Decoupage Ideas Using Written Word

Book and Journal Covers

• Use cutouts of lines from a book to decorate its cover, or print out inspiring quotes to decorate a journal. Stick the printed words and sayings to a paper cover or directly on the journal, then cover them with decoupage glue. Vary the font size and color to create a colorful, eclectic look, or simply use black print to keep the emphasis on the words themselves.

Walls

• Decorate your room with the written word. Cut out lines or entire articles from magazines, print off favorite poems and copy pages from inspiring books. Paste them on your wall—preferably on top of wallpaper for easier removal later—to create a collage, then cover them with clear glue or other decoupage medium. This technique will create a glossy wallpaper look.

Wooden Furniture

• Wooden furniture is a common medium for decoupage art. Cover a table, chair seats or kitchen cabinets with the written word by pasting words and phrases directly onto the wood. Once you have finished the layout, cover the whole thing with decoupage glue. This technique transforms the surface of old wood to give it a smooth, decorative finish.

Boxes

• Decoupage simulates the look of hand-painted, lacquered boxes. Paste the written word to a box and cover it with clear glue to give it a smooth, shiny cover as well as artistic decoration. Cover the entire box with a collage of words, or choose a few with special meaning to arrange and leave space between them. The box then becomes a keepsake that can hold jewelry, important letters or other special items.