The French Cat

I recently purchased a book called "The French Cat" so I thought it was fitting to name this post after my book since I used my antique French invoices as a background for the Graphics Fairy Tuxedo Cat.  For this image click here. 
 
Here are my four finished plates.  This post took me longer to write than it did to do the actual work on the plates so if you like these, stick with me.

If you would like to use these invoices, feel free to do so.  I will include the link to the images for you on each plate.  I purchased the plates at the 99 Cent store.

 Here is the link for Construction.

First I cut out Tuxedo Cat and decoupaged him. Remember you are working on the back side of the plate. This is reverse decoupage. I copied my invoices onto 8 1/2 x 11 paper and cut a circle of my invoice image larger than the plate I was using. Place your second image's large circle cutout behind your first image and decoupage only on the center of the plate. Stick that down and press firmly over the image. Now for the sides of the plate, I cut several slits in my image going around the plate cutting only to the center of the plate. This helps to prevent bubbles and uneven decoupage.  Then I placed decoupage on each slit as I circled around the plate making sure to coat the edges so they would stick to the previously pressed down slit. Press firmly around the plate edge so you get nice contact. Now cut around the outside of the paper circle to make it even with the edge of the plate. Remember we cut the circle larger than the plate. I did three layers of decoupage letting it dry between each coat.

Click here for Edouard Rondeau.

Then here was my biggest mistake. My old invoices were very yellowed and I liked the color so I should have painted the back of the decoupaged paper with ivory, but instead I painted with black.  Anywhere I hadn't cut exactly on the edge of the plate the black showed from the front. So paint the back of your plate to match the front of the image. This will hide many imperfections if you didn't cut exactly to the outer edge of the plate.  I know this is long and drawn out, but I don't know a better way to explain this.  

Click here for Lefebure.  Pardon the glare in my photos.  It's hard to photograph inside of my house. 

By the way, Pat, one of my followers had a totally brilliant idea for saving Graphics Fairy images to my computer and I will pass it along to you as a suggestion. Whenever I want to include an image in my post for you, I like to link it directly to the Graphics Fairy's blog and not to the saved image on my computer. Many times (actually a lot) I have trouble locating the image with her search bar so Pat suggested I save the image as I normally do, but to also add the date of the post. This is making it much easier for me to locate the post on Karen's site.

Click here for Societe Generale.

Happy crafting everyone.  Let your imagination run wild today.

I'm partying at...


Mondays          Le Chateau des Fleurs       The Graphics Fairy    
                                      Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage    A Stroll Thru Life   
                                     Cozy Little House Tweak it Tuesday
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style         Ivy and Elephants
                                     Faded Charm Cottage       Fine Craft Guild      
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday    Fishtail Cottage
                                     Rustic Restorations Homespun Happenings
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity   Rooted in Thyme
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors

Sundays           My 1928 Charmer Sunday's Best