Currently, decoupage boxes are gaining more and more fans, which is not surprising. After all decoupage allows you not only to express your creative abilities with your own hands, but also to get an interesting thing. Even corresponding books appeared on sale. What is decoupage? This is a special technique with which you can transfer any picture to a surface. In this article we will look at the decoupage technique for a box.
Necessary tools for decoupage boxes
The box decoupage technique involves the use of the following items:
- preparing a box (you can use a blank purchased at a specialized store);
- napkins for decoupage technique;
- sandpaper;
- PVA glue;
- decoupage glue;
- acrylic paints;
- sponge;
- tassels;
- screwdriver;
- adhesive tape or tape;
- various decorative elements;
- acrylic primer.
Box decoupage technique
So, having collected the necessary tools, we proceed directly to creativity. Perhaps the most ideal material for decoupage is wood. At the same time, using this technique, you can process both the tea box and the plastic surface with your own hands. Whatever material you choose, in any case, the box must be prepared first. To do this, we treat the surface of the box with sandpaper.
The workpiece can then be primed using acrylic primer.
It is better to remove metal elements using a screwdriver. The next stage is toning the workpiece. To do this, paint the box with acrylic paint.
The next step is to directly transfer the design to the surface of the workpiece. Such pictures for transfer can be purchased at a specialized store. To do this, we separate with our own hands the top layer of the decoupage napkin on which the design is applied. We tear out the elements of the drawing with our hands. Having placed the napkin on the desired field of the box, apply glue for decoupage.
Leave until completely dry. Apply varnish on top in several layers. The next stage is decorating the box with your own hands.
First, we return all the elements removed at the first stage of work. Decorating the box depends solely on the style chosen for decoupage. In addition, the product can be refined using the craquelure technique.
To better understand the sequence of actions, watch the video at the end of the article.
Ideas for decoupage boxes
Decoupage of a box is a creative activity, so even if you follow clear instructions, you will end up with an original thing. Let's look at the basic ideas that are used when decoupaging boxes. Among the most popular:
- vintage;
Today, decoupage is used in the design of completely different objects: both purely decorative and functional. Thanks to a wide arsenal of materials for decoration and the ability to choose any design theme, this simple but effective technique is ideal for decorating products for storing personal belongings. In what ways and in what way you can make beautiful decoupage of boxes - read the article.
To create decorative boxes, blanks are used - boxes with compartments, solid or carved, mobile, flexible or independent lids without external or internal decoration. The blank can be large or small, made of wood, plywood, MDF. Products made from natural wood are highly durable and environmentally friendly, while blanks made from plywood and MDF are cheap.
You can make blanks of different shapes and sizes yourself from papier-mâché.
There are different types of blanks in different shapes, sizes and configurations for a variety of purposes. Thus, a blank with a retractable block with ten compartments is suitable for storing small things (for example, rings), can be decorated in the style of a “Barbie Chest”, the decor of which can use pink fabric, sparkles, a mirror, etc. and is perfect for any occasion. as a gift for a little girl. And the six-compartment design can act as an elegant place to store tea bags.
In online stores you can find a casket blank and a pencil case blank (the operating principle of these boxes is based on the extension of storage compartments), an apple blank (can be of different diameters), slatted boxes in the form of boxes for decoupage in the loft style, a heart blank .
The blanks can be made by hand using newspaper tubes woven on a frame made of thick cardboard, cut from decorative zucchini.
Accessories for decoupage boxes
The design elements of the boxes include all the details that have a decorative and applied nature. Thus, accessories for decoupage boxes are conventionally divided into decorative-functional and exclusively decorative. The first type of products includes all kinds of locks, corners, loops, legs, etc., the second type includes borders, pictures, textiles, sparkles, sequins, etc.
Borders for boxes
To decorate boxes, you can use borders for handicrafts - functional blanks that can be used to decorate the perimeter of the box lid and sides. Borders can be either patterned ribbons with floral or geometric patterns, or strips with various images (from flowers, fruits and vegetables, to cockerels, dogs, musical instruments, etc.)
