decoupage

[bettyw]

I have recently purchased some Christmas decoupage from the site it was lovely. Does anyone have any tips about cutting out small things such as holly leaves. I have tried a craft knife but I usually end up cutting thing in half.

[Carol]

Hi Betty.  I do a great deal of decoupage and I only ever use the decoupage snips.  If the pattern really is too fiddly and it doesn't matter to the final result I sometimes ignore those impossible bits.  If in an effort not to cut things in half you have left a small bit of white showing don't worry just colour the white bit gently with a lead pencil and it disappears into the picture.
Hope this helps.
lol
Carol

[Janet F.]

Hi again Betty

Unlike Carol I've never used the decoupage snips
I use scissors and for the fiddly bits a craft knife   
if the bits are really tiny / fiddly I sometimes leave them off  or if they are not too bad  what I do is put a very small piece of sellotape on the back just to strengthen them a bit and then cut carefully out
If there happens to be a tiny bit of white showing I use a cotton bud and put chalk on as near to the colour as I can

Hope this also may be of some help to you

[bettyw]

Hi Caroljane and Janet thanks for your tips I will try both of these methods. I have made up a lot of the decoupage but have put all the fiddly bits to one side you both have given me some encouragement to try to do it. Once again thanks for the tips. Betty.

[Janet F.]

Hi Betty

Good luck trying them out
I spend a lot of time at the computer so cut a lot of my decoupage out here and put the pieces in those cheap plastic cd wallets for when I need to make them up  then sit making up a batch at a time  that way when I need to use the chalks on them  can just plough through them and don't have to keep getting them out for the odd one or two

[bettyw]

Hi Janet I also tend to cut out whilst watching tv I make up a lot at once, I store each one in old envelopes then put them into wallet folders that way you keep all your bits together. I find by making a batch it makes the job seem easier also if you forget someone its always handy to have some already done so you can make a card quickly. Thanks again for the advice best wishes Betty