• Home
  • About
    • About Crafts by Amanda
    • Visit Our Recipe Site
  • Work With Us
  • Join
    • Free Newsletters
    • Join our Facebook craft group
↑
  • Tutorials
    • Tutorial Index
    • Adult Crafts
    • Crafts for Kids
    • Crafts for Seniors
    • Recycled Crafts
    • Seasonal Crafts
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Free Printables
    • Craft Collections
  • Adult Crafts
    • Bath & Body
    • Beach Crafts
    • Clay Pot Crafts
    • Crafts for Seniors
    • Decoupage Crafts for Adults
    • DIY Gift ideas
    • Garden Crafts
    • Home Decor Projects
    • Kitchen Crafts
    • Light Bulb Crafts
    • Luminary Crafts
    • Mason Jar Crafts
    • Needlework
    • Photo Display Ideas
    • Recycled Crafts for Adults
    • Wearable Crafts for Adults
  • Crafts for Kids
    • Animal Crafts for Kids
    • Back to School Crafts
    • Beach Crafts for Kids
    • Camp Crafts
    • Cardboard Tube Crafts for Kids
    • Decoupage Crafts for Kids
    • Easy Crafts for Kids
    • Nature Crafts for Kids
    • Other Kid’s Crafts
    • Paper Plate Crafts for Kids
    • Recycled Crafts for Kids
    • Slimes, Doughs, & Clay
    • Wearable Crafts for Kids
  • Holiday Crafts
    • 4th of July Crafts
    • Christmas Crafts
    • DIY Gift ideas
    • Earth Day Crafts
    • Easter Crafts
    • Father’s Day Crafts
    • Halloween Crafts
    • Memorial Day Crafts
    • Mother’s Day Crafts
    • New Year’s
    • Other Holidays
    • Patriot Day Crafts
    • St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
    • Thanksgiving Crafts
    • Valentine’s Day Crafts
  • Seasonal Crafts
    • Winter Crafts
    • Spring Crafts
    • Summer Crafts
    • Fall Crafts
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Crafts by Amanda

crafts for adults and kid's crafts

  • Tutorials
    • Tutorial Index
    • Adult Crafts
    • Crafts for Kids
    • Crafts for Seniors
    • Recycled Crafts
    • Seasonal Crafts
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Free Printables
    • Craft Collections
  • Adult Crafts
    • Bath & Body
    • Beach Crafts
    • Clay Pot Crafts
    • Crafts for Seniors
    • Decoupage Crafts for Adults
    • DIY Gift ideas
    • Garden Crafts
    • Home Decor Projects
    • Kitchen Crafts
    • Light Bulb Crafts
    • Luminary Crafts
    • Mason Jar Crafts
    • Needlework
    • Photo Display Ideas
    • Recycled Crafts for Adults
    • Wearable Crafts for Adults
  • Crafts for Kids
    • Animal Crafts for Kids
    • Back to School Crafts
    • Beach Crafts for Kids
    • Camp Crafts
    • Cardboard Tube Crafts for Kids
    • Decoupage Crafts for Kids
    • Easy Crafts for Kids
    • Nature Crafts for Kids
    • Other Kid’s Crafts
    • Paper Plate Crafts for Kids
    • Recycled Crafts for Kids
    • Slimes, Doughs, & Clay
    • Wearable Crafts for Kids
  • Holiday Crafts
    • 4th of July Crafts
    • Christmas Crafts
    • DIY Gift ideas
    • Earth Day Crafts
    • Easter Crafts
    • Father’s Day Crafts
    • Halloween Crafts
    • Memorial Day Crafts
    • Mother’s Day Crafts
    • New Year’s
    • Other Holidays
    • Patriot Day Crafts
    • St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
    • Thanksgiving Crafts
    • Valentine’s Day Crafts
  • Seasonal Crafts
    • Winter Crafts
    • Spring Crafts
    • Summer Crafts
    • Fall Crafts
Craft Tutorials | Adult Crafts | Decoupage Crafts for Adults | Preserving Pencil Drawings with Decoupage

Preserving Pencil Drawings with Decoupage

Author by Amanda Davis on July 15, 2013 Updated on May 29, 2020

37 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • Email

Preserving Pencil Drawings with Decoupage

 

Back in 2003 I owned a store called Amanda’s Attic. It was in Richmond, Illinois, which in its hay-day was a hopping antique shopping town that was flooded with foot traffic every weekend. Unfortunately, down turns in the economy killed the town, though it does continue to struggle to survive today. I didn’t keep the store open long. It didn’t take long to realize that I was beating a dead horse. As much as people loved what they saw inside (that is when there WAS people walking around), no one ever wanted to part with their money. Here are some pictures of the store and some of the paintings I did.