Pictures for decoupage boxes
Pictures for decorating boxes can be represented by ordinary paper napkins, rice napkins, stickers, cuttings from newspapers, magazines, books, printouts on plain and photo paper, and decoupage cards. Working with any decorative element presented has its own nuances and characteristics. Thus, pictures from rice napkins are not cut out with scissors, but torn out by hand, and prints and decoupage cards with high density are applied “implanted” using varnish.
How to decoupage wooden boxes
Decoupage of wooden boxes is the best solution for independent work by novice decorators. This technique requires a minimum of skill, materials and time, while guaranteeing an effective and attractive result. To decoupage an ordinary square wooden box, we will need a decoupage card to fit the lid, glue and varnish for decoupage, light brown acrylic paint and paint to match the napkin, glazing medium, two-step craquelure, rough sandpaper, brush, file.
To perform decoupage you need:
- Sand the surface of the box and seal the lid with masking tape, on which, in the future, the drawing will be placed.
- Cover all edges of the box with acrylic light brown paint and glazing medium.
- According to the wood pattern, add paint to match the tone of the napkin (also diluted with glazing agent).
- After the paint has dried, sand the edges of the box until white.
- Place the image on the file, inside out, moisten it in water
- Place the design on the lid, remove the file, and paint the design with glue.
- Sand the edges of the picture and cover it with craquelure in two layers, drying in between.
- Varnish the finished product.
Malachite decoupage boxes: master class
Malachite painting is a rather complex and painstaking work that allows you to obtain a pattern that imitates the surface of a bright green mineral. In order to perform this type of decoupage you will need: a decoupage card or napkin with a motif in a color scheme corresponding to malachite, acrylic paints (black, white, turquoise, dark and light green), a retarder for acrylic drying, thick cardboard, scissors, synthetic brushes, gold pigment, foam sponge, sandpaper, plastic bag, glossy decoupage varnish.
We make the box:
- We prepare the surface of the workpiece for decoration.
- Using a foam sponge, cover the entire surface of the box with white paint mixed with light green.
- We sand the layer and coat it with varnish.
- We apply turquoise paint to the surface of the box using strokes (leaving free spaces) and press the strokes with a plastic bag to obtain non-standard prints.
- We take dark green paint and add black splashes to it, apply it in the same way to the area already drawn with turquoise.
- We take cardboard, apply it to the strokes and remove them, pulling them to the side.
- We fix the result with varnish.
- We add a retarder to each paint and, using curved cardboard, apply strokes, alternating light paint with turquoise and dark.
- We fix the result with a fixative varnish.
- After the product has completely dried, glue a napkin, add gold pigment to the protruding contours and varnish the product.
Using this technique, both rectangular and round or oval boxes can be decorated. This type of decoration requires perseverance and a lot of time, but it allows you to create an incredibly beautiful, unique product with a surface that imitates malachite.
In order to perfectly master this decoupage technique, you should complete special author's lessons and take courses such as, for example, Olga Sukhova.
New Year's decoupage for the box
New Year's boxes can be decorated similarly to traditional decor with napkins or decoupage with a varnish print. The second method guarantees maximum fusion of the picture with the surface of the box.
The varnish print is prepared as follows:
- We cover the picture printed on glossy photo paper (with allowances) with acrylic varnish in four layers with a drying interval of one or two minutes.
- Soak the printout in water, then place the paper side on the table.
- Using a needle, separate the top film layer from the paper.
- We transfer the film image to the file facing inward.
After decorating the surface of the box in New Year's colors, you need to overlay the image on the desired area and delete the file. The image should be fixed with glue, applying strokes from the center to the periphery. As decorations for decorating the box, you can use sparkles, sequins, glitter, artificial snow and ice (semolina, decorative putty, instant glue). The finished product must be varnished.
When covering the box with varnish, you need to ensure that there is a gap between the lid and the box: the varnish should not go into the gap, otherwise the decor can be damaged when opening.
Vintage decoupage of a round box
Decoupage of an antique round box is a simple and beautiful way to get an attractive product that will look great in a French country interior. In order to make vintage decoupage we will need napkins with large flowers, acrylic brown and white paint, gold pigment, wax, PVA, brushes, foam sponge, decoupage varnish.
