how to make a paper collage video

How to Make a Paper Collage

Introduction: How to Make a Paper Collage

Paper collage is a technique of an art production where the artwork is created using an assemblage of different forms and shapes using paper. These forms and shapes eventually create a whole image. In this instructable, I'll show you how to make your own paper collage. To create a paper collage you will need: 1. A board/canvas 2. Paint and/or coloring pencils (optional) 3. Pencils/markers/pens 4. Glue 5. Paintbrush 6. Magazine Paper 7. Ruler 8. Scissors (optional)

Step 1: Your Workplace

First, to create your paper collage, you need a place or something to put it on. Simply get a canvas board or even simpler, a sheet of wood.

Step 2: Your Image

You can't create a paper collage without having something to make. Pick any picture or image that you like and base it off of that. It could be anything (an animal, nature, etc.)

Step 3: The Grid

To properly transfer your image to your canvas/board, the best method is the grid method. You draw a grid on both your image and your canvas using your ruler and pen/pencil/marker.

Step 4: Transferring Your Image

Now that your grid is on both your image and canvas, it's time for you to transfer that image onto your canvas. Using your pencil, copy whatever is in a certain box on the grid of your image into the same box on the grid on your canvas. This gives the picture on the canvas an almost identical transfer from the original picture.

Step 5: Distinguish the Parts of You Image

Now that your picture is now on your canvas, use paint, coloring pencils, or simply write the name of the colors in their desired areas. This makes it easier to arrange the colors with the paper later on.

Step 6: Get the Paper

You now need to get some paper (preferably magazine paper). Find pages out of magazines that match the colors you are using and tear them up into small pieces. (This is where the scissors are optional depending on how you want your collage to come out. The scissors may make a cleaner cut but you may prefer the rough look tearing the paper by hand provides.)

Step 7: Make Your Canvas Sticky

Using a paintbrush, lightly spread layers of glue on your canvas. This is the only way your pieces of paper will stick to your canvas.

Step 8: Put It Together

When your canvas is still wet with glue place the pieces of paper in there desired places (by size and by color).

Step 9: Repeat

Continue to spread glue on your canvas and place pieces of paper in their desired places (steps 7 & 8).

Step 10: Wrap It Up

When finished placing your paper on your canvas and you have gotten your desired look, spread one last layer onto your piece. This flattens any bumpy or rising pieces of paper and makes it look smoother. Wait for it to dry hang your masterpiece.

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13 Comments

Tip 6 months ago on Step 6

If you have no magazine try origami paper- Japanese designs or anything like flyers from events; old catalogs that are mail order; art prints you never hung up or fabric scraps!

I like mixing up both because the cutting is a clean edge and then it contrasts well with the ripped pieces!

Tip 6 months ago on Step 3

Get Grid paper or Tracing paper pad; that way you don't need to mark up your original design with tracing paper and a carbon paper it's messy but faster!

Question 3 years ago on Step 10

What kind of glue? What keeps the paper from wrinkling ?

Answer 6 months ago

Rubber cement or a special glue stick I am getting on Amazon; you know it came up when I entered craft glues or best paper glue...now I have to Google this to see what it's called -UH something it's under 8.00 dollars!

Tip 3 years ago on Step 1

This is my paper arts

3 years ago

CAN YOU USE SUPER GLUE

Tip 3 years ago

but I don't have any magazine or even wood paper .

6 years ago

great instructions thanks

7 years ago

great instructions

Great instructions! Thank you!

9 years ago on Introduction

Looks very nice! I love the contemplative zebra.

Megan Coyle: Artist & Illustrator

How to Make a Paper Collage

Collage is a medium that involves layers – usually layers of paper, magazine cutouts, or photographs – although there are artists who make collages with other found materials. If you’re new to making collages, paper collages are a great place to start since the materials are relatively easy to find, and the medium is so flexible. You can easily add layers of paper as well as peel back previous layers, which is especially useful if you want to “undo” any of your work during the process.

Here’s how you can get started:

1. Decide what you want to collage

Figure out if you want to make an abstract or representational collage, and think about what color palette you’d like to use. Do you want to make more of a traditional collage, or do you want to paint with paper ?

