Message Boards

I have a print of a painting by Avery Tillmon called Low Tide (if you want to look it up). I would like to "ghost" it using torn tissue paper. I can figure out how to tear the paper and crinkle it, but need specifics on how to affix the paper to what I need to affix it to that is suitable for framing. I asked at the craft store and no one I talked to had ever actually done this and didn't know the correct methods. I don't want someone to guess for me, I'm perfectly capable of guessing for myself. Can someone who has done this please help? Thanks.

I have not seen the art nor the process for affixing the tissue paper to the art.

Maybe you can try the craft board?
http://boards.hgtv.com/eve/forums/a/cfrm/f/2894011632

Good luck with your project, sounds interesting!

Thanks for the suggestion. I have been told to use thinned out elmers but no one knows how much to thin it. I've seen it done on craft shows, but can't seem to find any instructions. When you want something.....

practice on scrap pieces until you can figure out how much to thin it...i think it just has to runny...

I would use matte or gloss medium (for acrylic paints). Elmers is not waterproof, and humidity can re-liquify and make it sticky. The medium is the binder without pigment and dries clear/water resistant.
Also agree with doing some small experimental tests on something similar.

Hint: always spray a print with an acrylic clear coat, to water proof it, or you may have a wrinkly mess that the inks can actually run/blurr.

not sure if this tutorial will help but take a peek.....

http://blog.mrhandsomeface.com/diy-wall-art-bubbles/

I did this on my dressing table mirror. But of course was not trying to make an art work, just a finish for the mirror frame.

I took printed tissue paper and crinkled it up, dipped it (completely) in diluted Elmers glue, straightened it out and then placed it on the wood, fiddling around with the design of the paper to get it the way I wanted it. This has been done many years (at least 10) and shows no wear. It is pretty flat so think it would fit in a frame with glass should I have chosen to do that.

I hope this shows the mirror in better detail

This message has been edited. Last edited by: lady of shallot,

quote:

I have been told to use thinned out elmers but no one knows how much to

When I thin out Elmers It is with less water than the glue itself, maybe 1/2 as much water as glue.

While what Conrad says may be true (humidity re-liquifying Elmers) I have never found this to be true and have done hundreds of projects with Elmers and all kinds of papers. However I live in Maine which is not known for its high humidity! I also never use a fixative on a paper project unless it is one I have printed myself on my own printer.

Decoupage is my craft and of course that is all about paper and glue. If the work is done on wood I do polyurethane it, but did not do so with the mirror.

This is another tissue paper project, done at least 20 years ago. Again plain old Elmers was the glue of choice but tissue paper here cut, not torn.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: lady of shallot,

YES the tutorial helped alot. Thank you so much.

Missred I wondered if any of the replies I gave you were of any help to you? It takes time to respond with (hopefully) helpful advise and it would be nice to have it acknowledged by the person to whom the advise was given.

Dearest "Lady": I very much appreciate your posts and pictures. I am having some computer trouble (which happens when your computer is 11 years old) and have been trying to reply to all the helpful responses for about an hour now. Also, we have a three hour time difference and as it's now Monday, I am at work. Your advice about the Elmers dilution is the best I have gotten. The humidity here was between 3% and 7% for most of last week, so I worry more about cracking than goo-ing. I will definitely make a practice piece. If I can manage it, I will post side by side pictures of the original and my "copy". Again, thanks for the help.

I have done torn tissue paper affixed to picture matting for bathroom pictures (no glass over it). I used Aleene's Tacky Glue and thinned about like Conrad described. You can take a soft brush and maneuver the tissue paper likely to have more or less wrinkles depending on personal preference. I also top coated with the glue mixture once I was happy with the results. Final step was sponge painted it with acrylic craft paint in both a color and a pearl. They've been on the bathroom wall for 10 years with no problem from moisture.

Good luck with your efforts.

I've done many craft projects using tissue paper and diluted white glue. I dilute the glue until it's the consistency of heavy cream and easy to brush on. White glue being water based can thicken with age so best to not go according to amounts but to thickness. Most important, I found, is the quality of the tissue paper. I had tried using the dollar store tissue but it was difficult to use as it fell apart when wet with glue. I then used the craft tissue from Michaels and printed gift wrap tissue from Costco and had no trouble. Depending on the project I have used Diamond Varathane as a top coat if the object will have heavy usage but for some projects I have only coated with the diluted glue and never had a problem.

Good luck with your art project and please show us when it's finished!

Thanks for the info. Moisture is not a problem in Las Vegas. Dust is.

Thanks for the info. My biggest fear is cracking and yellowing.

My college daughter just did this with a photo. She found how to do it on pinterest .. I know she bought modge-podge for her project.