We design the box step by step:
- We carefully sand the surface of the box and apply brown acrylic in several layers.
- We cover the semicircular edges of the box with wax.
- Apply white acrylic using a foam sponge.
- We sand the areas where wax was applied until the base is brown.
- Apply a dry cloth to the surface of the box and glue it with PVA. This way we completely decorate the workpiece.
- After the applications have dried, we apply brown acrylic with a sponge, and then gold pigment, to the protruding edges of the lid and the bottom of the box.
- We coat the product with a fixative varnish for decoupage or yacht varnish.
If desired, the inside of the box can be decorated with fabric with a motif corresponding to the overall design, and floral designs can be applied using a stencil.
A master class on how else you can make aging of a vintage surface can be found on the YouTube channel “Decoupage from Anna Turchina”.
For voluminous decoration of a vintage-style box, you can use dried lavender flowers and polymer roses. The center of the box lid can be decorated with a plaster angel.
Box-book: decoupage
To decorate a box in the shape of a book, you will need a regular blank, a table fork, a palette knife, acrylic paints, brushes, decorative pine-colored putty, glue, decoupage varnish, decoupage cards, sandpaper, a foam sponge, a file, masking tape, and decorative corners.
Let's get started:
- We sand the surface and cover the top and bottom covers and the side with hinges with white acrylic.
- After the acrylic has dried, glue the decoupage card using a file (the method is described in the New Year's decoupage master class) onto the painted surfaces.
- We model the pages: apply putty to the front side edge with a three-millimeter layer and use a fork to pierce the grooves-pages.
- We tint the dried grooves using black and brown acrylic paint and add gold pigment.
- We decorate the corners of the book with carved and forged elements.
- If desired, we do the interior design (we decorate the inner surface with a decoupage napkin, fabric, text, etc.)
The book is ready!
Ideas for decoupage boxes
Decoupage of boxes allows you to realize absolutely any creative ideas, because the design can be done using both traditional materials (fabric, paper napkins) and improvised means that can easily be found at home (for example, small zucchini, table salt).
Thus, as decoupage for children's boxes, you can use both traditional decor with napkins and stickers, and original decoupage on eggshells: this method allows you to get a unique, incredibly attractive, three-dimensional mosaic. For a tea box, a straight box-blank with six compartments and decoupage with a stencil may be suitable, and for a wedding box - a blank-heart and decoupage with a photograph of the newlyweds.
Original decoupage ideas can be found on the “Fair of Masters” website.
Decoupage boxes (video)
Boxes made with your own hands using the decoupage technique are incredibly beautiful, unique products that can be an excellent gift for a wedding, birthday or anniversary, for both women and men, a unique and practical element of the interior. Be inspired by decoupage photographs and hurry towards exciting, creative work!
Despite the fact that store windows offer a large number of jewelry boxes made from all kinds of materials, the desire to make one with your own hands does not disappear. After all, this is not only a tribute to your talent and skill, but also the desire to have an original thing that no one else can find. In addition, it is of great importance that the box you make yourself will have exactly the size that is so necessary to accommodate all the jewelry.
The box is made with your own hands in two stages:
1) Creating the box itself from scrap materials;
The material for it can be tape rings, wooden blocks or baguette scraps, old newspapers, shoe boxes, and other improvised materials.
Box made from a tape reel
Box made from a reel of adhesive tape
If a small jewelry box is enough for jewelry, you can make it from a paper spool of tape. The size of the finished product will correspond to its diameter and height.
To work you will need:
a reel freed from tape; thick cardboard; pencil; scissors; glue (preferably PVA).
For the bottom and lid of the future box, you need to make blanks from cardboard. It is enough to attach the reel to a sheet of cardboard and trace it with a pencil. We outline the resulting circles with another circle, the diameter of which is 3-4 centimeters larger than the previous one. These are the future rays with which the circles will be glued to the reel. You shouldn't make them very wide. The narrower they are, the more accurately the bottom will stick. The end result looks like this:
Before gluing the bottom to the bobbin, it is necessary to draw along the fold line with a non-sharp object, perhaps the edge of tweezers or a metal ruler. This will help you bend them neatly. To hide the petals on the side, you need to stick a cardboard tape over them, the length and width corresponding to the side of the reel.