2. Find your inspiration

If you’re using reference photos, collect photographs you’ve taken to help guide your work.

3. Gather your materials

If you’re working with found paper, take some time to find a variety of paper you can use. Or sift through magazines and photographs to find possible imagery to use. Sort the paper based on color and texture to make it easier to assemble your collage. You should also find:

• Pencil and eraser
• Paper (or the support you want to collage on, let that be canvas, panel, etc)

4. Plan your collage

With pencil, sketch out an idea of what the composition will look like on your support. If it’s going to be more of an abstract collage, plan out the general look and feel you’re going for. You can plan as little or as much as you need to.

5. Start collaging

With scissors, cut the paper into different shapes and fragments. You can arrange the pieces of paper on the page before gluing them down, or you can cut out shapes and glue them as you move along. Layer the paper where needed, and peel back layers when needed. To make the collage process more flexible, use an acid free glue stick. Glue sticks are a much less permanent glue, which makes the process more flexible since it’s easier to peel back previous layers.

6. Varnish your collage

Since paper collage is made up of paper, it’s a very delicate medium. Varnishing your collage will help seal in the pieces so they don’t easily fall apart. UV protective varnishes will also protect the paper from light.

7. Frame your collage

Once your work of art is complete and the varnish has dried, you should frame your new collage to help protect it even more. Use acid-free matting and UV-protective glass. Since custom framing can be pricy, consider making your artwork with dimensions that fit standard sized frames.

Now you’re ready to share your artwork with the world!

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How to Make a Collage

Last Updated: September 26, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Amy Guerrero . Amy Guerrero is an Arts and Crafts Specialist and the Owner of Sunshine Craft Co., a crafting studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. Amy specializes in macrame, DIY crafting, and teaching fiber arts. She offers monthly in-person and online workshops along with having developed a range of DIY craft kits for at-home projects. Amy holds a BS in Industrial Design from Philadelphia University. She worked as a graphic designer before starting her own business. Sunshine Craft Co. is a creative hub that offers a wide range of workshops, tools, and resources for any craft project to inspire creativity and community engagement. There are 18 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 2,820,779 times.

Designing a Paper Collage

• There aren’t many limits to what you can do. For example, you could cut out small pieces of paper and arrange them so they form a bigger image.
• One option is to find an image that really speaks to you and design the rest of the collage around it.
• Search through magazines and newsprint for cut-outs. Newsprint adds a unique texture to a collage, but the ink may rub off on your fingers sometimes.
• Use photographs to capture a retro feel, but be careful about what you use. Make copies of your favorites to cut up instead of the originals.
• For something unique, find some old scraps of wallpaper. You can often get free sample swatches from home improvement stores and other places that sell wallpaper.

• Some background materials to consider include cardboard, cardstock, construction paper, and canvas. Anything thick and flat usually holds up well. You could even use something like a picture frame.
• Skip glossy paper like watercolor art paper. The material is more expensive and doesn’t hold up under glue as well.
• For example, you might cut a hole in a picture to expose the paper or another image placed underneath it.
• Wait until you’re satisfied with your design before you start gluing anything to the page. This will also give you extra time to find new materials in case you change your mind.
• Look for items around your home or take a walk through a nearby craft store. You are bound to find tons of interesting things to fit onto your collage!
• You could draw an animal on the paper and fill it in with paper or stamps. Another option is to create a mosaic out of small cuts of paper.
• Switch to a thick craft glue in order to secure embellishments like heavy beads and buttons. Look for some bottles of glue or rubber cement at your local craft store.
• Remember that not every piece has to be glued flat. Try crumpling or folding decorations to give your collage some extra flair.

• For a small collage, an hour is often enough drying time. If you think the glue still looks wet, give it more drying time to be sure.
• If you made a large collage, point a fan at it. The air blown on a low setting encourages the glue to dry a little faster.

