Decoupage

Decoupage is the art and the skill of decorating by cutting out motifs or pictures from paper, which originated in France and Venice in the eigtheenth century. The basic principle is simple: select the appropriate image, carefully cut it out, paste it onto the prepared surface, and then complete the project with several layers of varnish. The word itself comes from the French verb "découper," which means "to cut out" and apply, usually on three-dimensional objects.

The art of decoupage has undergone a revival in recent years, due to the availability of an abundance of printed material. Decoupage is also called the napkin technique, because napkins and various decoupage papers are very often used while decorating. However, decorating using cutout motifs and images for decorative purposes exists for centuries.

Such kind of decorating was first developed in China, around 105 BC, and then in Europe, in the twelfth century.