Decoupage Wood Letter Crafts
- Decoupage is one of the easiest crafts to master. You'll need to purchase brushes and decoupage medium, available at most craft retailers. Decoupage medium, a thin glue-like substance that is applied with a brush or sponge, is available in both gloss and matte finishes, and provides a protective coat to your finished project. Decoupage medium is also available in specialty finishes, such as sparkle or glitter, and in special acid-free formulas that will protect your wooden letter décor from yellowing over time. Simply use the medium to secure paper images of your choice to the wooden surface of the letters. When it dries, the image will be adhered completely and the surface will be smooth and durable.
- When you are working with a wooden surface, it is important that the surface be completely smooth before you start adding paper. If there are any rough areas on the letter, your finished project may have unsightly bumps or creases. Sand the letter before you add any other embellishments. To decoupage, cut the images that you want to use on the letter. If you want to cover the whole letter with one type of paper, flip the paper over, trace the letter on the back of the paper and then cut using sharp scissors. Apply the cut paper images to the wood letter, following the directions on the decoupage medium.
- Wooden letters are often decorated and used as wall décor. Use the letters to spell out a word or monogram. You can decoupage the letter using paper that coordinates with your décor. For example, use paper covered with sunflowers to decoupage letters spelling out the word "EAT" in a kitchen. If you're using the letters to spell out a name or monogram, use photographs of that person to cover the letters, or find images of things that person enjoys to create a personalized collage. If you choose to decoupage photographs, make high-quality copies of the photos on card stock, as glossy photo paper tends to bubble or bleed when you use decoupage medium on it.
- Unfinished wooden letters are available in many sizes, from just a few inches tall to well over twelve inches tall. Use the smaller letters to create holiday décor and ornaments. Purchase enough letters to spell out a word associated with the holiday, such as "Boo" for Halloween or "Love" for Valentine's Day, and decoupage images associated with those holidays on the letters to create custom décor. If you do not want to cover the whole letter with cut-out images, paint the letters first in your desired color and then arrange the images however you wish. Larger, more substantial letters make ideal bookends. Cover the letters "A" and "Z" with pages from old books to add a whimsical touch to your bookshelves.
