Most people love to cherish their favorite photos in an album. They provide the best of memories, saved for a rainy day. I have found a simple technique, if you like crafts, that can bring your favorite photos out, for everyone to share. It is called a Photo Decoupage Plate.
For this craft, you'll need:
- a transparent glass dinner plate
- photo
- watercolor and acrylic paints
- spray adhesive
- decoupage finish
- foam brush
- craft knife or scissors
(All of these supplies can be bought in a craft store.)
The first thing you need to do is have your photo copied. (You can tak your photo to a copy store, or if you have a computer with a scanner, this will work also.) Make an enlarged black and white copy, so that it will fill the middle of your glass plate.
Next, use watercolor paints to color parts of your black and white photo. This will enhance the photo, so it will stand out from the rest of the plate. Blot the paint dry, with a paper towel. This will leave just a tint of color. Then, using a bowl or plate as a guide, cut your photocopy into a round shape.
The next step is to spray the back of the plate lightly with the spray adhesive, to make it easy to apply the decoupage. Then use the foam brush to paint on a thin coat of decoupage, over the entire back of the plate. Now you need to press yoru photo face down, making sure it is centered, so it shows through to the front. Smooth out any air bubbles with your fingers, as they work best for this job. After doing this, you need to brush the entire back of your plate with decoupage, again. This is so that the photo seals. Let dry for about thirty minutes.
After the decoupage is dry, you can start painting the back of the plate, using th acrylic paints you chose. Paint any design you like. One idea is to paint something that coordinates with your photo. For example, if your photo was taken at the ocean, you could paint some fish.
After your painting becomes dry, brush several more coats of decoupage onto the back of the plate. This makes a good final seal.
Now, you have a beautiful memoir that everyone will talk about and you can be proud of!
