New Decoupage: Transforming Your Home with Paper, Glue, and Scissors (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "My first adventure in decoupage took place ten years ago..." (more)
Key Phrases: new decoupage, latex enamel paint, laser copier, New York, Kansas City, Tranquil Color (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If all craft books were as attractive, brilliantly conceived, and downright amusing as this one, the craft world would be a better place. Glorious projects, beautiful photos, thorough instructions, and terrific coverage of all the groundwork make for lovely viewing, enjoyable reading, and endless inspiration.

Master decoupeur Durwin Rice is not only a true artist with scissors and glue, he's a lively writer whose sense of humor and deft handling of the subject makes even the most mundane tasks (like surface preparation or sealing a finished piece) sound like fun. He debunks the obsessiveness with which "Old Decoupage" was created and which still puts off some would-be decoupeurs today, such as the tendency to apply 30 or more coats of sealant ("You want to protect your work from scratches--not Hurricane Andrew") or the inclination for fanatical cutting ("You are master of the image, not the image of you"). He covers all manner and size of objects with his wondrous creations: plates, vases, trays, eggs, tables, cabinets, walls, ceilings, even the refrigerator. Clearly this is a man obsessed, not with the needlessly labor-intensive approach of yesteryear, but with the urge to decoupage the world. This is not only a lesson on how to create spectacular decoupage; it's a lesson on how to produce a masterful craft book. --Amy Handy

Product Description

Today's decoupage is not your grandmother's decoupage: delicate Victorian or floral images on dainty plates buried under innumerable coats of heavy varnish. Contemporary decoupage works are made with flea market finds, cherished letters or photos, magazine clippings, handmade papers, unique prints, or any other image that strikes the artist's fancy, then it's applied to trays, tables, lamps, walls, floors, furniture, or even ceilings. In New Decoupage, author Durwin Rice takes a fresh look at this traditional craft, demonstrating how to creatively transform your environment using just a few simple materials. He offers complete instructions for more than 18 unique
projects, ranging from a delicate vase resembling fine porcelain to a dining room table adorned with generations of family photos, from an entire row of kitchen cabinets featuring pictures of your favorite chefs to a stylish faux marble coffee table.

Beginning with a brief history of the art, Rice moves on to detail the fundamental techniques of modern decoupage, showing you how to clean and prepare various surfaces, select and cut images, and choose the right adhesive for a specific project. Two simple gluing lessons demonstrate the basic skills needed to complete any decoupage project. The next section offers instructions for smaller decoupage projects, such as an elegant cachepot filled with exquisite decoupaged eggs, a serving tray adorned with favorite images, or a six-sided wooden block puzzle decorated on all sides. Finally, Rice provides ideas and inspiration for larger decoupage projects, remaking plain furniture, mundane appliances, and even whole rooms into beautiful works of art. Lavishly illustrated with nearly 200 full-color photographs, New Decoupage brings the art of decoupage into the present day.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Potter Craft; 1 edition (November 24, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517705605
• ISBN-13: 978-0517705605
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #495,988 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A design book I'll actually use!, January 12, 2000

By	Nancy A. Krajcar (California) - See all my reviews

I saw the author in a short TV segment and sprung for the book. I highly recommend it! I'm not a particularly craftsy person, but the book's organization gives you confidence. It's laid out starting with very simple projects and progresses logically to more complex ones as you build your skill level. The photos are clear and helpful. The text directions are easy to follow and even humorous! I actually finished the beginner project and it came out great - it's now hanging in my kitchen! I've got a few more projects to go before I start on that table, but I've started to collect the images I want to use & am already starting to lay out the design.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Style, Daring and a Touch of Humour, October 5, 2000

By	Clive J A Byerley (Melbourne, victoria Australia) - See all my reviews

Durwin Rice is that very rare bird - an artist with a sense of humour. In his book,"New Decoupage" Rice inspires both enthusiasts and newcomers to the art to throw off conventional thinking and make for themselves a future antique. He avoids anything twee and brings a fresh eye to his passionate love affair with paper and scissors. Through his very user-friendly web site Rice gives personal guidance to anyone needing advice. Many of the glass plates used in the book can be bought by mail from this excellent support site. I found this book refreshing, funny, inspiring and a great bedtime read.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cuts to the chase!, May 29, 2004

By	Phyllis J. McNeil "utilityquiltlady" (Scooterville, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I purchased Leslie Linsley's Decoupage, Design, Create, Display and Durwin Rice's New Decoupage at the same time and received Leslie's book first. I was somewhat put off by her style. . .too foo foo for me. Her book was more like an art book showcasing her travels to other countries. Yawn.

Durwin's book gets to the point and says it like it is. All of his techniques work! The suggestion to "relax" the image before applying is awesome!

His humorous approach will have you in stitches. If you want a no-nonsense step-by-step approach to decoupage without the fluff then buy this book first!