Can I Print My Own Decoupage Paper?

The biggest hurdle when starting out with Decoupage is finding the right kind of paper four your project. It needs to have the right design or pattern for your project on it and it has to be the right kind of paper for Decoupage. So when you are done reading this article, you will know where to get the right paper from and how to create your own.

So can I print my own Decoupage Paper? The short answer is yes, you can easily print your own Decoupage Paper. The only important thing is, that you need to make sure, that the ink does not fade or get smudged when it comes in contact with water.

You can use either an inkjet or a laser printer to print your own Decoupage paper but some inkjet printers can be a little troublesome.

You can use any laser printer without any problems. All laser printers print in a way, that the ink does not get smudged in any way when it comes into contact with water.

But if you are printing with an inkjet printer, then I would do a little test on a scrap piece of paper before using the printed paper for Decoupage.

So simply print out a little test piece and then take a little bit of water and a brush and go over the piece of paper several times. If the paper dissolved very easily or the ink on the paper dissolved or gets smudged, then I would try another printer.

You should let the paper dry for a couple of minutes before testing it!

However, if nothing happens then you are good to use this printer for printing your own Decoupage paper!

What Kind of Paper Can Be Used For Decoupage?

You can use pretty much any kind of paper, that you want. You can use Magazine Paper, Newspaper, Wrapping paper, Wallpaper, Paper Napkins, playing cards, crafting paper and even fabric.

As long, as the Decoupage glue, that you are using, can glue it to the surface of your project, then you can use it for Decoupage.

I would still recommend using paper, that can take a little water and doesn´t dissolve easily, because Decoupage glue is waterbased.

I would also not use paper or cardboard, that is too thick for Decoupage because this kind of paper is quite hard to get lay down flat around an organic or round form.

If your surface is flat or only has very little form to it, then you can also use sturdier paper without any issues.

When you are printing your own Decoupage paper, then I would recommend using photo paper. I personally prefer matt photo paper for Decoupage but you can also use glossy paper, its completely up to your taste. I just like the matt look better.

You can also use very soft paper, for example, but it is a little harder to use for Decoupage. Getting paper this thin glued to a surface flat without any wrinkles is a real challenge.

You could also print your costume design on tissue paper if you wanted to, but it is kind of hard to do right. If you want to know how you can print on Tissue paper, however, I can strongly recommend this article from The Spruce.

Where Can I Get Paper for Decoupage With Nice Patterns and Designs?

Like I mentioned above, you can just print your own design on your printer and use that. There are a couple of things to keep in mind here, though.

First thing is, keep the resolution in mind if it is too low, then you will probably have a pixilated design when you print it. It should at least have 300 dpi when you want a high quality!

Also, please don´t go around and steal other people’s designs. If you just download Designs from the internet without their consent, then most of the time the resolution will be to low anyways.

If you are looking to buy paper with pre-printed Designs on them, then you can either have a look at your local craft store or you can buy some Paper online.

I especially like this assortment of different papers with a lot of creative designs and patterns on them. You can check the price right here.

The ink on the paper is very resistant to water and the paper itself adheres great to multiple different surfaces. The variation in patterns and colors is also very nice.

So it is perfect for Decoupage!

Most craft stores also have tissue paper, sometimes even in different colors. I personally like these papers from the same shop as above.

They are quite thin but still very resistant to water, so they don’t dissolve that easily. You can print on them and you have a huge variety of different colors as well.

You can check the price right here.

If you have any more questions, then feel free to leave me a comment down below and I will answer your question as soon as I can!

Valentin

Hi, I am a passionate maker and professional prop maker for the entertainment industry. I use my woodworking, programming, electronics, and illustration know-how to create interactive props and puzzles for Escape Games and marketing agencies. And I share my knowledge and my experience on this blog with you so that you can become a maker yourself.

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