Making a 3D decoupage card ~ Part 1

In the coming weeks I will be writing a series of how to make your own 3D Decoupage cards. So are you ready? Let's go...

The tools you will need include:

Scissors, Tweezers, printer paper, sticky foam pads (or silicone adhesive), double sided tape, glue stick, cardstock, craft knife, cutting board.

Tips for choosing your design and cutting

Choose your design from either your favourite 3D site (there are many to choose from on the internet if you type free 3d sheets) or you could even make your own (see 'Making Your Own Designs' later on in this series). You could also buy die-cut (press-out) or 'cut your own' sheets from hobby stores.

Let us assume you have decided to print your own so print out the designs you have chosen (from your search for free decoupage sheets on the internet) on printer paper that is slightly thicker than the normal everyday paper (I use 110g/m2).

I am including this cute "Personal Use only' Bear design by Finteys you could use to practice on...

Cut out each layer carefully using a good pair of scissors you feel comfortable with (I have a set of different scissors, some are pointed, some are curved at the edge and I also have safety scissors which I find are very useful). Do not cut into the paper but rather let the design guide you to move and turn the paper along with the cutting motion of the scissors.

You might also find a craft knife handy for cutting intricate and small designs – always use a good cutting board to cut on. A small pair of tweezers might come in handy when you have very small pieces to assemble.

A good tip here, especially if you have many layers, is to keep each layer separate – I put mine in a plastic folder where you can also identify each design by numbering it in sequence. This way it will be easier to see in which order they are to be assembled. Or, another way to recognize which piece comes next is to work your way from the largest piece to the smallest which will be the last piece you add.

If you are new to this, I suggest a simple design like an angel, a teddy bear like the one I posted or a plain flower with only a few simple layers.

~ ~ ~ Next time we will talk about 'Assembling your 3d Picture"~ ~ ~

Keep sharp scissors and knives safely out of children’s reach.