Creating a Digital Collage

• For example, you might make a photo collage about puppies. Everyone loves looking at pictures of puppies. All you have to do is track down pictures you like and paste them together.
• You could work with a photo editing program like Photoshop if you have it and know how to use it.
• Visit your favorite social media site for posts you could save for your project.. Also, search for photos of themes you like, whether that’s cupcakes, video games, cars, or something else that inspires you.
• Save online images by right-clicking on them and selecting the “save as” option.
• While you can use more photos than this, adding too many may make the collage feel crowded. Using too few makes it feel empty.
• For example, you might select a series of pictures from a trip you took recently. Select pictures that show off your trip, what you saw, and the people who live there.
• Use the resizing and crop tools , for example, to cut the image down to a manageable size.
• Change the colors of the images to make your collage unique. For example, make photos look faded and grey to contrast them with bright text or images.
• Lower-resolution pictures tend to look blurry, but this depends on the size of the image and where you plan on displaying it.
• If you plan on posting your collage online, consider setting the images to a resolution of 72 pixels per inch (ppi). If you plan on printing it, set the resolution to 300 ppi.
• For example, add a title to your collage. You could let the pictures speak for themselves, but the title could add flair. You might add a title to a traveling collage to tell a viewer where you went and when you took the pictures.
• The printing paper you choose affects the final appearance of your collage. Choose a high-gloss paper to give it a shiny sheen. Use a matte-style paper to give it a dimmer, less colorful look.

Using Natural Materials in a Collage

• You don’t even have to have a theme if you don’t want one. You could arrange cool things on a page. Most collages, however, have themes to make them look more complete.
• Regular printer paper is not a good choice if you plan on gluing heavy items. If it feels thin, expect it to be too flimsy for your collage.
• For example, if you’re drawing a seascape, sketch the sand bed at the bottom of the page. Then, outline where you plan on making fish or adding details like shells.
• Simpler designs are better for small kids. If you don’t have a specific design in mind, let them have fun drawing whatever they like.

• Some examples of items to include are seashells, insect shells, flowers, leaves, and seeds.
• Many of these items are available for purchase at craft supply stores, but take a walk around your neighborhood. You may find something unique that gives your collage a special twist.

• Pressing is another way to preserve plants. Keep them weighed down between a piece of paper and a heavy book for at least 7 days.
• Objects like shells and rocks don’t really need to be heat-dried since they won’t rot. However, you can wash shells by boiling them in water for about 5 minutes, then soaking them for a week in clean, cold water.
• If you’re making something large and intricate, do this in small sections to prevent the glue from drying out before you add your decorations.
• Regular glue sticks and glue are usually too weak to support found items.
• This part can get a little messy, so keep a paper plate underneath your collage to collect the sand. Try to add small amounts of sand at a time to avoid using too much of it.
• Wood glue is great for preserving plants used in collages. Brush it over the plant to create a “glaze” capable of keeping it fresh and shiny for years.

Expert Q&A

Video . By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube.

• If the materials on the collage don’t stick even after you glue them, brush them with a diluted glue mixture. Combine about 3 parts water to 1 part PVA glue over the finished collage to seal it. Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 3

• Take care when using scissors or glue. Supervise young children when handling dangerous tools. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 1

Things You'll Need

• Photo editing software
• Scanner for photos (optional)
• White glue or paste
• Scissors or a craft knife
• A base of stiff paper or cardstock
• Cut out images or letters
• Cardstock or other stiff paper
• Craft or wood glue
• Paper towels
• Shells, flowers, twigs, and other material
• Craft sand (optional)
• Paper plate (optional)

