GC Home | Register | Shop | Learn | Business | Around Town | Info
Decoupaged Garden File
By Marie Browning, Marie Browning Creates
This file to hold garden magazines or seed catalogs is a fast and easy project and very inexpensive to produce.
Materials to make one file:
One plain cardboard magazine file (available in office
supply stores) 
Decoupage finish, or matte modge podge
1" foam brush
one brown paper bag
filigree tissue paper, 12"x12" pieces
copies of garden motifs (on pattern page)
Decorator Glazes; variety of colors
tea bag
Paintbrushes: #10 flat, #4 flat and #1 round
small sharp scissors
.05 black pigma pen
Garden sayings
Instructions:
1. Fold your file together following
manufactures directions.
2. For added texture, scrunch up the brown paper bag tightly then smooth
out flat.
3. Rip the paper bag and filigree tissue paper into 6" pieces.
4. Cover your work area with freezer paper, shinny side up. Brush a even
coat of decoupage finish onto the back of the brown paper pieces and cover entire outside
surface of file. Smooth out any bubbles with your fingers as you go and ensure each
piece edge is glued securely to the surface, Add a few pieces of the tissue
paper for accent.
5. Prepare the photocopies of the motifs with one coat of decoupage
finish to seal the surface and let dry.
6. Squeeze out a small amount of decorator glaze onto a palette.
Brush the glazes over the motifs, the transparency of the glaze will wash color over the
image but still allow the black lines to show through. Don't worry about painting
beyond the edges of the motifs. Wipe off excess glaze to create highlights.
Let the glazes dry.
7. Cut out the motifs. Apply the decoupage finish to the back of
each print and press onto the file, smoothing out any bubbles or wrinkles with your
fingers.
8. Antique the label and small motifs (photocopied from pattern page).
To antique, soak a tea bag in a cup of warm water for about one minute.
Squeeze the excess moisture from the bag then sponge over the prints. Let the prints
dry completely before tearing out motifs and then decoupaging into place on the
file.
9. Add sayings onto file with pigma pen.
10. Finish the file with a coat of decoupage finish.
For Pattern Illustrations Click Here
More information on Marie Browning Creates
Back to the Get Creative! Conference Center
Back to Meet the Get Creative! Experts
