Welcome to our latest guest blog, where the talented Tracey from Tracey’s Fancy takes us through an inspiring dresser makeover! Using Dixie Belle’s vibrant Lily Pads decoupage paper and a creative blend of Chalk Mineral Paint colors, Tracey has transformed a simple piece into a bold, colorful statement. Her step-by-step guide is packed with tips and tricks for incorporating both decoupage and paint blending to create a truly unique finish. Get ready for a fun and colorful project that will leave you eager to tackle your next furniture makeover!
(The following is an excerpt from Tracey’s Fancy. Read the full article here.)
I LOVE to create with a giant sheet of decoupage paper (also known as the size A1)! Let me take this opportunity to show you how to apply large decoupage paper to furniture.
Before the Decoupage Paper
But first…let’s prepare the surface.
I cleaned this gorgeous dresser with white lightning….and thank goodness I did!
It looked sparkling clean….yet I was shocked at the amount of grime that I removed!
The dresser also had a high sheen and the white lightning deglossed it just enough to allow for great adhesion of the chalk paint without a primer!
Before I start any painting, I always thoroughly clean the piece and determine if it will need a primer coat.
Supplies Used
I’ve listed the colors below and there are a lot! However, you use very little of each color…..except for the dark brown undercoat. So it is possible to purchase the 4 oz. sample sizes for all the colors and an 8 oz for the dark brown.
- Lily Pads Decoupage Paper
- White Lightning
- Coffee Bean Chalk Mineral Paint
- Antebellum Blue Chalk Mineral Paint
- Palmetto Chalk Mineral Paint
- Rustic Red Chalk Mineral Paint
- Colonel Mustard Chalk Mineral Paint
- Dried Sage Chalk Mineral Paint
- Dusty Blue Chalk Mineral Paint
- Lemonade Chalk Mineral Paint
- Pine Cone Chalk Mineral Paint
- Light Olive Green Acrylic by Masters Touch
- Top Coat Satin
- Exacto Knife
How to Apply Large Decoupage Paper to Furniture
After cleaning, I painted the front of the drawers in white but only over the area that the paper would be used.
I used Satin Top Coat to apply my decoupage.
I left the drawers in place and began at the top of the piece……smoothing out the paper over the area using a ball of saran wrap.
Using an exacto knife, I sliced my paper between the top upper drawers and then above and below all the drawers.
I did not apply the paper to the strips of wood between the drawers. You can but it is really tedious!
Instead, I filled those areas with paint. (but we will get into that soon)
So basically the steps to apply large decoupage paper to furniture are:
- apply the satin top coat
- lay down the paper
- smooth it out
- make necessary cuts
- apply another coat of satin top coat
- smooth out again.
Repeat this in sections as you work your way to the bottom of the dresser.
Painting Around Large Decoupage Paper on Furniture
This is the part that I want to focus on.
Painting up to and around the existing paper image….or embracing it as I like to say….with paint to make it appear as if the entire front is a work of art!
If you look at this photo, you will see that it has tricked the eye into making you believe this is one giant finish across the entire front of the dresser…but it’s NOT!! It’s ONE single piece of large decoupage paper glued to the middle of it and paint blending throughout for a complete look!
From ONE Large Sheet of Decoupage Paper to a Finished Look
I did base coat the entire piece in Coffee Bean to add that deep shadow layer naturally when the brighter colors go over it!
Things to Consider When Blending Large Decoupage Paper on Furniture
It is important to use a stipple motion…..with large or small brushes.
Also use multiple colors at once. So load your brush with multiple colors….or use them one color at a time….applied in a stippling motion to blend as you go.
Also make sure to carry your paint OVER the edge of the paper. Avoid stopping right at the edge of the paper. You want to carry your mix of colors over and onto the paper design….stippling of course!
Do not forget to finish out the design between drawer spaces. If you look closely at mine you will see that I carried the stem of the flowers, flower petals and even lily pad colors from one drawer to the next.
Finishing the Piece with Painted Cloudy Blend Sides
I chose to carry my ethereal, cloudy blend, slightly mottled look around to both sides and even the top.
I was led by the colors in the paper.
The lime green in the upper left of the paper….I kept to the upper left side and even over onto the top left surface.
The red/orange/pink at the bottom center of the paper I carried on down onto the bottom trim of the dresser.
The upper right of the paper was a more earthy mushroom color with I also carried over to the upper right side and even onto the top surface.
Let the original artwork be your guide.
The Finished Look
Once I stepped back and was happy with all surfaces…..I sealed the piece to really bring the chalk paint colors to life!
I applied the satin top coat with a roller to all surfaces.
Thank you for joining Tracey on this colorful journey! We hope you’re feeling inspired to try out the stunning Lily Pads decoupage paper and experiment with paint blending in your own projects. Whether you’re a seasoned DIYer or just starting out, this transformation shows how easily you can breathe new life into old furniture with the right techniques and products. To learn more about Tracey, check out our blog Tracey Bellion with Trcey’s Fancy & Dixie Belle Paint.