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Amy Guerrero. Arts & Crafts Specialist. Expert Interview. 9 October 2020.
• ↑ https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/c/collage
• ↑ https://arl.human.cornell.edu/PAGES_Delft/Collage_deeper.pdf
• ↑ https://www.dentonisd.org/cms/lib/TX21000245/Centricity/Domain/6555/Torn%20Paper%20CollageWEB.pdf
• ↑ https://emptyeasel.com/2011/06/20/go-one-step-beyond-painting-create-a-contemporary-collage/
• ↑ https://www.rookiemag.com/2012/03/collaging-for-beginners/
• ↑ https://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2014/matisse/the-cut-outs.html
• ↑ https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/photo-letters-easy-picture-collage-craft.html
• ↑ https://www.happyfamilyart.com/art-lessons/mixed-media-art-lessons/tissue-paper-collage/
• ↑ https://www.rookiemag.com/2016/06/how-to-make-a-collage-in-photoshop/
• ↑ https://www.ravensbourne.ac.uk/asset-bucket/prod/2021-01/Digital%20collage%20for%20Adobe%20Illustrator.pdf
• ↑ https://support.office.com/en-ie/article/reduce-the-file-size-of-a-picture-in-microsoft-office-8db7211c-d958-457c-babd-194109eb9535
• ↑ http://www.first-school.ws/activities/artapp/collage.htm
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocEtwpcUpPg&feature=youtu.be&t=48
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp7m2A9Bv78
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyxA6wyvAR0&feature=youtu.be&t=22
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF-R4irTB2U&feature=youtu.be&t=19
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocEtwpcUpPg&feature=youtu.be&t=306

About This Article

To make a digital collage, look up a free photo editing website online. Or, you can download a free program, like Adobe Spark, and make your collage using that. You can even use a word processor, like Microsoft Word, if you're just looking to make a simple collage. For more design options, you might want to use a paid photo editing program, like Photoshop, instead. Whichever program you use, just upload your photos and use the design features to arrange the photos in your desired layout! To learn how to make a collage using paper and printed photographs, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Design and Technology KS1 / KS2: Making a paper collage

BBC Teach > Primary Resources > Design and Technology KS1 / Design and Technology KS2 > I Want to Design

Speaker: A lot of people think to be good and art and design you need to be good at drawing and painting but this isn't always the case. Collage is a great example of a different way of making art. The name comes from the French coller which means to paste and that's it. To make your design you simply stick and paste objects and images to create a brand new picture.

Speaker: That's exactly what Lydia and I did to create a new picture for her bedroom wall. So, what I've done is get a piece of board, some exciting glue and I've printed loads and loads of pictures and what we're going to do is when we've got a lot of these together, we're going to cut round them and we're going to layer loads and loads and loads so that we get this mad picture of everything that we want. It doesn't have to be board. You can use a piece of card instead but you will need paper glue. Remember you can use anything to create your collage. Pictures from magazines, old family photos or like I've done here print images from the computer. First decide the layout you want and then stick your pictures down. There's no right or wrong way to do this because it's your picture and you're in charge but to get some tips you could look at the work of some famous collage artists such as Kurt Schwitters.

Speaker: A German artist who was a member of the Dada School of Art.

Speaker: Henri Matisse. A French artist who was a leading member of the modernist and impressionist schools of art.

Speaker: And Julian Trevelyan a British artist who followed the surrealist school of art.

Speaker: Once you have your images stuck down, don't be afraid to add to your picture.

Speaker: So this is looking great. I think we're about ready to make it a little bit extra special. So, should we add something to it?

Speaker: I have made you some stencils. What I've done is got a piece of card and I've drawn with a ruler some letters to make these words and then I've got a craft knife and cut them down so if you get your mum and dad to help you and we're going to get a brush and this lovely bright STUTTERS red paint and we're going to paint really really really carefully in the gaps and then when we peel it off it should say lights, camera and action.

Speaker: As well as stencilling, some artists add buttons and even leave some stones to their collages.

Speaker: Well done GASPS , good work. What do you think?

Lydia: I love it. INTERRUPTION It's really nice.

Speaker: And it looked even better hanging on the wall in Lydia's bedroom.

Becci Sharkey demonstrates a simple way to make an artistic collage using printed black and white pictures.

The finished collage is further enhanced by adding painted text.

This short film is from the BBC series, I Want to Design.

Teacher Notes

Students could create their own collage.

You could ask students to pick their own pictures and explain why they've picked them.

As a class, students could look at and analyse the work of famous collage artists.

Curriculum Notes

This short film will be relevant for teaching primary design & technology and art & design.

More from I Want to Design:

Designing and making cushion covers

Two girls are shown how to make personalised cushion covers from specially printed fabric.

Designing a logo

A young entrepreneur is shown how to create and design his own company logo.

Drawing a 3D room plan and a floor plan from above

A step-by-step demonstration of how to draw a 3D and overhead room plan.

