Decoupage Tutorial - Decoupaged Bookcase

Photo By: http://quillcottage.blogspot.com

Photo By: http://quillcottage.blogspot.com

When we think about decoupage we often imagine things like pictures or maybe a piece of jewelry but in this post I'll show you that it does not end with dose things. Sure, this is a larger project and it consumes time but it will give you the freedom to have a piece of furniture that you've always imagined or that will completely fit your idea for the perfect... bookcase for example, or an old trunk in this case. Note that in fact this technique could be applied on  anything you want and may be just the example that will give you the opportunity to think about the design of your home, the fridge for example or a piece of your wall with a small element. Hopefully in the next few tutorials I'll give you some ideas about decoupage and home decor. For now take a look at this beautiful bookcase :)

Enjoy!

X Lily

Decoupage Piece of Art Tutorial

Photo By:  http://chrisglass.com

The heart of every house is its owner. He brings his own style, his own identity and atmosphere in it and makes it unique. This kind of art, that I want to present to you, brings out the best of our creative self, it is definitely for everyone and you could be sure that no one can copy it and have the same piece like you. You can put in your project things that are important for you - some vacation postcards, brochures of museums, maps or pictures of  a city that you've been or that you like and plan to visit eventually, or even one of you favorite graphic novels. This will be your unique print in your house that makes it home - your home. . . So go on and be the artist that you've always wanted to be with this great decoupage piece of art tutorial :)

Enjoy!

X Lily

Decoupage Tutorial - How to Decoupage a Photo Frame

Photo By: Not Just a Housewife
http://www.favecrafts.com

I've always had a thing about photo frames, there is just something sentimental and romantic about them. They create this great atmosphere, no matter if it is a wedding picture, a photo of your kid, a friend, a family portrait or even if you like some of those prints of the great big cities with all their lights and sort of bohemian feeling captured in them.

Photo By: Not Just a Housewife
http://www.favecrafts.com 

So I found for you this excellent tutorial on how to decoupage photo frames that match your own style and home decor. They are so addictive, that you will want to make one for all of your friends and soon they may become your trade mark ;) Here it is, a beautiful and detailed tutorial made by Not Just a Housewife.

Enjoy!

X Lily

Decoupage - list of necessary supplies

Let's see... You've crossed an interesting decoupage project and you've decided that this time there is no turning around - you are gonna DO this. Here is what you gonna need for your Decoupage project :) Of course first you wanna find an object to decoupage onto - it may be a piece of jewelry, ceramic pot for your little flower spot or even a furniture, a plate, a photo frame or whatever other surface you've put your eyes onto ;)

Than you gonna need some pictures to decoupage with. They may be from various sources like newspapers, magazines, catalogs, books, wrapping paper, tissue paper and even paper napkins. 

You sure will need some cutting utensils like scissors or maybe a craft knife, also known as X-acto knife

You'll also need  glue. Usually standard white glue will do the job pretty well if you mix it with some water, but if you want to play by the rules you can find different kinds of decoupage glue in every art supplies shop. They are three basic types - normal, glossy and mat, feel free to choose according to your project.

No doubt you'll want you project to be smooth so you'll need something to do that with. Popsicle stick works well but if you want to go pro, there is a special tool called brayer which is basically a miniature rolling pin, designed to help remove wrinkles, excess  glue and to smooth the pictures.


Also essential for your project is to have something to spread the glue with. Many things around the house can be used - cotton swabs, makeup sponges or you can buy a paint brush from a local store. 


Finally, after all the work is done you will need a sealer of some kind. Glue or other decoupage medium can be used for the purpose, alternatively you can use acrylic spray, epoxy resin or other lacquers. 


And last but not least from the very beginning of your work you will need something to keep your house surfaces clean, so keep in mind that in order to do that you will have to spread around some old newspapers or plastic wrap.


I hope that this will be useful :)
X Lily

Decoupage - some history facts about it

Currently I'm researching the internet for various decoupage projects in order to present to you the most interesting of them :) while doing this I realize that in fact I know nothing about the roots of the decoupage technique itself. According to Wikipedia.com the most likely origin of decoupage is thought to be East Siberian tomb art. Nomadic tribes would use cut out felts to decorate the tombs of their deceased. From Siberia, the practice came to China, and by the 12th century, cut out paper was being used to decorate lanterns, windows, boxes and other objects. In the 17th century, Italy, especially in Venice, was at the forefront of trade with the Far East and it is generally thought that it is through these trade links that the cut out paper decorations made their way into Europe. And that's basically how Florentine Decoupage was born and  how Decoupage was added to the Florentine artisans' methods. 

XXX Lily

Decoupage Earrings Tutorial

Hi, long time no see, right ;)) So I'm finally here almost cleared my head for the ideas jumping in it and I'm ready to present the first tutorial in the new era of this blog. A tutorial on how to make decoupage earrings, a technique which gives you a lot of creative freedom and you can make anything you want, REALLY. So here it is - clever, unusual, creative and I just LOVE it. Thank you ImBurning4You for your work and creativeness.
Enjoy!

XXX Lily

Here comes the chain stitch :)

  How to make a hoop and the chain stitch are probably the two most basic things that you need to know and learn about crochet. After a while I found out that everything in this particular craft begins with these two :) So here they are in the most easiest to understand and follow tutorials on youtube :)

    

  A few of you might be confused because the hooks sizes in Europe are in millimeters  and in the United States they are in letters. In the next post I plan to make a chart so you wont be confused anymore :)