It's a hit with amateur and professional artists alike – the traditional paper napkin
 
Ahrensburg, September 2000. It's a hit with amateur and professional artists alike – the traditional paper napkin. These days, decoupage, a method of cutting out motifs and patterns, involves the use of napkins to create highly decorative accessories. In combination with edding paint markers, would-be artists can create their own a mini works of art from any decorative object.
The aim of the game is to create maximum effect in the minimum amount of time.

As the last street café closes its doors and the weather beckons you home, you finally have a chance to invite some friends round for a delicious bite to eat. The ideal time, even for art-and-craft novices, for a bit of creativity in the home using edding pens and the modern version of decoupage.

Here's what you do: make sure your surface, be it an invitation card, a glass plate or a candle holder, is free from dust and grease and then prime it with decoupage varnish. Next, carefully place your cut-out motif (the top layer only!) onto your prepared base. Now, go over it with clear varnish once more. If you want to add fine lines, minute details, outlines or other great effects, use edding paint markers. A paint marker is also extremely suitable for marking the cut-out areas you have selected on your napkin, as well as for designing the base.

There are all manner of different possible uses. If you want to invite someone round for a romantic meal for two, why not use napkins with a rose pattern on them to design your very own invitation card (figure H 176, H 178). You can copy round the outline using a silver paint marker. Plates bearing ivy leaves (figure H181, H183) are also very easy to make with decoupage and will add that finishing touch to any meal table.
Whether you are using wood, stone, card or plastic: the technique will work on virtually any material.

And for all those artists interested in the origins of this hobby: decoupage - the art of cutting out motifs and patterns - has been brightening up all manner of household objects for over a hundred years now. The only difference being that instead of newspaper, paper napkins are the preferred tool today.