How-to: Dotted Parasol Makeover

Paper parasols are an excellent surface for decoupage projects, so when I spotted a very torn paper parasol for $3 at a craft store, I knew I had to snatch it up and Mod Podge it back into shape. As you might have noticed in pictures of me, I’m one of the palest humans on earth. For me, parasols are also a great beach party companion when I need more than several applications of SPF 50 a day to keep safe from sunburn.

Supplies

tissue paper
differently sized circular objects
scissors
pencil
Outdoor Mod Podge
sponge brush
parasol

Directions

Here’s the sorry state my blue parasol was in at the time I bought it:

Since that one tear is so massive, I needed to find a circle-shaped object slightly larger than the tear to trace onto tissue paper. My kitchen plates and a drinking glass worked perfectly. If your parasol isn’t torn, you can get creative and use object of any size to stencil your circles onto some tissue paper.

Next, cut out all of your circles and sort them into piles by size.

It’s easy in this next step to make the tear larger in your parasol since the moisture of the ‘Podge can weaken the structure of the paper parasol, so be careful. If your parasol is damaged, carefully apply a layer of Outdoor Mod Podge around the largest tear to start. Apply the ‘Podge to an area about the same size as the circle you’ll be decoupaging onto the parasol. Pat a large paper circle onto the Mod Podge.

Covering a tear? Also apply a layer of Mod Podge onto the inside of the parasol to seal the back of the tear.

Back on the outside of the parasol, paint a final layer of Mod Podge over the dry side of the circle. Keep applying circles to your parasol in any pattern you like: evenly spaced polka dots, overlapping dots, you name it. If they are covering a tear, follow the steps outlined above. Otherwise, simply apply Mod Podge, smooth on a paper circle, and paint over the outside with Mod Podge. No need to paint the backside if the circle isn’t covering a tear.

When all of the Mod Podge dries, paint a last layer of Outdoor Mod Podge over the entire parasol and let dry for a couple days. Not only does the Outdoor Mod Podge seal the parasol, but it makes it better for outdoor use than in its original, plain paper form.

I first posted this project at Mod Podge Rocks. I write a monthly tutorial for Mod Podge Rocks, which you should check out on Facebook, Pinterest & Twitter for tons of decoupage craft project instructions.