Decoupage is the 18th century French art of cutting and pasting designs onto wood, metal or glass surfaces. It was also known as “poor man’s art" because of the simple materials (scissors, paper, glue, and sealer) needed to decoupage. Decoupage started as an inexpensive way to recreate (copy) expensive painted furniture.
You’ve probably done a little decoupage in school weather you knew it or not. Remember cutting, pasting and gluing paper cutouts onto a wooden box in grade school? Well, that’s basic decoupage. But, you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy decoupage. It’s a relaxing craft that doesn’t require a lot of supplies and the results are gorgeous. It’s amazing what you can create with a pair of scissors, colorful designs, glue.and sealer. What's more, you can decoupage almost anything.. I say almost anything, because if it moves... don't decoupage it, (there is a limit).
The most common items to decoupage are dressers, tables, headboards, frames, cabinets, canisters and wooden boxes. However, you can also decoupage a birdhouse, or a plastic or erra cotta garden pot. If you want a really unique conversation piece then you can even decoupage an old pair or shoes.
