DECOPAGE ART Decoupage is an art form that involves gluing cutouts of paper onto objects to create a decorative effect. The word "découpage" is French for "cutting out". The cutouts can be arranged to create a scene or story, and can be combined with other decorative elements like paint, gold leaf, or glitter. The most common items to decorate with decoupage are boxes, furniture, vases, bowls, pots, and plates. The basic steps of decoupage are: Cut out pictures Arrange them to create a scene or story Glue the cutouts to the object Apply varnish to create a hand-painted or stenciled look Decoupage is a papercraft that involves gluing cutouts to a surface and then applying varnish for a hand-painted or stenciled look. You can apply decoupage to many surfaces, including wood, metal, glass, and plastic, but beginners should start with flat objects. Here are some tips for applying decoupage to different surfaces: Painted surface or wood Apply a generous coat of clear coat with a paint brush, then place the decoupage paper on the wet poly. Smooth out any bubbles and wrinkles, then brush on another layer of clear coat and let it dry. Wood plaque Apply decoupage medium with a brush while it's still wet, then place the paper over it and smooth out any bubbles. Finally, apply another coat of decoupage medium over the paper. Glass or bottle Apply Mod Podge with a flat or small trite hair brush, starting from the center and gently pulling towards the other end to avoid wrinkles. Non-flat surface Apply the image medium across the top first, then slowly come down.