Help with a project involving covering a metal container with paper?

Question

I know that's a weird question. I'll explain further. My friend's birthday is coming up, and all he's apparently ever wanted is one of those tin/metal pencil cases, and he hasn't found one that he really likes. So I wanted to buy a metal container that's a good size for pens and pencils (the craft store should have some, right?) and then take some of his favorite comics and apply it onto the container to personalize it.

So my question is, what is the best way to do that? Just plain liquid school glue, or is there something better? (I'm sure there must be something better.) And once I apply it, is there something I can spray it with to protect the paper? I plan to go to the craft store later in the week, so I'm trying to figure out what to be on the look-out for.

I've never done a project like this before, so any suggestions would be appreciated!

Ishtar · Accepted Answer

Look for a spray adhesive that works on metal.  School glue won't work, it will just peel off.  Then after you've applied the paper and smoothed out all the air bubbles under it, spray with a clear acrylic.  A couple of coats should do.  Or paint on an acrylic coating.  I probably shouldn't have to say this, but ... make photocopies of his comics to put on the case.  DO NOT use his originals!  Unless you buy some for this express purpose.

Diane B. · Answer

First, I'm assuming that you mean a pencil "case" (something that's long, has to sides that are hinged, for carrying pens/pencils/etc lying down), and not a pencil or pen "holder" which would be more like an empty can or cup which would hold them upright.

What you'd be doing is basically "decoupage" which is a little different, but more durable, than just gluing papers to a case or to something else.  Decoupage involves applying one or more layers of paper (of any kind) to another surface (of any kind pretty much) with some kind of clear-drying liquid adhesive under and between each layer, then adding as many final coats of the clear adhesive as necessary to make the whole surface even and smooth.

If you want to make the final clear surface as tough as possible, you'd then want to add a coat (or two) of clear polyurethane (from the hardware store)...usually the water-based, gloss version, and Varathane is a really good brand, and it's gloss version also has UV protection to keep it from yellowing with age.

Keep in mind that the thinner the paper you use, the easier it will be to decoupage around areas that have multiple planes--flat or rounded (i.e, if you're trying to use paper around the rounded or squared corners of an old fashioned pencil box), though much easier if you're just going around the outside side of a box or you can break up the paper coverings so there's a top part and a side part.  So, real comic book pages might well be thinner than the thinnest paper you could print onto.**  And the smaller the pieces of paper, the easier they'll "go around corners" when decoupaging.
Be sure you don't decoupage over the lip area of the bottom half btw, or you won't be able to fit the top half over the bottom half.

(Some people seem to feel that metal items should be sealed with a rust-resistant paint before beginning to decoupage, but not sure that's really necessary.)

You can read more about how to decoupage in general, and a bit more, in some of my previous answers and online:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110502005345AAyx27w
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110401054729AAGgnMM

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+decoupage+"pencil+case"
https://www.google.com/images?q=how+to+decoupage+metal+pencil+case
https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+decoupage+metal
https://www.google.com/images?q=how+to+decoupage+metal
https://www.google.com/search?q=metal+"pencil+case"

** When decoupaging though, you'll need to have papers that are water-resistant (like brochure paper or photo-paper--that one's thicker), or you'll need to seal the other prints before decoupaging.  There's more info re doing that in those answers of mine.

.

M · Answer

This site lets you select the two materials you want to glue together, then suggests good glues for the job:  http://www.thistothat.com/

Best of luck.

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Help with a project involving covering a metal container with paper?

3 Answers