All that you need to know about Fabric Decoupage

Hello everyone. Hope all are doing great !!!
Blogging after a long time and it feels great to be in the blog space....I completely enjoy writing them.

This post is about Itsy Bitsy's recently launched and the most awaited product - DECOMAGIC FABRIC DECOUPAGE GLUE. I am sure this review post will help many crafters who are keen to explore Fabric Decoupage.
As you can see in the image below the Itsy Bitsy's  Decomagic Fabric Decoupage Glue, like all other products from the store is manufactured by Itsy Bitsy's home brand Little Birdie. The product comes with QR code. When one scans the code, it provides a link. Follow the link to see the video that shows ways of using the product. This is a very useful feature that all Little Birdie products carry. 

Let's start with knowing the uses of the product.

USES OF FABRIC DECOUPAGE GLUE- 
As the name suggest the product is used in Decoupage art to create projects involving fabric.

1. The fabric decoupage glue is used to adhere decoupage napkins and decoupage papers on any fabric surface.
2. The glue is used to adhere different types of fabric on various surfaces like wood, glass, metal, clay, chip boards, plastic, etc
3. The glue is interestingly used to adhere fabric on fabric, where the two fabrics may be same or different. 
4. The glue can also be used to decoupage on leather and rexin surfaces.

Considering the above uses of the fabric decoupage glue one can decoupage to create various handmade products like tote bags, cushion covers, place mats, lampshades, pouches, banners etc. You can also give a personaised touch to wearables like canvas shoes, t- shirts, denims etc.

One can also up cycle old handbags, alter diaries, add fabric to homedecor products like trays, coasters, boxes, clocks, frames etc.

FABRIC COASTERS

FAUX LEATHER PASSPORT COVER

FABRIC CLOCK

FABRIC TOTE BAG

There are many creative options!!!!

Let's get on to knowing the important features of the Decomagic Fabric Decoupage glue, that will help you use the glue.

CONSISTENCY OF THE GLUE-

The Little Birdie Decomagic Fabric Decoupage glue has perfect consistency and smooth flow.

The regular all surface decoupage glue has flowy consistency whereas the fabric glue has gel like, creamy consistency. Advantage of this type of consistency is that one can press the paper well with ease at the time of adhering. As a result thin papers like decoupage napkins sit well into the texture of fabric surface, on which they are being decoupaged. Have a look.

The paper sits so well that it looks almost like a part of fabric, like printed on the fabric. This feature is enhanced when the base surface is of fabric with texture or when working on canvas or burlap.

Next the Decomagic fabric glue is very creamy. This gives a very smooth flow, when it is applied as a top coat.

STRONG ADHERING PROPERTY-

The Decomagic fabric decoupage glue has very good sticking property. This enables to adhere thick fabrics and also fabrics with heavy texture and weaves with ease.

Here in the picture below, I have altered a notebook cover using thick, curtain fabric. The fabric stuck in a jiffy with glue.

STIFFENING PROPERTY OF THE GLUE-

The Decomagic fabric decoupage glue has mild stiffening property. This is a very important feature when it comes to cutting the fabric without fraying.

Sharing two examples here to explain the above-

1. FABRIC COASTERS- To make fabric coasters, cut a piece of fabric of your choice. Always cut the fabric a little bigger than the size of the wooden piece to be used as base for coaster. Now adhere the cut fabric piece to the wooden circular piece, using fabric decoupage glue. Leave overhangs as seen in the picture below. (picture shows backside of coaster after adhering the fabric).

Now apply fabric decoupage glue on the overhanging fabric. This will stiffen the fabric and as a result you will be able to cut off the excess fabric with scissors without fraying. Also you can sand off the overhangs with medium density sand paper easily without the fabric fraying.

This method gives a wonderful neat finish and the stiffened overhangs makes it easy to achieve the desired result.

Have given a golden acrylic paint edge to the cotton fabric coaster. Also stamped couple of butterflies with black archival ink for interest.

