Show Me How to Create a Collage

Can you show me how to create a collage? This is a common question among novice paper crafters, but making a collage is actually quite easy. Collage is a very flexible art form, so you can feel free to experiment. Finished collages can be displayed as wall art or used in scrapbook pages and handmade greeting cards. Small collages may even be exchanged with other crafters interested in creating artist trading cards.

To keep your collage from looking like a random mess of unrelated objects, it's best to have a general purpose for the project in mind before you begin. Favorite hobbies, vacation memories, dreams for the future, or your relationship with a loved one can all be used as themes for a collage. For this collage, a quote is used as the starting point.

Gather together the materials for your collage. You can make a collage using almost any relatively flat item. Popular choices include copies of favorite photos, magazine clippings, newspaper articles, scraps of patterned paper, old greeting cards, or stickers.

Arrange the items until you find a placement you like. Some collages use a grid for a basic structure, while others have a more freeform appearance. The choice is entirely a matter of personal preference. Cutting and tearing can add extra interest, if desired.

Adhere the items to the page using a glue stick or liquid glue. Work from top to bottom in order to avoid any messy adhesive spills. Use a popsicle stick to smooth out any air bubbles.

If desired, add buttons, ribbons, or other dimensional elements to your collage for a special finishing touch. You can also try painting, stamping, or doodling on empty areas in your collage. For more creative college ideas, check out A Passion for Collage: Interview with Giuseppina "Josie" Cirincione.