Help please. Decoupage newbie

[sweettalkingwoman]

Hi, I hope someone can point me in the right direction..
Can I decoupage with any type of paper?
I have a large kraft cardboard box I would like to decoupage with photos from my wedding.. can I just print photos from my home printer and use them? I read somewhere that I would need to coat them with something like hairspray to stop the ink smudging?
and is modge Podge the best thing to use?
TIA

Hi Op, I've heard you can print on white tissue paper which works well (not tried it myself though). There is a great Facebook group called Decoupage friendly help and advice.

If your box is brown then not using a really thick paper will mean the brown will show right through. Before you set to with the box and wedding photos I would practice on just card. It isn't easy and if you get air bubbles you can't get them out very easily. Your photos should smudge provided you don't go over and over the same spot. Mod podge is the best glue for decoupage.

Thanks for the replies!
Would it be a good idea to give the box a base coat of light coloured paint?
Also, would it be a better option to use actual photos (the type printed in a photo shop) or would these be more difficult to work with - Cutting around shapes and also to create an overall smooth finish?