How do you stop "wrinkling" when you paste paper onto old furniture?

Hi Mike, Here's a good how to video that may help! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGNsRu_3KLI

Good luck and have fun!

I purposely make them wrinkled looking. I love the look. I take tissue paper, crumble it up and paste it to my furniture and smooth it out a little and then I paint over it.. chalk paint works great!! I've done whole bedroom sets and end tables/coffee table sets like this and have had no problem selling them.. It's just another option......

It sounds like you may not be getting all of the air out Mike. I would stick with Modge Podge simply because it's my go-to and once you have put the paper on put a piece of plastic wrap over the top and use a credit card or a burnisher too smooth and get all air out this. The plastic wrap helps protect the wet paper while you smooth it out. This will also help remove excess glue which may also be causing you a problem.

If you go at an angle and lay it slowly, pushing down as you go, it should lay down smoothly.

I found the same thing on a small project but it was because it was curved. Could it be that the paper is too thin and the liquid soaks it too much? Thoughts anyone?

Thanks to all for your great tips, I shall approach decoupage with more confidence in future

That is so true!!!

Mike...I like you idea, may try sometime. Thanks for your tip!

When you decoupage, do it in thin, light coats to avoid wrinkling. Sounds like you oversoaked paper. Take your time, and let each coat dry completely before doing the next. Lots of pretty napkins are used by many people who decoupage and they do fine. (I am part of a facebook group of decoupagers called getting crafty with modge podge) I have only done one project so far and it came out fine.

I totally agree with Gale! You do have to use thin coats. Make sure after you have glued it all down to let it dry overnight. Then you can add another coat of modge podge. I did an old telephone table with sheet music. I did fine.