Making a 3D model of a room

This short film for primary schools offers a step-by-step guide to making a 3D room out of card.

Making a design box

A look inside a 'design box', which is made up of different tools for craft and design.

Making masks

This short film for primary schools offers step-by-step instructions demonstrating how to make a face mask.

Making simple fridge magnets

Step-by-step instructions on how to design and make your own fridge magnets.

Sewing a mobile phone cover

A beginners guide to sewing by hand with instructions on how to make a mobile phone cover.

Artjournalist

How to Make a Paper Collage

Here are all the basics you need to know to make a collage!

Making a paper collage can be a lot of fun so today’s post is going to share everything you need to know on how to make collages!

I’ve been making collages since I was in high school – in fact my bedroom walls were COVERED from floor to ceiling with collages my friend and I worked on making together one summer.

We used sheets of poster board and spent hours cutting up images from all kinds of magazines. It was so much fun and anytime friends would come over they’d usually just look at all the stuff on the walls + get lost reading + noticing things. It was a very cool space!

The love for paper collage has still never left me, and I still use a lot of the basic collaging techniques in my art a LOT.

If you’re new to the world of collage, this post will cover everything you need to know to get started – consider it a crash course in Collages for Beginners 101!

Types of Collages You Can Make

There are a lot of different collages you can make – and like all kinds of art – there really are NO rules!

That being said, there are different kinds of collages that you might want to explore to use as inspiration and help you find your style.

For example, my cityscape collage looks like a city. (Well, it’s supposed to anyways lol – it’s a little wrinkly but I actually like that effect on it!)

Whether you want your collage to be pictorial or mosaic style, surrealist, a photo montage, decoupage, surrealist or something else entirely, there are tons of options to explore!

Here’s an example of a collage that is just an assemblage style of collage:

This collage shown above is one I made using all sorts of things, including a wrapper from some packaging and even a tag from something.

It’s not a fine work of art or anything like that, but it sure is fun to make collages like this – and also a great way to use things you would ordinarily just throw away.

Supplies & Materials for Collage

Before we get into making collages, you need to first gather up all your supplies and materials. Fortunately, you don’t need a lot of supplies, and most likely you already have what you need right on hand.

I could write an entire blog post just about glue, but there are basically two glues I use in making collages: my trusty old glue stick and Liquitex matte gel medium .

Generally, I use the glue stick to put things down on the page and I use the Liquitex matte gel medium anytime I want to get rid of the high gloss/shine on cut out images or if I want things to really be attached well.

Make sure you use a reputable brand like Liquitex or Golden – I made the mistake of using a cheap off brand of matte medium and it was a disaster, all of my images were cloudy!

So that’s glue: A good archival glue stick {I love Uhu glue stics and Elmer’s Craft Bond archival safe glue sticks} and Liquitex matte GEL medium . {Don’t get the fluid medium unless you want lots of bubbling or wrinkles + a lot of discipline to use very little + spread thinly – that can be a creativity killer if it’s not the effect you want!}

Papers for Collage

The next thing you need are papers for collage. There are all sorts of things you can use:

• Old Book Pages
• Painted Papers
• Tissue Paper

Honestly, the possibilities are endless – if it’s flat and you can glue it, you can probably use it! You can see all sorts of more ideas for things that are flat and glueable in my post The Ultimate Junk Journal Scavenger Hunt – it also serves as a huge list of things you can collect and use for collage!

An Important Note on Images You Use in Collages

I love using magazine and book pages for making collages, but something you should consider is whether or not you plan on ever selling collages you create on how and where you source your images.

There’s a lot of intricacies and debate on whether something falls under fair use, the first sale doctrine, or is considered to be copyright and trademark infringement, so if you have ANY plans to ever reproduce a collage or sell it or and not use it for just your own personal use, always be sure you are using images that are okay for this!

While there are many free stock photo sites and royalty free stock photo sites to explore, your best bet for photos that are 100% absolutely safe to use are either images you took yourself. Free stock photos aren’t always a safe bet on whether or not they can be used.

