Appliqué

Appliqué is simply the technique of decorating an object by applying shapes to its surface. It is a common means of decorating textiles but can also refer to the process of cutting shapes out of any material and sticking them on to the surface of another (e.g. shapes can be cut out of ply and stuck on to the lid of a wooden box or a mirror frame to decorate it).

See also Decoupage, Marquetry, Inlay, Embroidery, and Collage