Buy Something...It Was a Pretty Penny Kind of Restoration Project

That's right. We recently had the old John Deere Model A tractor restored (surely this will be a good thing for Tulips on Troost). But, on the other side of this costly restoration project is the bill. That's why we've recently added over 200 pieces of our favorite artwork for Dome Paperweight designs (in the projects/kits section) to entice you to spend all of your Christmas bonus on making decoupage projects in the New Year. Animals, flowers, horses and dogs. Cats, and canaries and a classic timepiece or two for your bosses desk who doesn't completely yet understand your genius. It's recherche, tell him.

Happy Cutting to All and to All a Happy New Year!

Your Small Gifts Are Going To Look Great

When the gift-wrapping task is tiny, our handmade value packs are ready to help you create some gift-wrap sensations. 30 different styles, designs and colors to choose from and each packed with 18 to 24 sheets of small gift wrap pleasures (8.5" x 11" sheets). 100% recycled and acid-free for all the paper-craft projects you'll create with them in 2010!

Handmade Value Pack Treasures

Your Large Gifts Are Going To Look Gorgeous

When you're ready to give your gifts an extra bit of attention and care, there's nothing like a fine selection of handmade papers to impress. Choose from our quality 22" x 30" sheets hand made in India. Sheets that glitter and glow. Sheets with the sensual touch of velvet and gold. Pearlized and classic and contemporary designs all ready to ship Priority from our Kansas City shelves to arrive in plenty of time for your Holiday extra special gift-giving.

Delectable Handmade Giftwraps

Happy Holidays Everyone

Happy Cutting!

New Products - Prestige Gems

As a subscriber to our blog, you are the first to hear when the newest and the finest decoupage products land at our door! And, that's the subject of today's announcement. These very beautiful, very fine, very ready to be decorated Prestige Glass Jewelry Gems.

Your jewelry designs are going to look good!

NFTW: The Decoupage Plate Art

One of the first obstacles that most decoupage students encounter is the art choice decision.

“I love this image that I found in an art magazine…but the image is rectangular and my plate is round. What do I do?”

Okay, first thing that you need to understand is that you, as the decoupage designer, are in charge here. It is you who is going to take images from a myriad of places and cut them up and reorder them onto your plate. It can be simple, or it can be complicated but most importantly…it needs to be fun.

So, let’s start with the simplest of simple plates. Here’s an 8” round clear glass plate with a 1.5” border around the base.

This plate is perfect for easily framing a favorite image or photo. And, here’s an image that you like. A page that you tore out of a fine auction catalogue. You may think that cutting it down to the plate's size will destroy the image but really you are only focusing on its most important features, the subject matter…a beautiful mother and child sharing an intimate moment after the child’s bath.

Hmmm, you think. This might be the perfect gift for your next-door neighbor whose children you fear are staining your upholstery.

So, armed with your new optimism, you are ready to cut it out to fit the bottom, flat part of the plate. And, as is always the case there are a myriad of ways to accomplish this task. You could measure, use a compass and cut a template out of acetate or card stock and use that. You might find the rim of a bowl in your kitchen, or a can, that is the perfect round size. We found this tall glass cylinder at a thrift shop (someday it will be a lamp) but meanwhile it is the perfect round size and shape to cut the artwork down to the size we needed. It’s fun to look down from the top and focus in on just the part of the artwork that you’re going to use and it makes you realize that yes, it’s okay if you don’t let the mother get to keep her feet.

Now trace around. You might use a pencil for fear of staining your artwork with ink. But we prefer an ink pen which leaves a darker line which is easier for us to see well in the wee hours when we have decided to make a plate. You'll cut that line of ink away anyway.

Once you’ve cut, you might realize that your art circle is a little bit bigger than the flat base of the plate. This is good! After you glue it on, and it is dry, you can cut the excess away cleanly with a straight edged razor blade making you the first in your crafting circle to achieve a PERFECT circle in the center of your decoupage plate.

And, there you go! You've made the most difficult design decision of your morning and you are ready to glue. It's maybe not the original painting in its entirety, but its going to look really, really good on your new decoupage plate.

Upcoming Notes From The Workshops:

The Decoupage Plate: Gluing the art.

Designing coasters and ornaments.

Notes From The Workshops (1999 to 2009)

News For Sticky Hands Everywhere:

Here's the plan we've been at work on for you and for anyone interested in learning more about the how-to craft and fine art of decoupage.

We're now rewriting our story.

Yes, while we really thought that we'd covered everything meaningful (and then some) in "New Decoupage", we still get asked frequently (very frequently) how to do this, that or the other when it comes to decorating your home with paper, glue and scissors.

Also, too we get told often, by many of you, about New Decoupage discoveries that are simply too good not to share.

So, this afternoon, as soon as our photo studio delivers accompanying photos we're publishing here on this blog the first pages of what is to become the Koran of cutting: Notes From The Workshops.

That means the best...the very best lessons that we learned from the past 10 years of decoupage study in workshops across the country.

And, also the simplest. The veritable A, B's, Z's of the craft and also too, the most complicated pains and perils of coming up with your new ideas for your new creations.

