• 60 ideas
  • Checked October 2026

Decoupage Art Ideas

Three decoupage projects at a time, each with the paper to cut and the object it covers.

Decoupage Art Ideas

Show all 60
  1. A wooden box lid with one cut-out bird in the centerA bird cut from gift wrap, on a wooden box lid. Paint the lid first. One motif needs a plain ground.
  2. A white-painted stone with a napkin bird that looks painted onOne bird cut from a napkin, on a white stone. Use the printed ply only and pat it down with a damp brush.
  3. A divided tray with a different paper in each sectionPatterned paper scraps, on a drawer organizer. One paper per section, each cut from a card template.

Next step Trays to paintTissue paper projects

All 60 ideas

Boxes and trays 12

  • A box lid papered with handwriting from an old letter A photocopy of an old letter, on a box lid. Use the copy and keep the letter. Let the lines run on a slant.
  • A cube box in a checkerboard of two papers Black paper and newsprint, on a cube box. Cut equal squares and start each face from its center.
  • A divided tray with a different paper in each section Patterned paper scraps, on a drawer organizer. One paper per section, each cut from a card template.
  • A matchbox covered in stamps from old envelopes Used postage stamps, on an empty matchbox. Start in the middle of the top and work outward in a spiral.
  • A painted tray with paper lemons scattered across it Lemons cut from yellow paper, on a painted tray. Scatter them unevenly and let two run off the edge.
  • A pencil tray lined with comic strip panels Newspaper comic panels, on a shallow tray. Keep each panel whole and trim the white gutters off.
  • A recipe box wrapped in pages from a worn-out cookbook Cookbook pages, on a card file box. Tear the pages so no hard edge shows, and let the print run every way.
  • A round box in torn stripes of two wrapping papers Two gift wraps, on a round box. Torn strips run top to bottom, colors in turn, each lapping the last.
  • A shoebox covered in overlapping seed packet fronts Seed packets, on a shoebox. Overlap them like roof tiles from the bottom up so each lower edge is hidden.
  • A small box with a ring of cut flowers around the lid Flowers cut from a garden catalog, on a small box. Lay them in a ring, stems inward, before any glue.
  • A tray floor tiled with squares of sheet music Sheet music, on a wooden tray. Cut squares, turn every other one a quarter and butt the edges together.
  • A wooden box lid with one cut-out bird in the center A bird cut from gift wrap, on a wooden box lid. Paint the lid first. One motif needs a plain ground.

Jars and bottles 12

  • A bottle covered in overlapping paper leaves Leaves cut from brown paper bags, on a bottle. Start at the base and overlap upward like scales.
  • A bottle with a new label cut from an atlas index An atlas index page, on a glass bottle. Cut one tall oval, glue it where the label was and seal over it.
  • A bottle wound in a spiral of dictionary strips Dictionary pages, on a bottle. Long strips wind at a slant from base to neck, each lapping the one before.
  • A coin jar covered in numbers cut from store flyers Printed numbers from flyers, on a jar. Mix the sizes, overlap them and cover the glass edge to edge.
  • A jar lid topped with one round picture, like a medallion A calendar picture, on a jar lid. Trace the lid on the picture and cut just inside the line.
  • A jar papered all over except one clear oval window Sheet music, on a jar. Mark an oval with tape, cover everything else, then lift the tape.
  • A jar with paper fish swimming around it Fish cut from bright magazine pages, on a jar. All of them swim the same way around the glass.
  • A jar wrapped in a band of fern silhouettes Ferns cut from green paper, on a clean jar. Glue them upright around the middle and leave clear glass between.
  • A lantern jar with paper houses around its base Houses cut from black paper, on a jar. A skyline covers the bottom third and a battery light goes inside.
  • A pencil jar striped with magazine strips sorted by color Magazine pages, on a jar. Cut strips by color and wrap them around in order, lightest at the top.
  • A small bottle with one paper vine climbing to the neck A vine cut from green wrapping paper, on a small bottle. Cut it in three pieces so it bends around the curve.
  • Three jars with one large cut letter each Letters cut from newspaper headlines, on three jars. One letter per jar, centered on bare glass.

Canvas and board 12

  • A chessboard with 32 squares of one paper One patterned paper, on a square painted board. Rule an 8 by 8 grid and glue a square on every other space.
  • A clipboard covered edge to edge in one sheet Gift wrap, on a clipboard. Trace the board, cut a notch for the clip and smooth from the center out.
  • A cut-paper bouquet in a painted vase Flowers cut from wallpaper samples, on a small canvas. Paint the vase first. The paper is only the blooms.
  • A door plaque with a name in cut-paper letters Letters cut from patterned paper, on a wooden plaque. Draw them backwards on the plain side, then cut.
  • A flat frame faced with squares cut from old calendars Calendar pictures, on a flat wooden frame. Cut squares as wide as the frame and set them side by side.
  • A night city of buildings cut from crossword puzzles Crossword pages, on canvas. Cut tall rectangles and glue them over a painted night sky.
  • A paper hot-air balloon over a painted sky Striped gift wrap, on canvas. Cut the balloon as one shape so the stripes curve with it, then draw the ropes.
  • A profile silhouette on a ground of old letters Photocopied letters and black paper, on a board. Cover the board with the letters first, then add the profile.
  • A torn-paper moon on a black canvas A dictionary page, on a canvas painted black. Tear one circle by hand so the rough edge reads as craters.
  • A tree with leaves cut from paint sample cards Paint sample cards, on canvas. Paint the trunk, then glue leaf shapes from dark at the bottom to light.
  • Butterflies in rows like a specimen case Butterflies cut from a worn nature book, on canvas. Arrange them in straight rows with the wings level.
  • Three small canvases that share one picture One poster, on three mini canvases. Cut it in thirds and wrap each piece around the edges of its canvas.

