A common problem many people face in their Decoupage projects is when the surface has wrinkles and creases after the glue or sealant has been applied.
It can be very frustrating, especially if you had wanted the Decoupage surface to be smooth, even, and uniform in appearance and style.
So why does my Decoupage wrinkle? There can be a few reasons why Decoupage wrinkles. To avoid wrinkling you should use the right glue that is suitable for your chosen Decoupage project and materials. You should also prepare the surface beforehand, and lay the materials you are using flat before applying glue to the surface.
Preparing the surface you are planning to Decoupage is seriously important, especially if you are using materials that are prone to wrinkling such as tissue paper or napkins.
This is because any dirt or moisture on the surface could begin to wrinkle the material once you lay it flat, even before you apply the right Decoupage glue.
So how do you get wrinkle free Decoupage?
How Do You Decoupage Without Wrinkles? (7 Important Steps)
When you want to start a Decoupage project that is free from wrinkles. What steps should you take to ensure the finish of your Decoupage is smooth, even, and wrinkle-free?
Here’s how to Decoupage without wrinkles.
1. Prepare The Surface
You can apply Decoupage to almost any surface. But before doing so you should ensure that the surface is prepared and ready for Decoupage. Otherwise, the final design may contain wrinkles and uneven surfaces.
In most cases, on surfaces such as Glass, Paper, Cardboard, Paper Mache, Stone, Terra Cotta, Etc. You will simply need to ensure the surface is smooth, wiped clean, dry, and free from oils or lint.
However, on surfaces like Metal, Wood, Tin, Plastic, Etc. The surface may need extra preparation before applying Decoupage.
Depending on the surface you are planning to use. This may include sanding and smoothing out the surface with fine grit sandpaper. Also, doing things like removing rust, blemishes, and bumps from Metal, Tin, and Plastic surfaces.
On certain unfinished surfaces such as Wood & Metal, they may also require you to basecoat the surface using acrylic paint or sealer. This helps to ensure you start your Decoupage project on a flat, smooth surface.
2. Prepare Your Design And Materials
Before you can start your Decoupage project. You will need to prepare, and flatten your design materials before adhering them to the surface. You may also need to cut them to size, or the size you need for the Decoupage surface area.
For materials such as Paper, Scrapbook Paper, Tissue Paper, Napkins, Wrapping Paper, and Fabric. It can sometimes be a good idea to flatten and smoothen them as much as you can before application.
This can help you to reduce the number of wrinkles or creases that will appear in the final Decoupage design.
However, for certain materials such as Tissue paper. They can be prone to wrinkling and it can be hard to avoid, so expect some visible wrinkles or creases in the final finish once it has dried.
If you are using thin fabrics or printer paper, you may also be able to lightly iron or roll them onto the surface to ensure they are laying flat before applying Decoupage glue.
3. Use the Right Kind of Glue
To avoid wrinkles on the final finish of your Decoupage project you will need to use the right kind of glues or sealants.
The glue you need to use can depend on the surface and materials you are using in your Decoupage design. However, most of the time it’s a good idea to test and use Mod Podge or a Decoupage glue on your chosen materials.
Some materials like Paper, Napkins, or Rice Paper may only require a thin application to get a smooth, wrinkle-free finish.
While other thicker materials such as Fabric may require a thicker application or more multiple coats to get a flat and even finish.
Certain materials may also require you to prep the surface with your chosen glue and adhere the material flat on the surface before applying additional coats or layers.
Many craft glues and multipurpose glues can sometimes be too thick to use on Decoupage. As they don’t spread easily or evenly and can cause visible streaks on the surface of Decoupage.
So it’s usually recommended to use a Decoupage glue or Mod Podge to get even coverage with fewer wrinkles.
4. Place Your Materials Flat On The Surface
Before you can start adding Decoupage glues or Mod Podge to your chosen materials. You will need to ensure they are laying flat and are in the position you need them to be before gluing.
So plan out your design and place your materials flat in the position you want them before applying your glue. This will help you get a smooth, wrinkle free design and finish.
If you using thicker materials, you may need to apply a basecoat of Decoupage glue before laying the material flat on the surface.
This will help you to adhere the material flat on the surface, and allow you to smoothen it out before applying additional glue or sealants on the top layer.
5. Apply The Glue From The Middle
A handy tip to reduce the number of wrinkles on your final Decoupage design if you are using thin materials or fabrics is to apply your chosen glue evenly starting from the middle.
Applying the glue from the middle, especially on top of materials such as Paper, Thin Fabrics, Tissue Paper, or Napkins will easily allow you to work any wrinkles or creases towards the edges of your Decoupage design and remove them.
If you start applying glue in the middle of your design and work outwards, you can reduce the number of wrinkles by using a sponge brush or a fine artist’s brush to work them out towards the edges.
This should allow you to achieve flat, smooth, and even application of the glue, and help you to ensure that all the wrinkles in your final Decoupage design and finish are reduced.
6. Smooth And Flatten
Once you have adhered your chosen material to the surface. You will need to smoothen out the surface of your Decoupage to ensure it is flat and free from wrinkles, bumps, and air bubbles.
To flatten and smooth your Decoupage design, you should let your project dry for 15-20 minutes, then use a roller, rubber brayer, squeegee, or large brush to smoothen out the surface.
In some instances, if your Decoupage project or design is complex or fragile and won’t respond well to smoothing using tools or brushes. You can try to use Sarang Wrap or Cling Film to wrap your project.
If you wrap your Decoupage in Serang Wrap or Cling film, you can press down lightly and work out any wrinkles, bumps, and air bubbles using your hand or fingers.
