18 May Mod Podge and Paper

For anyone working in paper-based arts Mod Podge an essential tool in your collage artist kit. If you’re a paper-craft artist and have never used it before, here’s a quick guide that’ll help you begin on the right foot.  

Let’s start at the start 

First, let’s go over what Mod Podge actually is — and what it isn’t. Despite it being non-toxic and water based, Mod Podge isn’t watered down school-grade glue. To get fancy, it’s a decoupage (a French word that means, “to cut out”) medium that can be used as a glue, sealer, or finisher. Mod Podge is designed next-level paper arts, like decorating an object by gluing cutouts onto it in, papier-mache, artistic collages, and scrapbooking.  

 Mod Podge formula 

Despite its original intention, Mod Podge is surprisingly versatile and commonly used on ceramics, wood, fabric, glass, tin, and plastics. The Mod Podge formula you’ll need will depend on your craft project. There are many in circulation, so it’s important to get the right one — but they’re all good for gluing, sealing, and finishing. The one I feel works best for my work is 

• Paper Mod Podge: similar to the Classic formula, but keeps paper from yellowing and generally preserves paper better overtime. 

Paper thickness 

Thicker papers, like purpose-made scrapbooking papers, are obviously perfect for Mod Podge. However, like myself, you might like to dabble in thinner sheets such as tissue paper, which add a little more character, texture, and personality. You can still use Mod Podge with these, however to get the see through look you have to  paint the underside completely or alternatively just paint the top and youll get a more opaque and noticeable look, I sometimes use both on the same piece. 

 If you’re not sure how your paper will wear, experiment first. I cannot stress this enough! Take some time to test thickness, size, overlapping elements, torn edges, eliminating wrinkles, and removing Mod Podge that has partialy dried to your hands as it will transfer contaminates to your piece. This will massively save you headaches (and heartaches if you’ve been working on it for a long time) down the track especially when you photograph your pieces.  

See you next time 

If you’re looking for more advice on Mod Podge and paper application, don’t hesitate to drop me an email. I’m always happy to help a fellow paper-crazed artist. Otherwise, thanks for stopping by. 

Benno