For the lid you will need to cut a strip slightly longer than the volume of the reel and half its height wide. To ensure that the lid fits well and is not too large, you need to wrap a strip around the future box and glue its edges. When the side of the lid is dry, you need to glue the top to it as you did with the bobbin.
To increase the rigidity of the bottom and lid, you can glue another layer of cardboard inside, cut along the inner diameter of the reel. The finished box is decorated with your own hands using the decoupage technique; it can be painted with acrylic paints and opened with varnish, or a self-adhesive film with a pattern imitating natural materials: wood, stone can be glued over the entire surface.
DIY wooden jewelry box
Making such a box is more labor-intensive than the previous version, but it will also last much longer than a paper one. To work you will need:
pencil, ruler;
a long board 10 millimeters thick, 10 centimeters wide, made of soft wood: pine, alder, linden; a board for the bottom and lid, its width is equal to the width of the finished product; hand saw with fine teeth or jigsaw; knife; sandpaper; PVA glue (it’s better to use construction glue) or carpentry glue “Moment”.
Having decided on the dimensions of the box, you need to cut two blanks from the board, equal to its length and width. At the end of each, you need to make a 45-degree bevel with a knife so that the walls fit together nicely. The depth of the bevel is equal to the width of the board.
Before gluing the side parts, you need to make sure that the bevels match tightly, without gaps. Otherwise, they need to be adjusted using coarse sandpaper. The sides are glued together gradually. After each subsequent gluing, it is necessary to check the internal angle between them. It should be equal to 90. Otherwise, the result can be any shape, just not an even rectangle.
There are two options for installing the bottom:
if the finished product will be pasted over with paper or fabric, then the blank for the bottom is taken equal to the size of the box and glued so that its side parts are visible;
Wooden box covered with paper
If a DIY jewelry box is covered only with varnish or paint, then it will look more beautiful when the bottom is hidden inside it. To do this, take a blank that is shorter in length and width than the size of the box by two board thicknesses. For example: if the box dimensions are 10x10 cm and the wall thickness is 1 cm, the bottom needs to be 8x8 cm.
Varnished wooden box
The manufacture of the lid can also be made in two versions:
cut the workpiece and install it on the hinges. The best option for attaching the lid is a piece of piano hinge, the length of which is a couple of centimeters shorter than the length of the box. All ends of the boards visible on the finished product must be carefully sanded;
Glue the lid to the box and after drying, carefully cut it off with a jigsaw, moving down the body by one and a half to two centimeters.
A wooden jewelry box is decorated using all known methods: varnishing, painting, decoupage, oracle, fabric, leather.
DIY box made from baguette
Luxurious baguette box
Boxes made from baguette, a material for picture frames, look chic and rich. It is made of wood or plastic. Plastic is soft and can be cut and processed no worse than wood. You can buy a baguette in art salons, having previously determined how long the blank is needed. The principle of making such boxes is identical to working with wooden blanks.
DIY papier-mâché jewelry box
Papier-mâché box
We know what papier-mâché is and how to work with it since school. The advantage of this material is the variety of shapes of the finished product. It is enough just to find the original blank of the required shape to create an original box.
To work you will need:
newspapers or thin office paper; Vaseline or any cream; scissors, brushes; PVA glue or wallpaper.
DIY papier-mâché box
The base must be covered with Vaseline or cream so that the papier-mâché can be easily removed later. The first layer of thinly torn paper needs to be wetted and covered the entire surface of the base. The paper for the second and each subsequent layer is carefully lubricated with glue. It is necessary to ensure that there are no missing sections. It is convenient to alternate, for example, layers of newspaper and white paper. The better the paper is impregnated with glue, the stronger the papier-mâché will be. The number of layers is optional. After complete drying, the box blank must be removed from the mold and prepared for decoration. If this is a painting with paints, then it must be coated with an acrylic primer. In addition to painting, the box can be decorated with your own hands with beads, ribbons, buttons, figures made of plastic or salt dough.