7. Seal Your Project
When your Decoupage project has dried. You can add a protective coat of glue (Decoupage glue or Mod Podge) to protect and seal your design.
Adding another layer or coat of glue to your project can sometimes help reduce the number of wrinkles that appear over time, and once your Decoupage has dried fully.
If you apply additional coats of glue to your Decoupage. You can also ensure a smooth and even finish by sanding the top layer using #400 grit sandpaper with water. Also, use #0000 steel wool to polish the final coat.
You may also want to use a clear acrylic spray or sealer to avoid tackiness, stickiness, and reduce the impact of any wrinkles still present in your final Decoupage design.
How Do You Fix Decoupage Wrinkles?
The only way to fix Decoupage wrinkles is to remove the paper or design from the surface and redo the Decoupage. You can remove the paper or design by using a cloth soaked in warm water. Wring it out, cover the surface, then after 1-2 hours, the glue should be white again and allow you to remove and redo.
Unfortunately, there is no “quick fix” for Decoupage wrinkles, especially after your design has dried. The only real option you have is to remove the Decoupage from the surface using a cloth and warm water.
Placing a cloth soaked in warm water on the Decoupage surface will reactivate the glue or Mod Podge you have used. After 1-2 hours of soaking, you will be able to safely remove and redo the Decoupage.
After you have removed your previous Decoupage project that contained wrinkles. You should always re-prepare the surface and ensure it is clean and dry before re-attempting the Decoupage.
Please note, if you have sealed your Decoupage project using liquid epoxy, varnish, sealant, or glues not intended for Decoupage. This method of using a cloth and warm water will not work.
It will always be harder to remove your wrinkled Decoupage design if you used many layers or materials, or applied a lot of glue and multiple coats.
How Do You Keep Paper from Wrinkling when Gluing?
When you are using Paper in Decoupage, many different types of thin paper can be prone to wrinkling when you are trying to glue them.
So how do you glue paper without wrinkles?
Here are three things you can do to stop paper wrinkling when gluing:
- You can use an iron, roller, or rubber brayer to lightly flatten, smooth, and level your chosen paper. This will help to reduce the number of wrinkles on the paper before gluing to the surface.
- You can mist the paper with water. Then lay and roll it flat to the surface before gluing. This can be ideal for thinner papers such as Tissue Paper.
- You can spray your chosen paper with an Acrylic sealer or spray before using it. Spray both sides and allow it to dry. The sealer will stiffen the paper and act as a barrier before applying glue.
How Do You Modge Podge without Wrinkles?
To use Mod Podge on Decoupage without wrinkles, you should first ensure you are using the right glue or sealant for your chosen surface and materials. You should apply the Mod Podge evenly and smoothly, then after each coat, once it’s partially dried, flatten the surface using a brush, brayer, or roller.
In most instances, it will be the materials you have chosen to use in your Decoupage design and how you apply the glue that will cause wrinkles, not the Mod Podge or Decoupage glues themselves.
Materials such as Paper, Tissue Paper, and Thinner Fabrics can be prone to getting wrinkles once the glue has been applied or once it has dried. So this is worth bearing in mind when it comes to picking the materials you will use in order to avoid wrinkles.
Even though different types of Mod Podge and Decoupage glues can have a thick application. Providing you apply the glue evenly to the Decoupage, and ensure the application is flat and covers everything. It should still be fairly simple to get a wrinkle free finish on most materials.
Which Decoupage Materials And Surfaces Are Prone To Wrinkling?
It’s important to know that certain surfaces and materials can be more prone to wrinkling in Decoupage than others.
This is normally due to the surface or materials reacting in different ways to the glue and sealants you are using. Especially if the surface you plan to Decoupage is uneven, rough, or unfinished.
Here are some Decoupage materials and surfaces that are prone to wrinkling:
- Tissue Paper – It’s very hard to use Tissue Paper for Decoupage and avoid wrinkles entirely as it’s usually very thin, which can make it prone to wrinkles. But the good news is, the wrinkles and creases are usually part of the appeal of using Tissue Paper for Decoupage.
- Thin Paper – If you are using thinner sheets of paper such as Scrapbook Paper, Rice Paper, or Inkjet Printouts. They can also be susceptible to wrinkles once you start adhering them to the surface. So it’s a good idea to spray the thin paper with a clear acrylic sealer before using it on Decoupage.
- Thin Fabrics – Even though many fabrics are fine to use for Decoupage. Thinner fabrics can get wrinkles if the material is not very thick or does not receive an even coverage of Decoupage glue. It’s a good idea to wash (without using fabric softener), dry, or iron the fabric before using it. This helps ensure it lays flat and avoids any wrinkles.
- Uneven Surfaces – When you are applying Decoupage to uneven surfaces. It can be a lot more likely that wrinkles in your chosen material will occur once you’ve added glue. To reduce wrinkles, wrap your Decoupage design with Serang Wrap or Cling Film. Then gently press down to remove wrinkles on the surface.
- Rough & Unfinished Surfaces – If you apply Decoupage to rough or unfinished surfaces such as Wood, Metal, Stone, Etc. They can be highly prone to causing wrinkles in your final Decoupage design if the surface is not prepared, cleaned, or smoothened out beforehand. So it’s always best to prepare the surface, especially if you want to avoid wrinkles on the final finish.
So to help yourself avoid having any wrinkles or creases in Decoupage. It’s a good idea to be aware of the effect that using certain materials and surfaces can have on the final finish of your design.