The art has a long and fascinating history. In eastern Siberia, cutout felt figures and designs were used to decorate objects found in tombs dating from before time of Christ.

The art of elaborate cutting seems to have spread from there to China. In 12th century China, paper cutouts were used to decorate windows, lanterns, gift boxes and other objects. After a while, artisans began applying multiple layers of lacquer to make their work more durable and attractive.

In late 17th century, lacquer furniture from Far East became fashionable in Europe. Demand quickly exceeded supply and Venetian cabinet-makers and lacquerers began to copy and change art form.

At that time, wealthy were in habit of commissioning master painters to paint their furniture. It didn’t take long for découpeurs to draw copies of masterworks and have prints made for their use. In fact, many antiques formerly believed to have been painted by masters were later found to have been copies using very skillful découpage.

To learn more about découpage and how to use this technique yourself, visit: http://www.theartfulcrafter.com/decoupage-two.html.

Eileen Bergen The Artful Crafter http://theartfulcrafter.com

2. Depending on size and weight of your arrangement, choose your substrate. If collage will be large and heavy, consider masonite, hardboard or wood, at least ¼ inch thick. It is a good idea to glue two firring strips to back for support, both while you work and when you go to hang your collage. Metal can also be used and is very effective in combination with objects welded to it.

If you are scrapbooking, your substrate is most likely 12 X 12 inch paper and your items need to be lightweight. Other possibilities are stretched canvas, cardboard or wooden boxes, poster board, or for cards - any type of cardstock or decorative paper including handmade papers.

3. Prepare your substrate if necessary. For example, you may need to shellac or seal if you are using wood. You may want to put a wash of color or sponged pattern as a backdrop to your theme.

4. Decide what you will need in order to mount your objects. Choose glues appropriate for object and substrate; preferably ones which dry transparent. Try to avoid any glue seeping out from edges by carefully placing and spreading glue and letting it come to a proper tack before placing each object on base. Follow manufacturer’s label instructions. Be sure adhesive is permanent and, if you are working with photos, also acid-free. Some consumer tapes, glue sticks and liquid adhesives are not permanent or may react with photographs and cause them to deteriorate. Some of these adhesives contain acids and other materials, such as plasticizers or softening agents, which can migrate onto a photograph and cause discoloration, fading and brittleness.

Other possible fasteners are nails, tacks (especially decorative ones such as upholstery tacks), pegs, bolts, glue dots, stick pins, wire and tape. Or you might take up welding. You wouldn’t be first woman to do so!

If you are a woman looking for your artistic or profitable niche, I recommend you give some type of collage a try. It just comes so naturally to most women that you may find it feeds soul, as well as pocketbook.

For more artilcrs, tips and ideas about crafts and crafting business, visit http://www.theartfulcrafter.com

Eileen Bergen The Artful Crafter http://www.theartfulcrafter.com