A Substrate: Something to Collage On

The last thing you need is a base to use for your collage, which in the art world is known as a substrate. {You can sound like a very fancy professional artist when you use this word!}

Here are some of the things you can use as a substrate:

• Cardboard – easy to find!
• Cardstock – great for small collages + will help reduce wrinkling
• Posterboard – inexpensive and easy to find
• Foam Board – sturdier than posterboard but prone to denting
• Hardboard – sold at home improvement stores, very heavy so best for small projects
• Any Kind of Wood – sold at art stores and home improvement stores – pine will typically be a good budget friendly and light weight option
• Canvas Panels – Sold at art stores everywhere. I recommend the panels over stretched canvases because they will be a sturdier surface.

If this is your first collage, don’t worry too much about what you use at first as a substrate, the important thing is you have something to glue your images and collage papers down to!

You could even make collages in a three-ring binder or a composition notebook like I do for my many gluebooks!

Scissors & Other Cutting Tools

What can I say about scissors? They are useful to have, but you can always rip the paper instead.

There are tons of different types of scissors you can use and really at the end of the day it just comes down to your own personal preference and what feels good in your hands. I like 6″ scissors for cutting paper the best, but will sometimes use smaller scissors too if I’m fussy cutting stuff out.

If you want to fussy cut out different images from magazines or photos, you can also use an X-acto knife and cutting mat for more precision, but be careful – those knives are sharp! Always turn the paper and not the knife when cutting!

Generally, I only use scissors or rip the paper, because X-acto knives are dangerous (at least for someone clumsy like me!) – and also because that would mean having to be somewhere I could cut it. I like the freedom to be super portable + make a collage anywhere anytime – even if its my kitchen table while I wait for dinner to cook!

Now that we have all of our supplies figured out, we’re ready to make a collage!

How to Make a Collage Step by Step

Step 1: choose what kind of collage you want to make.

There are so many different ideas for collages, you could use our list of drawing ideas for inspiration or even pick a theme from our list of planner theme ideas .

You could also just opt to make a collage based on colors, like all yellow or all blue, or even make a rainbow collage.

If you want to make a collage to look like an image {I call it painting with paper} – you’ll want to sketch out your idea on your substrate to make sure you get the right colors in the right place.

Of course, there’s no rule that a collage has to be planned – you can simply sit down with some magazines, scissors, papers, and glue and go to town!

Step 2: Cut Out Your Images

Cutting out your images can be a fun project all in itself. I usually keep a shallow basket nearby for all of my collage cut-outs, but of course you can choose whatever organizational system that works for you.

If you’re making an image where it makes sense to sort out papers by different colors, you may want to use small bins or baskets to keep the colors separated.

Of course, you don’t have to be organized, you can always cut/tear/rip out whatever images you want to use as you go along. This is what I typically do for collages where I need certain colors, because I’d probably go crazy with little baskets of scraps for every color + shade.

Step 3: Arrange Your Papers on the Substrate

You should always arrange the biggest parts of the collage first. This might be the background of the collage, or it might mean using the largest images.

Before you glue anything down, it’s a good idea to make sure everything will fit where you want it to. This gives you a chance to see how everything looks without worrying about it permanently being stuck in place too soon.

Of course, again, there are no rules – so if you enjoy the process of just slapping things down and seeing how it ends up {which even I will admit is a lot of fun sometimes!} – then skip this step and go to step 4.

Step 4: Glue Everything Down

Once you have a good idea of where everything is going, you’re ready to start gluing. Gluing things down with a glue stick is easy enough, but if you’re using Liquitex matte gel medium to glue down, you’ll want to make sure you don’t overdo it with the medium – a little goes a really long way.

I usually use a foam brush for my Liquitex matte gel medium, it can also sometimes be useful to use a credit card or a brayer to get out any possible bubbles. You only have to apply the Liquitex matte gel medium to the bottom of the paper you are gluing down, you do not want to use too much and risk bubbles!

Sometimes I will go over the items I glue down with matte gel medium, but only if I want to be able to see brush strokes or get rid of high gloss and glare on the images I am using.