Coming to the second example-

2. ADHERING A FUSSY CUT PIECE OF FABRIC-

Here I had a very thin fabric piece with beautiful flowers. Its very difficult to fussy cut (meaning cut as per exact shape), such a thin fabric. So, first I applied decomagic fabric decoupage glue on small area of the fabric (area from which I wanted to cut flowers) Apply glue on back side of fabric.

As a result of applying glue, the fabric stiffened, making it easy to cut shapes from it.  This is a great way to create fabric embellishments also !!!

Having cut the flower shapes from the fabric, I adhered them to a fabric pouch, again using the fabric decoupage glue. Have a look.

I love adhering fabric on fabric using this glue. The result is unique. Have also done some stamping to complete the pouch.

Coming to the most important feature of the Decomagic Fabric Decoupage Glue- 

SEALING PROPERTY- 

The glue also works as a  sealer meaning it is applied as top coat to seal the adhered piece of paper or fabric. As a result the paper or fabric does not yellow over the period of time.

As a  last step, the glue can be applied all over the creation to seal the product and to make it washable. You do not need any additional extra varnish. The Decomagic Fabric Decoupage Glue creates the required protective layer. Apply two coats, covering the entire surface (including the areas where there is any stamping, stenciling or colour blending also ).

Wash the product only once the applied top, final layer of glue dries completely. Drying time may be more in humid weather. The surface should feel completely dry to touch and not tacky.

Avoid machine wash. Hand wash in cold water is recommended.

SOFTNESS RETAINED-

As mentioned earlier, the glue mildly stiffens the fabric. However, that does not add any unwanted hardness to the product. The fabric products made using the Decomagic Fabric Decoupage Glue retain their fabric feel to a very large extent, even after the entire decoupage work and sealing is done.

Having shared the key features of the product, here's a quick step wise procedure of making a decoupaged fabric pouch-

Material required-

Fabric pouch, decoupage napkins, decomagic fabric decoupage glue, chalk paints, stencils, stencil brush, stamps, archival ink.

Above is the picture of three main materials to be used.

Procedure-

1. As the pouch is cream, there is no need to apply any base colour to it. In case of using a darker colour pouch, apply a layer of cream or white chalk paint. This needs to be done if you plan to decoupage it with napkin. As all napkins look good on lighter base.

2. Decide on composition and cut pieces from the napkin.

3. The napkins are 2 ply or 3 ply and what you will need is only the top printed layer. So separate the white plain layers, once the napkin is cut into desired parts.

4. Adhere the top printed layer of cut napkin pieces to the fabric pouch, using Decomagic fabric decoupage glue. Apply the glue with synthetic hair, flat brush. Do not apply too much glue. Use optimal quantity of glue and adhere one piece at a time. Press the napkin well, light handed.  The gel like consistency of the fabric glue will help you adhere the napkin well into the texture of the fabric pouch.

5. Apply a top coat of fabric glue over the adhered napkin pieces after about 15- 20 mins.The fabric glue dries clear. The top coat will make the napkin archival and prevent it from yellowing.

6. Now is the time to work on the background. Have done stenciling using chalk paints, to create oneness.

Have used stone and geometric patterned stencil. Use stencil brush for good stenciling effect. Have used the chalk paint colours that match the adhered napkin. Have further stenciled a circular pattern as well with pink chalk paint.

7. The final look of the pouch after stamping. Have used Ranger black archival ink and clear acrylic stamps to do so. Have also defined the stone stenciling at the base of pouch with black permanent marker.

8. The last step is to seal the entire surface of pouch with Decomagic Fabric Decoupage Glue, to make it washable. Follow the tips already mentioned earlier, for washing.

The pouch is ready for use. Hope you liked the creation and find the post informative. Looking forward to your amazing creations.

Happy Crating

Create, Express, Enjoy !!!

Vaishali Khandwala


All materials used for the projects are from Itsy Bitsy store. The post is my design team post for Itsy Bitsy. You can check the blog link here for the list of materials used,