Stones and shells 12

  • A clam shell that frames a tiny cut-out scene A small boat and a wave cut from a magazine, in a clam shell. The shell is the frame. Seal the inside only.
  • A large shell with paper triangles along its lip Triangles cut from colored foil paper, on a large shell. Points face outward along the rim only.
  • A paperweight stone wrapped in a scrap of a map A map scrap, on a palm-size stone. Center the place that matters, tear the edge and press out from the middle.
  • A round stone wrapped in newsprint with one word on top Newsprint, on a round stone. Wrap it in small torn pieces, then glue one cut-out word on top.
  • A scallop shell lined with patterned paper Small-print gift wrap, in a scallop shell. Cut the paper in wedges so it fans out along the ribs.
  • A smooth stone with one cut-out flower sealed on top A flower cut from a seed catalog, on a flat stone. Snip small slits into its edge so it lies down.
  • Alphabet pebbles that spell a name on a shelf Letters cut from magazine headlines, on pebbles. One letter per pebble, all cut to about the same height.
  • An oval stone striped with thin bands of colored paper Strips of origami paper, on an oval stone. Wrap the bands across the short way and leave stone between.
  • Plant marker stones with a cut-out vegetable on each Vegetables cut from seed packets, on stones. One per stone, and the packet lettering is the label.
  • Stone dominoes with punched paper dots Dots punched from white paper, on dark flat stones. A painted line splits each stone into two halves.
  • Story stones with one cut-out picture each Small pictures from a worn picture book, on flat pebbles. One thing per stone: a boat, a dog, a moon.
  • Tic-tac-toe stones with paper Xs and Os X and O shapes cut from two papers, on ten flat stones. Five of each, all cut to the same size.

Paper napkins and tissue 12

  • A clay pot with a napkin motif on a white-painted band The printed ply of a flower napkin, on a clay pot. Paint a white band first so the pattern stays bright.
  • A flat frame with a napkin border along each side A napkin with a printed border, on a flat frame. Cut the four border strips and miter the corners.
  • A hardcover notebook with a napkin print across the front The printed ply of a large-pattern napkin, on a notebook cover. Paint the cover white, glue, wrap the edges.
  • A jar with one napkin motif that glows with a light inside One motif cut from a napkin, on a jar. Glue the printed ply outside and stand a battery light inside.
  • A pen pot covered in sewing pattern tissue Sewing pattern tissue, on a card tube. Wrap it twice around. The printed lines and arrows are the design.
  • A small canvas where a napkin print fills a drawn jar The printed ply of a floral napkin, on a small canvas. Seal it flat, then draw a jar outline around the flowers.
  • A white-painted stone with a napkin bird that looks painted on One bird cut from a napkin, on a white stone. Use the printed ply only and pat it down with a damp brush.
  • A wooden birdhouse with a leaf-print roof The printed ply of a leaf napkin, on a birdhouse roof. Wrap it over the ridge in one piece. Keep it indoors.
  • A wooden egg in overlapping tissue petals Tissue paper in two pinks, on a wooden egg. Petal shapes go on from the narrow end down, row over row.
  • A wooden hanger wrapped in napkin stripes The printed ply of a striped napkin, on a wooden hanger. Tear pieces, lap them and wrap the edges under.
  • A wooden initial covered in a small-print napkin The printed ply of a napkin, on a wooden letter. Lay it over wet glue and tear the overhang off when dry.
  • Wooden cubes with a different napkin print on each face Scraps of six napkins, on wooden cubes. One print per face, printed ply only, trimmed flush when dry.

How it works

These 60 decoupage art ideas are sorted by object: a box, a jar, a canvas or a stone. Each names the paper to cut for it.

Read the full guide

Start from the object on the table

Boxes and trays have flat faces, so they take stiff papers: sheet music, seed packets, cookbook pages. Jars and bottles curve one way, and strips or small cut shapes wrap them without creasing. Stones and shells curve every way and want small pieces with slits snipped into the edge.

Paper napkins and tissue

Thin paper follows a curve and lets the surface under it show, which is why a napkin motif on a white-painted band looks painted on. A paper table napkin is made in one to four plies. Peel away the plain ones and glue down only the printed ply.

  • Arrange every piece dry before any glue goes on.
  • Brush the glue onto the object, set the paper on it and smooth from the center outward.
  • Seal over the whole surface, and add coats until the paper edges no longer catch a fingernail.

Questions and answers

What is decoupage?

Decorating an object by sticking paper cutouts onto it. Each layer is sealed with varnish, often in several coats, until the stuck-on look disappears and the result looks like painting. The word comes from the Middle French decouper, to cut out.

What can you decoupage?

Commonly a small box or a piece of furniture. This list keeps to things that fit on a table: boxes and trays, jars and bottles, canvas and board, stones and shells, 12 projects each, and 12 more for paper napkins and tissue.

What paper do you use for decoupage?

Cutouts from magazines, or papers made for the purpose, are the common ones. The ideas here also name sheet music, seed packets, dictionary pages, calendars, gift wrap and the printed ply of a paper napkin. For an old letter, cut up a photocopy.

What are easy decoupage ideas for beginners?

A flat object and one paper: a clipboard covered edge to edge in one sheet of gift wrap, a wooden box lid with one cut-out bird, a jar lid topped with a round calendar picture.

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