Step 5: Optional: Seal Your Collage

The last and final step is to seal your collage if you wish. I usually use Liquitex varnish, Liquitex Matte Medium or Krylon spray varnish for this if I’m planning to hang it on a wall (although lots of my collages live in a journal and in that case I never do that!)

Be sure if you are using varnish that you only applying a VERY thin coat. You don’t need a lot and too much will cause bubbling, especially if the papers were thin.

Again, use a foam brush unless you like the look of painted brush strokes because the strokes will show as a texture on your collage. {And the look of painted brush strokes can be a nice thing, but not everybody wants that effect!}

You could alternatively use a matte spray varnish to seal your work. I’ve used both Mod Podge and Krylon brand, and anything Liquitex or Golden brand will never disappoint.

It’s really up to you and your own preferences, along with what is readily available to you. I’ve experimented with a few different options and the spray varnish or the matte gel medium are just what I prefer…though again, I must admit for smaller just-for-my-own-fun-and-experimentation mixed media art collage pieces I’m not hanging on a wall or selling or giving to other people I often don’t varnish them at all.

The basics of collage are something we usually learn at a pretty young age, as I’m sure we can all recall some sort of collage projects we did in school – but now that we are grown-ups we can use better supplies + make cooler things with them!

I hope you enjoy making collages as much as I do – and of course they are a great way to use up your stash and make a lot of fun things! It’s also an awesome option to explore for journaling if writing or drawing + painting aren’t something you like to do that much.

I am working on adding more collages + the techniques I use to our site here at Artjournalist – and of course have lots more collage ideas + techniques I can’t wait to share, so if you haven’t subscribed to my YouTube channel yet or joined our Facebook group please do so you won’t miss any of it!

One of things I really want to talk about in-depth soon is composition for collage – because again, there are so many options and sometimes it can be overwhelming, so hopefully some of my tricks + tips for that will help!

Have any tips for making a collage? Share them in the comments below!

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6 Paper Collage Techniques to Try

April 25, 2014 By Sara Barnes filed under Art Blog , Paper Crafts Blog .

French artist Henri Matisse once described paper collage as “painting with scissors.” Sounds fun, right? If you’re new to paper crafting or curious about artistic collage, experimenting with these six techniques is a great place to start.

1. Cut Out Shapes From Painted Pieces of Paper

Fans of Eric Carle — and their parents! — will recognize this technique from The Very Hungry Caterpillar . Simply paint all over your paper, let it dry and cut out shapes. Experiment with placing your shapes to make animals, plants, or whatever you like. Once you find a design you love, use glue to secure the shapes to your background.

2. Combine “Junk” Papers for an Interesting Background

Let’s be real: you’ve probably never given security envelopes or grid paper a second thought. But these boring scraps can actually help make a totally cool collage! Simply cut ’em up, glue ’em to your paper and Modge Podge over the whole thing. Then let it dry and pretty up your collage with drawings or paint.

3. Try Textured Paper with Photographs

Photographs can make for some funny, expressive or even sentimental collages. Set the stage with a textured paper background, then layer on shots cut from magazines. Need more direction? Here’s a challenge: use this technique to illustrate one of your recent dreams!

4. Use Embroidery Thread and Fabric

Why stop at paper? Scraps of fabric and embroidery thread make great collage elements. Get as crazy as you want combining different materials. You can even use a sewing machine to stitch the fabric to the paper if you want!

5. Stamp on a Mixed-Media Background

Making a stamp is easier than you think — and while we love specialized stamping techniques, you can do the job with something as simple as a potato if you want! Just cut it in half and draw a design (big, bold shapes work best). Then carve away whatever areas you don’t want to be printed, dip that spud in paint and stamp onto a cool collage background.

6. Weave Paper Strips for Major Texture

There are no rules here. Just cut out strips of different papers and get weaving! We love this approach for unexpected texture on scrapbook pages or greeting cards.

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6 Responses to “6 Paper Collage Techniques to Try”

Interesting

What is your technique for gluing without getting any air bubbles ?

My cutouts do not stay stuck to the canvas panels I am using. I am using glue sticks. Any ideas for getting the paper to stick to the panels.

Love that I can get my questions answered

Tnx it really helped me

Tnx it rea helped me

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