How to create pretty papers by using napkins
As a collage artist I love creating pretty papers to use in my collage work, in art journals as well as when doing book binding. I mean I love any pretty paper, bought or made, but it is a special kind of joy to be able to create a paper that not “everyone else” has easy access to. Having a stash of those makes your art practice even more fun.
The best way to make truly unique pretty papers (to me) is to paint, doodle and draw my own abstract or patterned papers of course. It’s super fun to do, and there’s so many possibilities with that to make your art uniquely your own. I also like altering bought pretty papers, like adding crayon marks or paint on top of scrapbook papers or origami papers, to wrinkle up wrapping paper or “alter” it in some way that makes it less shiny and new really.
I’m sure I could go on talking about different ways to create pretty papers or “background papers”, because there are thousands of ways to try and to play around with it, but today’s post is actually about decoupage using really thin papers like napkins or tissue papers.
Decoupage or découpage (/ˌdeɪkuːˈpɑːʒ/;[1] is the art of decorating an object by gluing colored paper cutouts onto it in combination with special paint effects, gold leaf, and other decorative elements, according to Wikipedia. “Each layer is sealed with varnishes (often multiple coats) until the “stuck on” appearance disappears and the result looks like painting or inlay work.”
It only works with really thin papers, so to me decoupage is any collage work using a wet glue under and on top of really thin, fragile papers like one layer of a napkin. I’ll show you some of the many baskets my mom has decoupaged through the years using napkins some day if you’re interested. But for now, my kind of decoupage is paper to paper. I’ll demonstrate how in the video.
I took out my pile of napkins to play with, and made a video about this idea. The video is from last year (but I didn’t blog it at the time) and I thought I’d share that here today. I love how colorful my pile of napkins is, and full of such cool patterns and imagery.
Video: Creating collage papers using napkins
Here’s the video, Enjoy.
Here’s one of the papers that turned out so pretty:
I guess this is a way of trying to minimize my paper stash a bit, to lessen my hoarding of these napkins in a way… Because now I am using my napkins rather than just storing them, and when they’re all made into “pretty papers” I can actually start to glue them down using a glue stick.
I know I will use them a lot more this way, in the upcoming year. So that’s good.
Pin this image to remember the idea later:
Have you tried decoupage yet or will you try it soon? Or are you simply a collector or appreciator of napkins?
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I love decoupaging things. I don’t do it any more, but I used to decoupage shoe boxes to make pretty storage containers. I once also decoupaged a whole set of shelves from Magazines. I love those napkins that look like watercolour paintings!
Oh yes, decoupage on items is really fun too, I agree. I decorated bird houses (not for real birds though) once. :)
I love collaging with napkins and admit I have a bit of an addiction!
Oh, do you make collage papers too or use them directly in your art or on items? I’d love to see some of it if you want to share. :-)
I find that I don’t really make many collage papers! Not sure why. I use the napkins in my art journaling and I sometimes will use them as on covers for bookbinding.
I have never done decoupage. For some reason that is something I never happened to come across and now it is just something I not doe. Strange, right?