Preserving Pencil Drawings with Decoupage

I closed up shop, returned consignment items to their owners and had a close out sale via eBay to get rid of m remaining inventory. It was back then that I painted a lot. I did a lot of painted jars, and one of my all time favorites was this tree frog jar (pictured above). In fact, it was my most requested custom item. Not sure what the attraction was with those little froggies, but people loved them and I painted quite a few for customers.

These frogs didn’t start out as a painting of course, they were a drawing I had done. In fact, I remember drawing the frogs, inspired by a photograph in a nature magazine. Drawing was always a passion of mine, though it’s really not something I do much of anymore. So when I do draw and I’m happy with the results, I tend to hold on to those pieces of paper. Problem is I’m not very good about taking care of said pictures. That’s why I decided to immortalize it on a plaque for my craft room.

Preserving Pencil Drawings with Decoupage

I used DecoArt’s Decoupage medium, some Americana paints for the plaque, and Americana acrylic sealer spray to prep the paper itself.

Preserving Pencil Drawings with Decoupage

First I cut a piece of plywood using my saw, just cutting some jagged edges all the way around. No particular design.

Preserving Pencil Drawings with Decoupage

I wanted both blue and green to show through the white, so after giving the plaque a good sanding, I painted it with both colors. When those two colors were dry, I went over it with a coat of white.

Preserving Pencil Drawings with Decoupage

Now for the important part. I drew this in July of 2002; that’s 11 years ago. The last thing I want to happen is to apply decoupage medium over the top and have the pencil smear all over the place. So I sprayed both sides of the paper with acrylic sealer first. Applying the sealer locks the pencil led beneath it so that no smearing occurs. It also helps keep the paper from bubbling. Remember, paper is made up of tiny little fibers and getting it wet, even with something like decoupage, will start to break it down. Sealing it first keeps that from happening.

Preserving Pencil Drawings with Decoupage

After the white paint dried, I sanded the entire thing, pressing harder in some areas than others. This let the blue and green show through the white, giving it a more distressed look. Then I mixed antiquing medium with some of the green paint and applied a coat to the entire surface and wiped the excess back. This gave it a slightly less bright look. Then, of course, the final step was the decoupage the picture onto the surface of the plaque. When I decoupage, I always apply it to the backside of the picture first, then press it in place as if I were using glue. I let that dry for about 20 minutes before adding the topcoat.

Preserving Pencil Drawings with Decoupage

So, now my pencil drawing is preserved. I’m actually quite surprised I managed to keep the drawing in tact for as long as I did!

I am a DecoArt Core Blogger. I was compensated for this post, but have always loved DecoArt products! Therefore, all opinions expressed here are 100% my own.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Amanda Davis
Amanda Davis is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four children. She loves to bake, cook, make kid's crafts and create decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years.
Latest posts by Amanda Davis (see all)
  • Rainbow Tie Dye Shirts - July 4, 2025
  • Mason Jar Solar Lights - June 27, 2025
  • Patriotic Pinwheels - June 20, 2025
37 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • Email

Filed Under: Decoupage Crafts for Adults, Home Decor Projects Tagged With: adult, adult craft ideas, adult crafts, adults, crafts for adults, decoupage, wall art

Reader Interactions

Free CraftsBy email every week

Latest crafts straight to your inbox!

Comments

  1. Brenda Rohm says

    March 4, 2019 at 4:50 pm

    Question, I am doing an art craft for a school auction. We are doing Jesse tree ornaments. I was thinking of having the kids use colored pencils to color the ornaments and then use the technique above to put them on wooden circles. Do you think this would work?

