Ready to Craft Something Special? Try This Mixed Media Decoupage Plaque
How to Make a Gorgeous Mixed Media Decoupage Plaque (Even if You’re New to Crafting!)
Have you ever wondered how to combine painting, decoupage, and embellishments into one beautiful piece of wall art? Today, we’re showing you how — thanks to a fabulous tutorial by our friend and talented affiliate, Donna at Mason Creations etc.!
In this project, Donna teaches you how to create a Mixed Media Decoupage Plaque using easy-to-follow steps perfect for beginners and beyond. This craft combines soft rice paper images, blended paint techniques, textured stenciling, and even a little bit of gilded gold magic.
Watch Donna’s video tutorial below and then follow along with our step-by-step guide!
Step-by-Step: Mixed Media Decoupage Plaque
Step 1: Prep and Paint the Base
Start with a wood round plaque and paint it a bright, solid white using Dixie Belle Chalk Paint in Cotton. This gives your rice paper a vibrant, clean background so your images won’t look muddy or dark.
Step 2: Choose and Prepare Your Rice Paper
Donna used beautiful Asket line rice paper for her image. Tear around your chosen design using a water brush to create a soft, blendable edge. Lightly spritz the rice paper with water to make it more flexible and ready for bonding.
Step 3: Adhere Your Rice Paper Image
Brush a layer of Polyvine Decorators Varnish onto the plaque and gently press your rice paper onto it. Smooth it out by placing a water-sprayed piece of plastic over it and gently rubbing from the center out to remove air bubbles. Allow it to dry completely. This varnish is a great substitute for the popular glue-based adhesive because it dries crystal clear and never yellows.
Step 4: Seal Before Blending
Once dry, brush another coat of Polyvine Heavy Duty Wood Varnish over the rice paper to seal it. This important step prevents your paint from soaking into the rice paper edges when you blend later.
Step 5: Mix and Blend Your Paint
Mix custom colors to match your rice paper background, using Dixie Belle Drop Cloth mixed with Pentart Light Brown and Pentart Yellow Red Clay. Apply the paint with a stiff brush using a dabbing motion, slightly overlapping the rice paper for a seamless look. Spritz water to let the colors softly run and blend, then blot lightly with a paper towel for a natural finish.
Step 6: Add Texture with Stencils
After your paint dries, spray a stencil lightly with Pixie repositionable adhesive and apply Re-Design with Prima Chalk Paste in Dusty Plum using the handy Paste Spreader. This thick, creamy paste creates gorgeous textured designs that match your plaque's soft, romantic style.
Step 7: Create Gold Script Accents
For added elegance, use a script stencil and apply Decofoil Transfer Gel with a palette knife over blank areas. Once the gel dries clear and sticky, lay Gold Foil Sheets over the stenciled areas, press lightly, and peel back the foil to reveal beautiful gold lettering.
Step 8: Add 3D Embellishments
Hot glue a strand of wooden beads around the edge of your plaque. To give them a vintage, gilded look, brush a thin coat of glue over parts of the beads, let dry until tacky, then gently apply gold foil for a weathered finish. Aleene's Tacky Glue fine point is also a wonderful adhesive for small beads.
Step 9: Protect Your Artwork
Apply two or three coats of Polyvine Heavy Duty Wood Varnish  with the Polyvine Varnish Brush. Let each coat dry for an hour. This durable, satin finish is moisture-resistant, heat-resistant, and food safe — perfect for long-lasting beauty!
Step 10: Final Touches
Glue a bronze ball chain into the small gap between the beads and plaque using a tacky glue pen. Add decorative touches like a lavender tassel, silk roses, and a pretty ribbon to match the colors in your piece.
A Big Thank You to Donna!
We’re so grateful to Donna from Mason Creations etc. for sharing her time and talents with our crafting community. Her projects always inspire creativity, and we love seeing how she uses our products in so many beautiful ways!
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