DECOUPAGE MAKEOVER

The most unprepossessing thing can get a completely new lease of life with a decoupage makeover.  It just takes time, patience and some interesting papers to make a scruffy old object into a sculptural piece - as this toy horse shows.  It was done by 12 year old Lilly Lang who did the fabulous decoupaged stool - see Sunday, October 23rd post on Funky Decoupage.

Lilly had seen a beautiful patterned horse in a gallery, which was way over her budget, so her father bought her a plastic toy horse in a car boot and she put the time and effort in to create this lovely 'art' object. She found it very fiddly to do, especially as it had moving limbs which had to be put into a set position.  Perhaps wrapping masking tape around the horse first, to immobilise it, might have made the job easier.  It sticks to plastic and creates a good surface to adhere the papers to.  The colourful papers were all carefully cut from glossy magazines.

FUNKY DECOUPAGE

Recycling and upcycling has been popular for many years - people making use of things that would be otherwise thrown away.  You can find many exciting ideas on the internet and when I was looking I came across Sasha Constable who cofounded the Peace Art Project in Cambodia (PAPC) in 2003.  This started as a sculpture project turning weapons of war into artistic expressions of peace.  Now fantastic furniture is being made using guns, swords and other destroyed weapons.

A simple idea to make a piece of tatty brown furniture into something quirky, fun and a delight to have in the home, is to decoupage it.  I know decoupage has an old fashion reputation but it can take on a modern twist - such as this stool above.  Beautifully executed by Lilly Lang, who was featured with her denim bag in my previous blog - the seat is covered with cartoon characters. She loves it and it now lives in her bedroom.  I can see this girl as a mixed media artist of the future!

There are a number of great  modern decoupage papers out there now but it is more original and personal to recycle your own old maps, books, stamps, playing cards, vintage magazines, letters, music etc. - anything that can be stuck down flat over wood. Why not add your own words and doodles on top before layering on the varnish which will protect the surface from wear and tear. I am going to have a go at decoupaging some old drinks coasters.