Napkin technique tutorial

Give your items a new shine with decoupage
Decoupage is not only easy to learn, but it also offers endless possibilities to transform your old or plain items into unique pieces of art. It’s a popular crafting technique that allows you to upcycle various materials like wood, glass, or even fabrics. Let your creativity flow and discover how easy it is to create decorations entirely to your taste.

Step 1: Choose the right surface
Select an optimal surface for your project. Materials like wood, cardboard, metal, or terracotta are excellent choices. The advantage of decoupage lies in its versatility, as you can apply napkins to nearly any surface. However, keep in mind that certain materials, such as candle wax, may require special paints. You’ll learn more about this soon on our blog.

Step 2: Prepare the surface
To make your napkin designs stand out, your object should have a light-colored base. If necessary, prime it with white, cream, or yellow tones for the best results.

Step 3: Prepare the designs
Once the primer is dry, you can either cut out or tear your desired designs—depending on the effect you want to achieve. A cut-out design has sharp outlines, while a torn design creates soft transitions.

Step 4: Layering the napkin
Separate the printed part of the napkin from the lower layers. A typical napkin usually has three layers. You only need the top layer with the design; you can discard the other layers.

Step 5: Applying the napkin
When your surface is dry, lightly coat it with decoupage glue. Before permanently placing the napkin, experiment to find the desired positioning. Make sure to gently fix the design with a soft brush from the inside out. 
Allow everything to dry thoroughly. 

Step 6: Sealing the design
To protect the design permanently, apply a final layer of decoupage glue. This sealant ensures that your artwork remains beautiful for a long time.

Decoupage offers countless variation possibilities by adding colors or effect varnishes. Just give it a try and be surprised by the results! Our online shop not only provides a wide selection of napkins, brushes, and glues but also many lovely and practical wooden, glass, or terracotta items that want to be decorated with decoupage.