Varnishing

[Skippy734]

Hi. This is my first visit to your site, I came across it whilst looking for an answer to the question I have. It may seem a silly question but here goes. I want to decoupage a small area on the top of a bedside table, a rose design. What I don't want is to have the whole top glossy. Is it OK to just varnish the roses! or must I do the whole thing? Also read that you must use "varnish" others say they simply used the PVA glue, are both acceptable? Thank you.

If the pva gets wet or moist it will dissolve. You don't have to use shiny varnish. Matt ones do exist. Or use a Matt gel medium modge podge type thing.

All of the above can be bought at hobby craft.

You can buy Matt varnish, satin varnish, wax finish varnish and obviously gloss. Polyvine are good, just need to make sure it non-yellowing and water based.

Thanks to you both of you for your very quick replies. I realise I wouldn't need to use a gloss varnish, it's just that I prefer to wax anything I paint normally, don't like varnish. Still not sure if I need to put whatever I use over all of the top. Gemmalou123 are you saying I could simply wax over the design after the PVA has dried? That would suit me better.

If it's a bedside table won't it get warn quickly? I'm just thinking of me and my glass of water (absolutely not a penis beaker) and phone etc. it may get scratched up. Maybe put a sheet of glass over the top?