Chinese papier-mâché box
If the basis for papier-mâché was a round object, the lid was created together with the box, then it must be removed carefully, after first drawing a cut line with a pencil. If the layout was created without a lid, then after removing it from the base, you need to straighten the edges with scissors. The lid is attached to the box before being primed. Holes for the connecting cord can be made with a paper hole punch.
The decorated box is opened with your own hands using varnish. It is better to use acrylic-based varnish purchased at an art salon. Artists coat their canvases with this varnish to avoid contamination and fading of the paint.
DIY box made from bamboo napkin
To work you will need:
bamboo napkin; thread and needle, PVA glue; scissors, cardboard, finishing fabric; magnetic clasp.
Cut out the sides of the future box of any shape from cardboard.
Sew or glue decorative fabric to them on both sides, leaving small seam allowances. A bamboo napkin can also be decorated with fabric on the side that will be inside the box. The sides can be sewn or glued to the napkin, leaving some part free.
The clasp can be made in the form of a loop and button, or you can purchase a magnetic one at a hardware store.
To prevent the jewelry box from getting dirty and to have a neat appearance for a long time, it is better to open it with acrylic varnish.
Several ways to decorate boxes
Below are photos of jewelry boxes made using different decorating techniques.
For lovers of rigor and minimalism in everything, it is enough to make the box a single color, covering it with paint and protective varnish.
Decoupage decoration technique has recently come into fashion, but has already become very popular. A large assortment of illustrations for decoupage, including images of paintings by great artists, is produced on special napkins. You can use regular napkins, magazine illustrations, and even wrapping paper. You will also need sharp scissors, several brushes, PVA glue, paints, and acrylic varnish. Before starting work, the surface must be primed with acrylic paint or glue. Carefully smooth each element of the image with a brush dipped in glue until it is completely glued to the surface and air bubbles come out from under it.
Proportions for salt dough: 1 part flour (the cheapest without additives) to 3 parts salt, mix and add water until the consistency of soft plasticine. Decorative elements made from dough, unlike putty, are first made and then glued to the surface.
After drying, the decor should be covered with two layers of white acrylic paint. It is better to paint with acrylic too. After drying, apply one or two coats of varnish.
Below are photos of jewelry boxes decorated with beads, seashells, fabric and ribbons:
Box decorated with beads
A homemade box will not only decorate your interior, giving it individuality, but can also be an excellent gift for any occasion. And the material for its manufacture will be any household item or gift from nature. The main thing is a little imagination and perseverance.
Since ancient times, man has sought to decorate the space around him, remodeling it in accordance with his needs and artistic taste. Today this quality is embodied in the decoration of various household items, in particular, boxes. An ordinary thing becomes unique, original, and acquires individual appeal. It is pleasing to the eye and can be a good gift for a person who will appreciate its beauty and the efforts of the master who created it.
Variety of techniques
As a rule, the main material for boxes is wood. In order to obtain a high-quality finished product, it is necessary to pay great attention to the initial stage of work and properly prepare the material for further decoration. First you need to thoroughly sand the surface and cover it with acrylic primer, or “Gesso” primer for cardboard wood. After priming, it is recommended to sand the workpiece again. You can repeat this process several times to achieve a perfectly smooth surface. After this, you can proceed directly to decorating - the choice of method depends only on your desire and direction of creative thought.
An interesting technique is decoupage, with which any box will turn into a work of art. This method has been known to mankind since the Middle Ages and was very popular in Europe in past centuries. Today, craftsmen are also enthusiastically engaged in decoupage, the meaning of which is to decorate by transferring special pictures to the product.
If you are interested in creating relief surfaces, then you should pay attention to materials such as acrylic relief paste, modeling gels or crystal paste. With their help you can create various textures and unusual effects. In addition, all these materials are well suited for small decorative elements, for example: pebbles, shells, coins, beads, etc.
You can decorate the box using various paintings, from traditional folk paintings (Khokhloma, Mezenskaya, Gorodets, etc.) to point-to-point painting. In the first case, it is good to use waterproof acrylic-based tempera paints, and in the second, acrylic contours. As a pattern, you can use both existing ethnic ornaments and any designs stylized to suit the desired technique.