And, there my friends, in the coming days, we will together look at ways to join all our talents in order to come up with the BIG KABOOM.

Learning how to get that sky-rocketable idea that eludes you this morning unstuck from your unique personality and leaving even you inspired by what happened today.

It's all in the mind, you know!

Planning Ahead for the Holidays

Some of you planning ahead for the holidays will be looking soon for Angels and Cherubs and Madonnas for all your holiday decoupage ideas and you should know....we're starting with the new seasonal art arrivals today.

New Decoupage Art at DurwinRice.com

How To Get Trash Out Of Your Life

Inspired today by Alexander Calder

Sitting Here Waiting For Another Glass Gems Shipment Is A Good Time To Reflect....

While we're sitting here waiting for our jewelry blanks inventory to receive some new additions delivered we're reflecting on how these little gems have influenced our days since we first introduced them to the web site just a few weeks ago.

That Tiffany-inspired bauble above was produced by New Decoupage Club member Karen Snyder out of her most-recently-received Quarterly Club Packet.

And out of that same packet she created this kitchen magnet! The artwork, of course, is Karen's own and also she found her own decorative spacer beads for the necklace...why design your own if you're not going to make it different! And, it bears noting that you can choose your favorite jewelry/magnet shapes from our Glass Gems Page Here AND you can also find the other pieces you need...namely Satin Cords, Sterling Silver Bails and Weldbond glue to design your own necklaces and kitchen magnets.

Or, you can join the New Decoupage Club and receive the jewlery kit that Karen received in your first club packet along with a paperback copy of New Decoupage.

The ND Club jewelry kit includes:

1.5" Round Glass Jem
Large Sterling Bail
Black (or Dark Red) 3mm Satin Necklace Cord
1.5" Square Glass Jem
Magnet
2 oz Weldbond Glue

The New Decoupage Club

Happy Cutting!

The Return of the Petite Paperweight

It's back!

Nevermind why this popular puppy of a paperweight wandered out of our internet yard in the first place. It's back on our inventory shelves and ready for some Instant Gratification Decoupage. Just 2.5" across and .75" tall this sweet little thing has a 2 3/16" recessed area (1/8") on the bottom for decorating.

Plus, one sheet of Sticky-Back Felt will cover the base of 12 paperweights.

It's an economical wonder!

And, if you've been to a decoupage class with somebody who knows what they are teaching, you'll appreciate the value of a Krylon 18kt Gold Leafing Pen to fine tune the edges of your artwork before you felt.

Speaking of Instant Gratification Decoupage...watch these pages soon for the announcement of our new jewelry glass and supplies.

Snip, stick, zip....you'll look like a million dollars!

Or sign up for our newsletter if you can't remember how you got here.

Happy Cutting!

Order Petite Paperweights Here

New Decoupage Now....The Yahoo Group

We think it's the fastest growing
decoupage information group online.

Click Here To Join New Decoupage Now!

(800) 304-8766

Questions, comments or problems processing your order? Call us toll free at (800) 304-8766 and we'll be glad to help.

Decoupage Tray

DudeCraft

To Cheryl in Comments:

Mod Podge isn't the best adhesive to use under glass. You'll get better results with a white craft glue like Elmer's. Remove only the pockets/bubbles of air. If you achieve an even layer of glue between the paper artwork and the glass (without air bubbles), it will dry clear. However, if you remove too much glue, it will dry with streaks or shiny spots.

Hope this helps!

Durwin

New Decoupage

New Decoupage

It's Getting Better All The Time

Two days' experience with some drastic glass reductions has us convinced...you LIKE discounts!

So, here you go!

Making a Nail Lacquer Ornament

What You'll Need...

We're getting set up here to film a video showing how to make a Nail Lacquer Christmas Ornament. And, while we're waiting for Louis to find a can of spray paint we took this photo of everything we'll use. Clear glass ornaments, nail lacquer (at least 3 colors) and old Krylon gold marking pen and a can of white or silver or gold spray paint.

Louis?

Since You Already Know That I Believe in The Power of Tulips....

Then you won't think twice when I point at this bit of news (news to us!) and say....Hey, Thank You Kristen Phillips and good luck tomorrow!

A Friend Writes Us With A Great Party Idea

"I need to decorate a clear glass ball ornament for a Christmas party next week. Everyone got one in the mail and needs to bring it decorated to the party. Any fabulous and easy ideas? Help, quick! Xoxo Sent from my iPhone"

So, of course, now we have clear glass ball ornaments on the inventory shelves.

We tried to sell our friend on an idea of painting them with nail lacquer (and already came back from Glamourama with a bag full of colors) when a 2nd email arrives...

"I need a fantastic over the top idea! Apparently there are 80 balls and it's a competition."

Apparently nail lacquer doesn't sound like the grand prize idea to our friend.

I tried to explain that 79 other guests are having similar creative crises and am going to go ahead and play some here with my lacquer and fumes but, hey meanwhile...who out there has the fantastic over the top creative idea???

Feel free to contribute yours since ours looks unlikely to win.

Still, we think mailing out undecorated ornament invitations is a great Christmas party idea.