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