DIY Decoupage Design Ideas

If you are looking for an inexpensive, fun hobby and like to follow the new hot trend of recycling as well, then you should definitely check out the very old, but very popular art-form of decoupage. Decoupage comes from the French verb, decouper, which means "to cut." This refers to decorative paper cutouts, being layered and glued on various objects. Finishing it of with several coats of sealers to make the cut out appearance diminish, and the result will look like an expensive painting.
Blue Nudes
So if you are looking for a fun craft project that some very famous people was mastering, including Marie Antoinette, Madame de Pompadour, and more recently, Pablo Picasso and Matisse with his very famous blue nudes, then you just need a few simple tools and materials, and a bit of creativity, and you're all set to start this very fun and rewarding art-form. You can decoupage on almost anything such as, picture frames, lampshades, books, plastic jars, glass containers, tables, chairs, bed boards... well, I could go on and on.
Popular Among the DIY Crowd
Decoupage was born in twelfth century China, but became immensely popular in France and the rest of Europe in the 17th century. However, this art form is once again gaining huge popularity among the DIY crowd and the crafters all over the world. The materials are very inexpensive, and the decoupage technique will turn anything into a piece of art. From an old shoebox or a pair of sneakers, to an ugly counter top or a picture frame. Your imagination, glue and some cut outs can transform anything imaginable into a work of art.
Recycle and Reuse
Decoupage is an art form that reuse and recycle old items more than any other hobby. This hobby is very environmentally friendly and is just right for today's world, when protecting our environment is so important. We all can help saving our earth, by choosing to recycle and reuse, instead of buying new things that will soon fill up our land fills. So next time you consider to throw anything in the trash, take a second good look, because it could be transformed into a chic and trendy decoupaged piece of art. This old art form has become today's recycling!
Decoupage a Habit-Forming Hobby
Whatever you decide to create, you'll have the great pleasure to know that you have taken on an art form from the 12th century. In fact, this is an art form that is just right for today and the future. Maybe by showing your creative and unique projects, you may inspire others to follow in your footsteps to start recycling, and bring this art form into the next century. However, I do have to warn you, decoupage could be rather habit-forming. As soon as you start to see the beautiful results from your decoupaged projects, you'll be on the look out for more things to decoupage. It's very straightforward and easy crafting, and so much fun.
When I moved into my apartment last year, I wanted to do something special with my decor. My apartment is one half of a house that's over a hundred years old and contains little gems like a fireplace in every room and gorgeous antique wallpaper. Regular furniture wasn't going to cut it.
So first, I went shopping. I found a decent table for $3 at the Salvation Army. The top was uneven with several different colors of wood grain and, as if that wasn't enough, yellow and blue paint splatters. I decided to sand and stain it.
Two weeks and a lot of wasted time later, I decided to try something else. The color didn't turn out right and the surface still wasn't as smooth as I wanted. That's when I decided to try my hand at decoupaging.
Step One: Go Shopping
After selecting your piece of furniture, get an idea for your design. You can use anything from family photos or album covers to cute character cutouts for a child's room. I chose vintage magazine clippings for mine. You can get an old magazine at an antique store for a dollar or so. Try to use magazines published on glossy paper.