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      March 6, 2019 at 9:03 am

      I do think it would work, BUT I always recommend doing a test first if it’s something you haven’t tried before. So do a mock-up on your own before doing the project with the class just to make sure :)

      Reply
  2. Penni says

    July 16, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    Ah, Richmond, Illinois! About 1/2 way between Buffalo Grove and Lake Geneva, WI. When heading up to our ladies retreats in L.G. we’d stop in Richmond for candy. Not a lot else going on, unfortunately. sorry you’re store didn’t make it, but very grateful for the tips and things you share online.

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      July 18, 2013 at 7:36 am

      Thanks Penni! Buffalo Grove, been there many times, my mom used to live there. :) Unfortunate about Richmond, hopefully some day it will recover.

      Reply
  3. ERIKA says

    July 16, 2013 at 3:49 pm

    adorably cute!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      July 18, 2013 at 7:36 am

      Thank you Erika!

      Reply
  4. Cheryl Riello says

    July 16, 2013 at 11:53 am

    Hi Amanda!

    I love your blog and follow it all the time! I was interested to read more about you. I am sorry to hear about the closing of your shop. I think anyone who is artist has faced that at some point. I love your pencil drawings of the frogs and your technique of preserving them. I love the pillow!! You did a fabulous job. I am a frog lover. My frogs, Ralph and Justin just appeared on my blog last week. I would love you to pop over and visit to see them. Here’s my blog address:
    http://acrafterforallseasons.blogspot.com/! Thanks for all of the great things you feature on your blog-it always makes my day when it posts.

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      July 18, 2013 at 7:39 am

      Your frogs are adorable Cheryl, thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  5. Terri Betz says

    July 16, 2013 at 11:41 am

    Hi Amanda! I love your forgive drawing too! They just look so happy together! Thanks for sharing all your tips! You always make it sound so easy! I want to do this to a drawing (pencil) that my Granddaughter did of a gentleman bunny! Love your stuff! I’ve learned a lot from you.

    Reply
    • Terri Betz says

      July 16, 2013 at 11:43 am

      Froggie! LOL! Silly predictive :)

      Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      July 18, 2013 at 7:39 am

      Thank you Terri, you always say such nice things!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate This Project




The maximum upload file size: 640 MB. You can upload: image, video. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop files here

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I’m Amanda and I’m the founder and head designer of Crafts by Amanda. I have spent over 25 years creating projects to share, but it’s not just me anymore! It’s turned into a complete family affair. Come and meet the Creative Team!

Free CraftsBy email every week

Latest crafts straight to your inbox!

All Time Favorites

Learn to make these adorable ladybug painted rocks. use special outdoor paint for this adorable garden craft so you can keep garden ladybugs all summer!

Ladybug Painted Rocks…

These colorful little ladybug painted rocks are the ... Go To project

snowy pinecone candle jar luminaries

Winter Luminaries: Snowy Pinecone…

Make pretty winter luminaries that appear to be covered ... Go To project

Make this wonderful deco mesh pumpkin wreath to hang on your door this fall!

Deco Mesh Pumpkin Wreath…

Adorn your door this fall with a pretty deco mesh ... Go To project

Reuse those empty prescription pill bottles in all sorts of ways. From organizing to making cookies. Yes, cookies! See how to use your empty pill bottles!

20 Uses for Prescription Pill…

You've been collecting prescription pill bottles for ... Go To project

Meet the Family

Amanda

Founder and Designer

Kristen

Editorial Manager

Lindsay

Social Media Manager

As seen on:

Footer

Favorites

  • Jar Photo Frames
  • No-Sew Roman Shade
  • Paper Flowers
  • How to Make a Scrunchie
  • Mermaid Slime

About

  • Home
  • Meet the Creative Team
  • Work with Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Contact Us

Images/text copyright Amanda Formaro 2020. To feature a post from Crafts by Amanda, you may use one photo credited and linked back directly to the project post.

Free CraftsBy email every week

Latest crafts straight to your inbox!

Copyright ©2025, Crafts by Amanda. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs