decoupage

American  

[dey-koo-pahzh] / ˌdeɪ kuˈpɑʒ /

noun

1. the art or technique of decorating something with cut-outs of paper, linoleum, plastic, or other flat material over which varnish or lacquer is applied.

2. work produced by the art or technique of decoupage.

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verb (used with object)

decoupaged, decoupaging

1. to decorate by decoupage.

   walls decoupaged with photographs of movie stars.

2. to apply or use as decoupage or by decoupage technique.

   Let's decoupage these maps onto the tabletops.

decoupage British  

/ ˌdeɪkuːˈpɑːʒ /

noun

1. the art or process of decorating a surface with shapes or illustrations cut from paper, card, etc

2. anything produced by this technique

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Etymology

Origin of decoupage

1955–60; < French découpage a cutting out, equivalent to Middle French decoup ( er ) to cut out ( de- de- + couper to cut; coupé, coup ¹ ) + -age -age

Example Sentences

The Etsy store Sea and Stable has turned oyster shells into blue decoupage chinoiserie jewelry holders and trinket bowls.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 18, 2022

But a new line of glass decoupage plates by designer John Derian and artist Katharine Barnwell feature patterns taken from six presidential administrations.

From Washington Post • Oct. 29, 2018

For those who haven’t browsed Mr. Derian’s decoupage home-décor pieces, his 6-pound book may suffice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 18, 2016

A little boy set outs from his South American village to follow his father to the big city, and in his young eyes the streets are decoupage and the industrial machines are like big animals.

From New York Times • Oct. 30, 2015

Though, I’d seen enough paper-plate crafts and lumpy decoupage to know exactly what she meant about the difference between a hobby and a skill.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry