracelures create an image of the old things.

The effect of wear. Recreates some frayed portions of the surface. Used to style Shabby-chic. It simulates the thing with a rich history and a long life. The style suggests the presence of a white and pink tones and sentimental motives.

Patina (or bitumen) give things kind of tarnished gold. Used for gilding of surfaces.

Shadow is used for softness and decoupage camouflage pattern boundaries. Shadows applied dry brush or pastel colors.

Objects Decoupage Decor

The most rewarding material for decoupage - a tree. And that is why the most common items decorating Decoupage - wooden furniture and home furnishings: cutting boards, key holders, boxes, chests, benches, shelves, tables.

Fragile, but still popular material - glass. Working with glass requires special skills. Most often used for the production of decoupage gift bottles and plates. However, this technique can be decorated and the usual dishes, and glass doors and picture frames.

Plastic tableware and furniture (and other objects) also can be decorated using decoupage. Suitable for this technique and other surfaces: fabric, metal, leather, candles.

Decoupage motifs

As a motive for decoupage use any pictures. The best-known material - napkins for decoupage. It is because of their widespread use decoupage called the tissue engineering.

Napkins for blending thinner and brighter than usual condiment of paper napkins. Although this statement is debatable. Napkins for the table sometimes does not concede any napkin decoupage richness of colors or original drawings. The difficulty in the use of tissue - their subtlety. Because of its density are easily torn tissues, collected in creases and folds.

Decoupage cards are paper sheets with a pattern. They have the advantage (and disadvantage) to the napkins is the density of the paper. After drawing cards translucent surface of the object to be decorated. But to achieve invisibility boundaries of the drawing is much harder.

Besides classical decoupage cards and napkins for the application, you can use any other figures: postcards, photographs, magazine clippings. The main thing - to properly process the image. Usually postcards or photos carefully remove layers of paper and leave only a thin film with a pattern. Her and used for decoupage.

Tools and materials

The main instruments are the technology decoupage scissors, glue, primer, brushes, paints, and (of course) wipes.

Scissors are used to clear things. But some expert recommended decoupage motif is not cut and pull. So shears may not be necessary. The primer used for coloring the surface to be decorated in white. This allows you to keep the paint Decoupage motive.

Decoupage glue pattern is attached to the work surface. In addition to the special adhesives used in decoupage glue PVA, office or construction adhesive.

Brushes need for glue, podrisovki small details, effects and varnishing. For decoupage using thin and wide brushes made from natural and synthetic materials.

Paints need for toning work surface and podrisovki details. Dyes are also used for the application of various effects.

Operating procedure:

1. white acrylic primer paint or primer,
2. bonding pattern,
3. Remove glue residue and toning the figure,
4. lacquer.

The main rule of decoupage "slow and steady wins - on going." This technique does not tolerate haste and bustle. And, as a performance, and training.

How to learn?

Secrets of skill Decoupage decorate so many that the study - not retrained, read - do not read, watch - not revised. And, nevertheless, to master the technique of decoupage afford everyone.

The surest way - Courses decoupage. You agree that direct communication with the teacher is the most effective training. So sign up for such courses and pass the training under a master.

If this is not possible, there are other options.

Master classes. On the Internet there are plenty of video tutorials and step-fotoinstruktsy. Such lessons can be enough to master the art decoupage.

Special forums needlewomen also prove useful. And finally, special materials on the Internet, magazines and books - a great help in the process of self-study.

Just remember that Moscow and that was not built. The experience and skill comes with time. Start first steps in decoupage with simple objects. A gain experience, you can even turn a shoebox exquisite box or forged antique chest. And all this with the help of the tissue engineering.

Contents:

• Snowflakes of dry pasta
• Snowflakes foil
• Crochet snowflakes
• Snowflakes of twigs
• Snowflakes of felt
• Snowflakes of salt dough

Did you know that the preparation for the New Year brings no less (if not more) of joy than the celebration? And why? Because the expectation of the New Year - is waiting for a miracle. And with age, we do not cease to hope for a miracle. That's why so carefully preparing for this magical holiday, we try to discover new recipes for the holiday table, pick up new clothes, buying gifts for family and friends and, of course, decorate their house. And decorate the Christmas tree and garlands to hang, and be sure to cut out snowflakes. Well, even if we do not cut, then this New Year's Eve as a child addicted to occupation of all.

Christmas snowflake with their hands - that was easier? Nothing, except that the cotton balls on strings from the ceiling. A beautiful, delicate hand-made snowflakes sculptured on the windows and mirrors hung on the walls and doors, and they decorated the Christmas tree. Even today, despite the abundance of bright and shiny Christmas decorations in the stores, arms and scratched make something sort of New Year. And thus to touch the miracle. Here we are drawn to the memory of old paper and scissors, and again as a child, cut out snowflakes, cut, cut - until you get bored.

And, by the way, making only one New Year's snowflakes by cutting paper is not limited. So you know, for example, that the Christmas snowflakes with their hands can make pasta, foil, from salted dough? Yes, they can just crochet or sew. Let's see what this all turns out.

Snowflakes of dry pasta

For these small snowflakes suit makaroshki (shells, flowers, wheels, feathers). The most interesting - to come up with the shape of snowflakes. Collect interesting, different in form and composition of snowflakes on the table first, and then later merge. To snowflakes dry out well and did not stick to the work surface, place them on wax paper and occasionally upside.