Scrapbooking: attention to detail
The most popular method of decorating boxes is scrapbooking. Using a variety of elements: fabric, paper, ribbons, beads, threads, you can transform the surface of an object. In addition to the original appearance, the box acquires relief, texture and texture. Before you start working, you need to make a sketch drawing on paper so that you know what the finished product will look like.
First, the surface must be prepared: cleaned of dirt, dust and greasy stains. Then, depending on your idea, you can cover it with fabric or paper, which will give a certain color or texture to the box. Guided by artistic taste and personal preferences, you should gradually add decorative elements. Using decoupage glue they can be attached to the surface of the box.
Quilling: original technique
The quilling technique requires perseverance and patience from a person, for which as a result he will be rewarded with the beautiful appearance of the box. For it you will need strips of paper 5-6 mm wide. They can be colored or white, made yourself or purchased ready-made. A special quilling needle will help you curl paper strips neatly and accurately. You should also take care of the glue, preferably transparent, so that after drying it is not visible, it should grab the paper fairly quickly. The essence of quilling is to create a relief from paper strips, the design of which depends only on the artist’s imagination. To decorate the surface of the box, you should cover it with paper so that the glue has good adhesion and securely fastens the strip.
At the next master class from "Schools for Craftswomen" on Child BY We learned how to decorate a wooden box using the decoupage technique. The lesson is taught Oksana Sidorskaya. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the technology yourself.
Preparatory moments
To decoupage the box we will need the following materials:
- wooden box blank;
- universal soil;
- acrylic paints;
- napkin;
- glue for napkins;
- sandpaper;
- acrylic varnish;
- antique color patina;
- putty or texture paste.
We also need the following tools:
- brushes;
- sponges or sponge for washing dishes;
- palette knife;
- stencils;
- iron.
Let's get started:
Step 1. Primer.
Let me start by saying that when purchasing a workpiece, pay attention to its integrity. If you nevertheless purchased a box with a minor defect - a chip or crack, restoration primer or wood putty will help to repair it.
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We sand the workpiece, remove nicks and burrs.
We paint the front side of the box white, dry it, and sand it a little if necessary (if there are any obvious brush marks). Now we will glue the napkin. We use a new method - gluing a napkin using an iron.
Cover the painted surface with a layer of glue, not thin, but not too thick. Make sure the entire front side is covered.
Place the napkin on the pasted and dried surface, place a cotton rag or a sheet of parchment paper on top, and “glue” the napkin with a hot iron. The glue under the napkin heats up and sticks it to the surface. Carefully remove the cloth and get an excellent result. The napkin did not stretch and retained its brightness.
Now we paint the sides of the box in the desired color. Of course, we choose the one that will match the napkin motif. What it will be is up to you to decide.
We cover the box with a layer of acrylic varnish. I would like to note one point: when using construction acrylic varnishes, special attention should be paid to intermediate sanding so that the box has a beautiful, smooth surface.
If you use special varnishes for creativity, this process will be much easier. Some varnishes do not require sanding at all, since they lay down in an even layer and self-level on the surface. The only thing that stops you from buying such wonderful varnishes is the price.
After the first layer of varnish, you can put stamps on the sides. If suddenly you don’t like the result, you can easily wipe off the paint from the varnish with a damp cloth.
Use sandpaper to clean off any paint that accidentally got inside the box (to prevent this from happening, you should cover the edges with masking tape). We treated the inside of the box with stain.
Using a palette knife, spread the wood putty on top, level it, then carefully remove the stencil and, voila, we have a beautiful element without any extra effort. After complete drying, the putty lends itself perfectly to sanding, so we can remove uneven surfaces. If desired, you can paint it in the desired color.
Step 6. Varnishing.
Metal wool gives a remarkable result; it is sold in construction stores. Using a small piece in a circular motion with little effort, we sand the last layer of varnish; the cotton wool removes small flaws, but also removes the gloss.
Step 7 Admiring the finished work.
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When the box is ready, you can give it to a loved one. And if it’s a pity to give away, then this is a sure sign that the work was a success!
With wishes of creative success and health
to your golden hands, Oksana Sidorskaya