Course Overview
Learn the art of decoupage and gilding to create your own beautiful trinket dishes from oyster shells.
Guided by an expert tutor in a warm and friendly workshop environment, you’ll create two upcycled oyster shell trinket dishes to take home.
Through hands-on tuition, you’ll learn how to decoupage using paper to achieve a stunning finish that looks almost hand-painted. Decoupage involves cutting out images from paper, adhering them to a surface, and sealing the design with varnish for a professional result. You’ll then gild the edges of your shell, adding a beautiful gold outline to complete each piece.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll have two elegant trinket dishes to use at home for your treasured items—or, if you can bear to part with them, to gift as unique handmade presents.
Along with your completed pieces, you’ll gain valuable decoupage skills and techniques that can be applied to a wide range of future craft projects.
The class is delivered in a classroom setting, with step-by-step demonstrations provided by the instructor. Students work at their own pace in a calm, creative, and meditative environment.
Macquarie Community College operates from a range of venues across Northern and Western Sydney, including Blacktown, Carlingford, Chatswood, Epping, Mt Druitt, Richmond, and Ryde. Enrol now!
What you will learn
Course outline
Topics include:
- Professional techniques for cutting, adhering, and varnishing intricate paper designs on organic surfaces to create a seamless, hand-painted effect
- Precision gilding skills using gold leaf or liquid gold to achieve elegant, high-end finishes
- Transforming ethically sourced oyster shells into luxury home décor through sustainable upcycling
- Completing two unique, high-quality trinket dishes during the session
- Foundational knowledge of surface preparation and mixed-media finishing for future creative projects
Course outcome
By the end of this course, students will have developed a strong balance between creative expression and technical skill. Participants will gain:
- Professional decoupage techniques for creating refined, hand-painted-style finishes
- Precision gilding skills using gold accents for polished, professional results
- Sustainable upcycling knowledge for transforming oyster shells into functional decorative pieces
- High-integrity craftsmanship skills applicable to a wide range of mixed-media projects
Students will leave with two completed trinket dishes and a calming sense of achievement gained through structured creativity.
What you need to know
Entry requirements
This course is suitable for complete beginners.
What you need to provide
- Notepad and pen
Other information
Materials provided- All materials are included in the course fee