So lately I've been trying to think of some crafty ways to make use of all the photos that are sitting on my laptop, and since Valentines day is coming up I thought I'd make a pretty personalised decoupage memory box using pretty floral papers and old photos! This project is super easy, making it an ideal craft project for kids too. This would make a lovely thoughtful pressie for any occasion as you can really personalise it with photos, old love letters, maps, or simply your favourite fings! It's my mummy's birthday on Valentines day so this box is going to be a surprise for her (providing she doesn't read this first!) it features photographs of all the wonderful women from my mums family, from both past and present. A lovely way to remember them I think.
What you will need ...
A box - Any box will do, ideally made of wood or cardboard.
A few sheets of floral paper - Often it comes free with craft magazines, or pop into your nearest Hobbycraft for some floral decoupage paper or wrapping paper would be fine too.
Some photographs printed onto regular plain A4 paper - Most printers now are laserjet which is ideal, if you use an inkjet printed it may run!
PVA glue & paintbrush - You can use Mod podge or regular PVA in your preferred finish, I like matt.
An old book - Thankfully this one already had pages missing!
Step 1:
Tear up your floral paper, book and photographs. You could use scissors if you'd prefer but tearing gives a much nicer, smoother finish.
Step 2:
Start in one corner, and apply some glue to the box, place a piece of paper on the glue, then put a layer of glue on top of the paper. That, in a nutshell is decoupage. Then slowly work your way over the rest of the area, alternating between each of the pieces pieces to give a nice contrast. My method was to cover an area with just the florals and writing paper, then place the photo in the middle. However, there really is no right way, just be creative and have fun with it.
Step 3:
If possible try and fold / glue the edges around as you go. Then when you've finished one side, give it another good, thick coat of a glue all over. Don't worry if it looks white, PVA will dry clear. Leave it to dry overnight, then do the other side the following day, followed by the edges.
Tada!!!
JM x
This is so cute, Jodie! I love decoupaging things! I, too, have done boxes and large envelopes. I even decoupage the lids of jars you organize my buttons! It is very relaxing, isn't it? Last Autumn I redecorated one of my guests rooms and decoupaged a wastebasket (i'm not sure what you call them) from pictures I cut out of The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady book. Cute diary entries along with soft, pretty watercolor images. Fun blog post and I love the idea of printing off photos to decoupage! That's a brilliant idea! Your mum will love it! x
ReplyDeleteAw I love the country diary of an edwardian lady! I bet that looks lovely, would love to see a piccie if you ever get a mo! x
DeleteThought I'd share a piccie with you of my Country Diary wastebasket/rubbish bin. How/where do I do that? Still haven't made any egg ornaments but must!
DeleteOh Karen I've only just seen this comment about the country diary rubbish bin! I'd LOVE to see it ... post it to my facebook page ;-) https://www.facebook.com/Ahandmadecottage?ref=hl
DeleteThis is the perfect gift Jodie. I want to decoupage a lamp shade :) I still have an old wooden purse that my grandmother decouopaged in the antique olive green color, those were all the rage in the 70's I believe. Thank you for sharing these tips. Oh I almost forgot, some of the seed catalogues have beautiful pages and are very vintage looking now, I cut them up for various projects as well, the latest being a 3 dimensional heart shaped banner of sorts. !
ReplyDeleteSeed catalogues, what a fab idea Kim! ah and It's lovely you still have the purse that your grandmother decoupaged :-) I love having old things that loved ones have made, is very special indeed. Would love to see a piccie if you ever get a mo! x
DeleteHope you don't mind me asking this very stupid question. The photo of the young woman wearing a long necklace with 4 young kids standing in front her - is that you? I'm thinking that of course it can't be you cos the four kids look to be from the 1930's but she's the spitting image of you. Apologies for asking a non-craft related question!
ReplyDeleteI don't mind you asking at all Sarah, the woman in that photo is actually my grandmother Selina ... we do look alike don't we? sadly we never met, as she was killed by a bomb during the Liverpool Blitz in the second world war - I think she was only 17 / 18 years old. The amazing thing was my mother (who was just a baby) was in her arms at the time, yet she survived.
DeleteJust got back from an evening out and saw your reply. What a sad story - I felt almost shocked reading that she was killed in the war at such a young age, she looks so beautiful and full of life in that old photo, I was almost expecting that she might still be alive. Yes, amazing that your mum lived; your gran's young life was taken but lived on through her child. Had no idea that one photo would hold such a powerful story
DeleteYes it was such a sad story Susan but it had a happy ending, my mum's grandmother was also hurt in the blast but she survived. While in hospital a nurse told her some babies had been brought it ... one of which happened to be my mum. So her grandma brought her up herself even though she was quite an old lady herself. Had she not found her they would have no way of finding my mums family and she would have grown up in an orphanage probably. Grandma loved my mum dearly and my mum always felt very lucky, and loved :-) fate clearly wanted to keep them together.
DeleteThere's a novel in that photo waiting to get out - or a TV mini-series. That's the power of the internet, your photo has brought to life the unknown tragedies of the war that happened right here, and let's your grandmother live again in a strange kind of way. I'm a firm believer in fate :)
DeleteWhat a moving story in so many ways. ♡
Delete