Choosing the Right Polyvine Varnish for Decoupage and Crafts
If you've ever watched any of our Decoupage Tutorials, you'll know that we love Polyvine Varnishes, not just as a protective top coat, but we also often use it as our decoupage glue!
But how do you know which Polyvine Varnish to choose in which situation? We've put together this comprehensive guide to take the guess work out of choosing a varnish for your decoupage and craft projects.
1. Polyvine Decorators Varnish – for Indoor Projects
Decorators Varnish or "the one with the butterfly" is the varnish we use in the Ninny's Napkins Studio most often. It's versatile, affordable, and works well in most situations. Decorator's Varnish will protect your project from dirt and fingerprints, and has some moisture and UV resistance. You can use this as your "glue" in many decoupage projects as well.
Whether you choose a Gloss, Satin or Dead Flat finish is mostly personal preference.
- Recommended For: Items that will remain indoors or in a sheltered area outdoors, such as a covered porch. Items that will not get handled frequently.
- Finish Options: Gloss, satin, or dead flat.
- Dry Time: 1-2 hours
- Cure Time: 5-7 days at room temperature
2. Polyvine Heavy-Duty Wood Varnish – for Coasters and Trivets
The Heavy Duty Wood Varnish, also known as "the one with the three shells," boasts the highest heat resistance among all Polyvine Varnishes. It's ideal for a wide range of decoupage projects, but it's especially useful for crafting coasters and trivets that need to withstand the heat from a coffee cup or a hot pan. Additionally, it's versatile enough to be applied on tile, ceramic, and various surfaces other than wood.
- Recommended For: Coasters and trivets.
- Finish Options: Satin or dead flat
- Dry Time: 1-2 hours
- Cure Time: 16 hours at room temperature
3. Polyvine Wax Finish Varnish – For Chalk Paint Projects
If you’re crafting with chalk or clay based paint such as Country Chic, this is the perfect finish to seal in the matte, chalky appearance without losing that soft, vintage look. Polyvine Wax Finish Varnish preserves the porous look of chalk paint while adding extra durability, so it’s great for upcycling or refurbishing furniture.
- Recommended For: Chalk-painted surfaces
- Finish Options: Dead flat or satin.
- Dry Time: 1-2 hours
- Cure Time: 5-7 days at room temperature
4. Polyvine Heavy Duty Extreme Varnish – For Outdoor Projects
Working on outdoor projects like garden décor or exterior furniture? Polyvine Heavy Duty Exteme Varnish or "the one with the diamonds" is weather-resistant, providing protection against UV rays, rain, and temperature fluctuations. Whether you’re sealing outdoor plant pots, garden rocks, door signs, or decorative pieces, this varnish ensures your creations withstand the elements.
It's also the best choice for high traffic situations such as table tops, counter tops, and even floors.
- Recommended For: Garden crafts, outdoor wooden furniture, and exterior decorations.
- Finish Options: Satin or Dead Flat.
- Cure Time: 16 hours at room temperature
5. Polyvine Multi Surface Lacquer – for Non- Porous Surfaces
Polyvine Multi Surface Lacquer is not a varnish, but it is still important to discuss. Multi Surface Lacquer will adhere to just about anything including glass, metal and other non-porous, smooth surfaces. It an also be used as a bonding primer. The High Gloss is also very shiny, which is perfect for protecting gold flake.
- Recommended For: Projects with non porous surface or covering gold flake. Can also be used as a bonding primer.
- Finish Options: Dead Flat, Satin and High Gloss
- Dry Time: 1-2 hours
- Cure time: 5 to 7 days
Choosing Your Finish
All Polyvine Varnishes are available in Dead Flat and Satin finishes, with some also offering a Gloss option. The choice largely depends on personal preference and the look you're aiming for. Dead Flat is perfect for a completely matte finish, ideal for vintage or rustic-style projects where you want no shine at all. Satin provides a subtle sheen, while Gloss delivers a high-shine, polished look. For projects where stain resistance is key—like coasters or table tops—we recommend opting for Satin or Gloss, as these finishes offer better protection against spills and daily wear.
But which Brush?
The brush you choose may be just as important as the varnish. To avoid brush strokes and get a smooth finish, you need a good varnish brush. Polyvine makes their own varnish brush, but we actually prefer Stamperia Flat brushes for our smaller craft projects. You can also use a Country Chic Furniture Sponge for larger projects, just be sure to dampen it with water first.
Conclusion
Polyvine Varnish is not just for furniture and home reno projects, it's also the best option to protect your decoupage and other crafts. Choosing which Polyvine Varnish to use in which situation is important, but also easy now that you have this guide to refer back to whenever you need it.