Great Craft Books: Absolute Beginner's Decoupage By Alison Jenkins

 Browsing through the library the other day in the art section, I came across a few awesome step by step craft books.  One such book, is “Absolute Beginner’s Decoupage- The Simple Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Beautiful Decoupage By Alison Jenkins.

        If you’re new to decoupage or looking to advance your basic skills, “Decoupage” By Allison Jenkins, provides a thorough look at the steps and technical procedures in creating lovely decoupage works. My favorite project is the Elegant Waste Basket covered on pages 30-35. Painted yellow and embellished with Classical Greek style images, Jenkins gives a complete breakdown of the steps to prepare the wood,  finely cut the images and sealing the project. 

         This particular decoupage work has an antiqued look to it. You can bet she also covers how to obtain such a finish. Using an oil based polyurethane, which naturally yellows as it ages, tint polyurethane with Burnt Umber oil paint. Apply thin strokes to the decoupage surface. Apply several coats and let dry in between applications. Allison Jenkins covers this technique and how to give the waste basket a crackled surface.

     ”Decoupage,”  is a large hardcover book with spiral binding and includes 96 pages. It was published by Watson Guptill Publications, a division of BPI Communications with ISBN # 0-8230-0055-9 in the year 1999. While the book is filled with straightforward facts on advanced cutting, sealing, wood preparations  and other related topics, I wish it had been filled with more projects. Full color close up photographs, additional help tips in various corners of the pages and a inspirational gallery, the book is as the title infers an awesome step-by-step guide for beginners or even those who have dabbled with decoupage but want a quick brush up. 

   If you’re interested in purchasing it, I did a quick internet search on a few of popular sites:

On Amazon.Com  independent booksellers have it available  new from $10.21. Used sellers have it available from $10.31, so your best off purchasing it new. 

I found one copy on Ebay for $5.50, not including shipping and handling. 

Barnes and Noble Sellers have it available from $10.21 as well.

Happy Reading!