One of the things I like to do when designing many of my decoupage paper designs is to ensure the backgrounds are versatile enough to be extended. This allows you to get creative and purchase two prints to piece the work together, extending your design as needed. In this blog post, I'll walk you through how I used two dragonfly decoupage papers to create a cohesive piece, without having to paint in the missing sections.
The Secret to Seamless Design Extension: Textured Surfaces
For this project, Two dragonfly tissue papers were used. The door on the left is a solid piece of decoupage paper applied to a textured painted surface, while the door on the right is pieced together. Working on a textured surface is a great technique because it helps conceal the seams where the pieces meet, making them blend seamlessly together. This technique allows you to achieve a professional, cohesive look in your decoupage furniture projects.
This is the actual 21x29 inch decoupage tissue paper called Dragonfly Dance.
Step-by-Step Process for Extending the Design
I began by tearing the edge of the remaining portion of the paper from the door on the left. After applying it, I realized there was still some empty space. This is where the second print came in handy. I tore out the background from the top left, between the dragonfly wings, and then also cut out the section under the dragonfly wings and the flowers at the bottom left. To complete the design, I cut out the flowers from the bottom right, only keeping the pieces needed to maintain a cohesive look.
After laying everything out and making sure the pieces lined up properly, I applied the background pieces vertically to fill in the empty space. While working on this, I realized I needed to paint over the previously applied flower area because the new flowers were showing through more than I wanted. A quick coat of paint on that area helped the top layer of flowers blend seamlessly with the rest of the design. Once the paint dried, I applied the new flowers, and voila—an extended design without the need to hand-paint the entire section.
Why Using Two Designs for Decoupage Is So Effective
This technique of using two of the same design to extend your decoupage is not only effective but also fun! It’s a great way to make your designs fit larger pieces of furniture or crafts. Plus, it eliminates the need to manually paint in missing sections, saving you time while still achieving a stunning, seamless finish.
Have you ever used two of the same design to create a seamless, extended look for your decoupage projects? I’d love to see what you’ve created. Share your creations and ideas, and let’s keep the creativity flowing!