CRAFT WORKS
Restyling with Decoupage
A creative craft project from Search Press

You will need
Metal box ．Coarse grade sandpaper or wire wool ．Red oxide primer ．Emulsion paint: black
Victorian scraps of cats ．PVA glue ．Water-based varnish ．Shellac．
Three 2.5cm (1in) paintbrushes for paint．
Glue brush ．Damp cloth

	Metal is an easy material to decoupage, and it is often very rewarding to work on as its transformation can be so startling. Metal trunks and boxes can be found in most junk shops. The old cash box featured in this project was in a good condition when I bought it, but do not be put off if you come across something that is rusted or dented. This need not matter as the rust can be removed easily with rust remover; and the dents, if not too big, can add to the appeal of the finished object, particularly if given an antique finish.
	1. Sand down the box using coarse grade sandpaper or wire wool - this will remove any rust or flaking paint and give the surface a key. If your box is badly rusted, use a rust remover first. Use a damp cloth to remove any debris caused by sanding.
	2. Cover the entire box with a coat of red oxide primer and leave to dry thoroughly.
	3. Apply a coat of black emulsion to the box. Leave to dry before applying a second coat. Again, leave to dry.
	4. Paste cut-out cats on to the box using PVA glue diluted with water. Paint over the entire box with diluted PVA glue, making sure that all the edges are stuck down. Leave to dry completely.
	5. Apply a coat of water-based varnish then leave to dry thoroughly. Apply a second coat and, again, leave to dry.
	6. Apply two or more coats of shellac, depending on how dark an antique finish you want. Leave to dry between coats.

Note:
Try to cover the entire box with ../free/daimages of cats, positioning them so that they face in all directions. It is a good idea to try to finish by placing one large cat on the centre of each surface to act as a focal point. Shellac is quite hard-wearing. However, if your object is going to be used a lot, you could apply one or two coats of oil-based varnish on top of the shellac to give an even tougher protective finish.

生字
red oxide primer n. 紅色氧化底漆
emulsion paint n. 乳狀漆
varnish n. 光漆; 清漆
shellac n. 充漆
startling adj. 另人吃驚的; 驚人的
junk shop n. 廢五金行
dented n. 凹陷的
antique n. 古代的; 古風的
flaking n. 剝落的
debris n. 碎片; 殘骸
diluted n. 稀釋的