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Decoupage Details
Who knew the cutting and pasting skills you acquired in preschool would come in handy for prewedding prep? In sophisticated shades and witty designs, decoupage details are suddenly chic again—and offer countless ways to customize your day.
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Decoupage Save-The-Date
Decoupage means "cutting out" in French. So, naturellement, the first step in making this save-the-date—which elevates a piece of cake to superstar status—is to download the pictures here. Using a synthetic paintbrush, apply a thin layer of decoupage paste on the back of each cutout; place them anywhere you'd like on a standard-size 3 1/2-by-4 7/8-inch note card; mount on gold cover-weight paper; brush another layer over the entire thing, and let dry (or "cure") for 72 hours. Then, make color copies and mail out. Très chic, non?
Pro tip: Use Martha Stewart Crafts decoupage in multi-surface matte finish ($10, michaels.com).
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Decoupage Escort Cards
How's this for a novel idea? Guide attendees to their tables with literary escort-card favors made from unfinished book boxes. We covered each with patterned paper, then added a spine that outlines seating details. Create gold foil "pages" by brushing the decoupage medium along the edges of the "book," pressing foil sheets against them, and lifting up to transfer the color. Then, add a trompe l'oeil pen to finish the look. Just be warned, if you leave one by your guest book, partygoers will be grabbing for the writing utensil all night.
(Papier-mâché book boxes, $5 each, joann.com. Mona Lisa simple leaf in gold, $9 for 18 sheets, dickblick.com.)
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Decoupage Table Runner and Plates
Decoupage doesn't only upgrade wood and paper objects, it can also transform ceramics, cloth, and just about any other material. Our floral tablescape blooms with beauty (and whittles your flower budget) thanks to a linen runner and stoneware plates. If painted with our multi-surface medium, dinnerware will be dishwasher-safe after air-curing for 21 days. (So for best results, don't leave this project until the week of!) Another suggestion: have plates washed during dessert and give to attendees to take home, making this idea do double duty as favors.
(Plates, 75¢ each, ikea.com.)
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Decoupage Photo Booth
Picture this: a treat-filled photo-booth backdrop stocked with equally decadent accessories—all made out of paper. For the wall, we photographed a selection of goodies that Marie Antoinette would envy, then enlarged, printed, and pasted the images to a gold and white paper "table." A banner flying above the spread spells out our sentiments exactly.
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Decoupage Photo Booth Props
Since no self-respecting photo booth would be without its props, we made the oversize accoutrements above by using our decoupage medium to paste pictures onto mat board (it's easier to slice than foam board), then cutting with a craft knife. The hardest part is left to the guests: choosing which larger-than-life item to try on for size.
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Decoupage Bridesmaid Gifts
Why settle for decoupage "artist" when you can also be a "designer"? Affix your signature style to attendants' gifts: faux-bow shoes, customized candles, and even grooming kits that preview what's inside.
Download the canvas bag clip art.
Download the candle tag clip art.
Download the script candle label clip art.
Download the sans-serif candle label clip art.
(Livework large pocket pouch, $26.50, fallindesign.com,Round box, $2.25, consumercrafts.com, Rectangular box, $7.25 for 20, papermart.com, David Chipperfield for Alessi "Tonale" beaker in Light Earth and light gray, $17 each, allmodern.com, Candle in Citrus, $9, muji.us, Matchbox, $10 for 50, partyfavorsplus.com, Ballet flats, gap.com for similar styles, Livework canvas zipper pouch, $19.25, fallindesign.com)
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Decoupage Just Married Sign
Send an under-140-character note in a romantic, non-digital way with a one-of-a-kind sign decorated with flora and fauna. We attached our message to gold paper that we backed with mat board, and then edged it with leaf and bird images. For paper-only projects like this one, it's fine to skip a top coat and use the decoupage medium like it's craft glue. But if you do seal the entire sign, it will weatherproof your sunny message so you can retweet—we mean, reuse—it as sentimental art in your home.
