July 30, 2020

How to Make a Decoupage Wall Art

Wall art is often one of the most underutilized home decorating methods used. Wall art can be a fun, creative outlet for you, your children, and friends. There are many ways a person can create wall art to decorate their homes.

A person can use a whole wall and decoupage it in a manner that becomes a focal point in any room of your home. You do not necessarily have to use a whole wall either to decoupage. You can create an illusion of a wall hanging within a certain area of your wall by placing a frame around the decoupaged area on the wall. Decoupaging a wall is similar to wallpapering, except you are not stuck with one pattern on the wall.

Another option is using canvas boards to create a decoupage wall hanging art. By using the painting canvases, a person can create any size of art they wish. You can use various sizes of the canvas boards, backer boards or any other item which will hold the paper or other objects to create your wall art.

You can use most anything to create a decoupage wall art. You can use, dried flowers, pressed flowers, favorite pictures, and small thin arts and craft jewelry pieces. You will need to be careful as to the weight of some of the items you may think about using because they may not stay attached to your wall art.

A person can also make copies of old family letters, recipes, photos, and other memorabilia onto copy paper or acid free paper to create a showcase of their family. The original items should not be used because they are after all keepsakes. By using this method you can keep the original keepsakes stored in a safe place where they will stay out of harms way.

Materials Needed for Decoupage Wall Art

Blank art canvas. You can use more than one for this project. Also, using various sizes of paint canvases can give you a different look for the wall art.

Decoupage glue. The decoupage glue will be used to keep your pieces glued down to the canvas and can give a nice glazing over the top of the art work.

Pictures, pressed flowers or other items. You can use a wide variety of items to make your decoupage wall art. You will want to use things which fit into your home decor and lifestyle.

Large flat work surface. You will need a large flat surface such as a desk or dining room table. This will allow you to see the items you are wanting to place on your art work.

Newspaper. You will want to lay newspaper or anything that can be used on the area where you are going to create the artwork. This will protect the surface of the area you are working at.

Small wallpaper roller. You will want to use this to roll the air bubbles out from under the pieces you are placing on the canvas.
Sponge and regular brushes. You will use the brushes for the decoupage glue. You can use either to place the glue to the back of the items. You will want to use a bristle brush on the top to create a brush stroke look when the glue dries. A bristle brush will also make applying the decoupage on items that stick out easier to coat.

Spray glazing. (Optional) You can spray glazing over the top of the art piece to seal it.

Creating the Decoupage Wall Art With Art Canvases

Start by laying out the newspaper or other protective covering on your work surface.

You can layout the items you are using to create your decoupage artwork in the areas where you want to place them. For instance, if you have a piece you want to place in the center to stand out lay it at a place where you will put it on last. You will then want to start on the outside of the canvas and work your way in.

Place the decoupage glue on the backside of the first piece and place in the corner or on the side. Roll the wallpaper roller over the piece to get the air bubbles out from under the piece.

You will continue the process for any flat paper items you are using until you have the canvas covered.

For pressed and dried flowers, you will want to add them after you have the paper or pictures on the canvas. This is due to the fact they will cause any flat items that overlay them to have air bubbles that are not going to be able to be removed. You will add the flowers by placing the decoupage glue to one side and laying in the place you want it.

Once you have all your items where you want them on the canvas, use a bristle brush to place the first coat of decoupage glue on the top of the art piece. Let dry for about an hour. Depending on the weather conditions, it may take less or more time to dry.