Then paint snowflakes with a brush or spray paint. They can be white, blue, gold or silver. Be careful and imposes just a lot of paint - the pasta from moisture swell! After painting the snowflakes can be decorated with sequins, beads, or beads. Ready snowflakes hang on ribbons and decorate their Christmas tree and room.

Snowflakes foil

To foil snowflakes suitable food roll foil or foil from chocolate. Cut out of her candy wrappers square with sides of 5 to 10 cm (all depends on the future snowflakes). Number of wrappers will also depend on the volume itself and snowflakes. Each wrapper roll up into a ball (not very thick, but smooth). Actually, these balls are rays and snowflakes.

Now, in one of the balls (it will be the center) with an awl or a thick needle to make the necessary number of through-holes (three or four). And insert pieces of wire (10-12 cm) and then put the rest on the wire beads. Seal the ends of the wire into the last lumps of foil. Attach the ribbon. All - Snowflake ready!

Crochet snowflakes

Those who know how to crochet, you can use their skills for the manufacture of fine crocheted snowflakes. Small delicate beauty, not only decorate the Christmas tree and the house. They can be used for decoration knitted things (for example, children's hats). Knit snowflakes of white, blue, blue (as you like) yarn for knitting or iris, or floss, or severe reel of thread for sewing.

Special masters can come up with creative design for their own snowflakes. And with the decline of his creative powers, or lack of time, you can find a lot of interesting ready-made schemes. By the way, with no less success crochet snowflakes can be used openwork motives napkins. Finished snowflake little iron starching and ironing. However, for those who crochet is not able, manufacture of knitted Christmas snowflakes - a good excuse to master this uncomplicated and very useful technique.

Snowflakes of twigs

For these snowflakes need any tree branches (the thickness of a pencil), a knife or sharp scissors, glue (glue gun) and something for decoration - buttons, beads, berries, ribbon, pine branches, and so on.

Cut the branches on the number of rays of future snowflakes. Remember that there must be an even number - six or eight? On the basis of (the middle of a snowflake) on a circle of cardboard glue all the rays. In order to give the similarity branches with snow crystals, add to each beam of the cross, or V-shaped short perekladinki. And it is possible that both. Mid decorate as we like: a bow, a sprig of green, bright buttons, in short, everything your heart desires. Snowflake ready. We want to hang it on the tree, we would like - on the wall and admire!

Snowflakes of felt

This is an excellent option for the production of creative snowflakes who is friends with a needle and thread. But even if you do not know how to sew well, the snowflakes of felt - a good excuse to start this study. For these snowflakes need red and white felt (discs with a diameter of 10 centimeters and a strip of 0, 5 to 10 cm), a pencil for fabrics, sewing machine, red and white thread, scissors.

Through the center of a white disc a pencil horizontal scroll disk and divide into six equal sections. Two centimeters from the center of the circle, mark on the painted stripes dots and connect them one by one to each other by straight lines. In the center of snowflakes I should get a pentagon. And then on each long strip (ray snowflakes) draw two perpendicular short stripes. However, this is only one embodiment of the pattern. You can draw on any other felt snowflake regular geometric shape.

Then fold each other red and white circle, and between them under one of the beams, place a thin strip of felt (a loop for hanging snowflakes). Fill in a sewing machine thread so that the upper thread was red, and the bottom - white. Stitch on a snowflake painted lines - first rays, and then melenkie strips. Cut off any excess thread. And then all neproshitye of the circle cut with scissors, departing from the seams of two millimeters on both sides. Erase the pencil and can admire the extraordinary red-white felt snowflakes. And not only admire such snowflakes decorate the Christmas tree or room - the effect will exceed all expectations.

Snowflakes of salt dough

Beautiful snowflakes from salt dough can be done in two ways. In any case, you will need a dough from one part of salt, one part of the two parts of flour and water. For plasticity to the test, you can add a spoonful of vegetable oil.

In the first case snowflakes lepim thin sausages. Roll out the sausage and turn of her monogram. The tips of the sausages in the spiral wrap on both sides (two-three turns) and then tightens the spiral to each other so as to form a loop below them. This is the first element of snowflakes. The second element - a simple loop. Roll out dough sausage is turned off in the loop and cut off the excess ends.

For a single snowflake need four monograms and twelve loops of dough. In the center of the future snowflakes place a small circle (the same dough), and around the place the monogram spirals into snowflakes. Four loops (cone down) placed between the spirals monograms, and the remaining eight (cone up) - between eyelets monograms.

In the second case of a snowflake made from a single piece of salt dough, roll into a thin layer. Cut out the stencil snowflake - can be delicate, can be continuous, with no gaps. Make a hole for the belt. The dried white snowflake coat of paint and paint the dashes, circles and swirls. For prettification use red or blue pen. If desired, the finished snowflake coat varnish.

As it turns out, Christmas snowflake with their hands - it's not just a pair of scissors and paper. All your needlework skills can fully manifest itself in the production of such simple and wonderful symbol of winter and the New Year - the snowflake. So, in preparation for the New Year, sew, knit, sculpt and glue these magical lace decoration, and how could it be otherwise - on the threshold of the New Year!