by Darlene Michaud

Created on: October 03, 2010

This is a craft recipe for homemade decoupage glue. Decoupage glue is used in paper crafts, but can also be used to cover wood items or walls with paper cut outs. You can glue paper to a dresser or bureau to match your decor. Or you can cover a trunk with old postcards. You can also use decoupage glue to glue paper or leaves or whatever you can think of on the cover of a scrapbook. There are endless ways to use decoupage glue.

This glue is very easy to make and it's cheap to make too. This decoupage glue is as fun to make as it is to use. And you will save money by making your own decoupage glue. This recipe makes about 1 and 1/2 quarts of decoupage glue. It's enough glue for a large project like covering an old trunk or bureau. If you need more or less glue, just adjust the recipe. Have fun with your decoupage projects and your decoupage glue!

Gather the following ingredients to make decoupage glue:

• 1 cup wheat flour (not self rising)

• 1 tablespoon powdered alum (in the grocery aisle with the spices)

• 1 tablespoon powdered rosin (available at craft stores)

• 1 plus 1/2 cups warm water

• 5 cups hot water

• 1 plus 1/2 cups cold water

• 8 drops of clove oil for preservative.

Mix the flour, alum and rosin in a large pot. Make a paste by adding 1 plus 1/2 cups of warm water to the pot and stirring until it is smooth. Pour in the 5 cups of hot water to the pot and stir vigorously to break any lumps.

Place the pot on low heat and boil the decoupage glue, stirring constantly, until it is somewhat clear. Thin the hot glue with about 1 plus 1/2 cups of cold water. If it looks too thick to apply to your project then you can add a bit more water, a little at a time, while stirring.

Add the 8 drops of clove oil if you need to preserve the glue. If you are using all the glue right away you do not need to add the oil. Store the decoupage glue in a large covered jar or other tightly sealed covered container. Do not refrigerate. If it thickens, add a bit of warm water before the next use. If you added the clove oil, this decoupage glue will keep for several months.

Learn more about this author, Darlene Michaud.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.