HOW TO MAKE A COLLAGE
USING PAPER ELEMENTS

INCLUDING HANDMADE PAPER, VELLUM, PAINTED PAPER, FOIL, TISSUE
PAPER, CONSTRUCTION PAPER, WORDS AND IMAGES FROM MAGAZINES
SUZANNE VADNAIS MONSON
table of contents
dive in! an introduction
page 3
copywrite rules for collage artists
page 4
step one: choose a theme
page 5
step two: choose a size
page 5
step three: choose a surface
page 6
step four: assemble the tools
page 9
step five: gather the images
page 12
step six: create the collage
page 14
step seven: protecting your work
page 18
collage art resources
page 25
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How to Make a Collage
Dive in!
Remember what it felt like to make your very first collage out of the cool pictures you
collected? Maybe you wanted to celebrate a special event like a birthday or a graduation or
a wedding. Or maybe you wanted to make a collage out of pictures of art you were
collecting and your first collage was a fun collection of these images. Maybe you wanted to
make a statement with your first collage, like saying something about saving the
environment or promoting peace or how cool it was to like a band you were crazy about!
Whatever it was that inspired you to sit down and arrange those first images on paper and
create a collage is probably the very reason you are looking at making an art collage today.
This post is designed to give you all the tips, tools and techniques you need to make an art
collage out of paper elements. This type of collage has specific techniques to follow to
ensure professional results and I will walk you through the steps to using these techniques
to help you master this art making process quickly and easily!
What’s great about making a collage from found images is that there is so much material
you can use to build your finished work of art. You can create a collage using images and
words from magazines, from books, from maps, from newspapers, from photos, from
digital images of 3D objects you photograph
and print out on paper, from images of your
drawings and paintings you print out and
photocopy.
And you can use fun art papers from
collage kits, like this!
You can make your own paper, create
your own images, and use any kind of
printed paper or decorative paper
that you have in your studio. I think of
collage art as the ultimate in recycling
because it allows me to reuse so
many items I would normally toss out
in the recycling bin.
How to Make a Collage
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the rules for collage and copyright
If you are planning on publishing or selling your collage art there are some copyright rules
you need to be aware of and do your best to follow. I hired a copyright attorney when I
published a deck of collaged cards. He used a very careful legal process to determine if the
work I had created was a new work of art and if I had used any one image from a published
source too much in my collage.
I highly recommend you consult a lawyer if you are thinking about getting into making a lot
of collage art pieces that use work that is protected by copyright. Here are two great links
to get you started in researching copyright law as it applies to collage work:
Copyright for Collage Artists
http://www.funnystrange.com/copyright/index.html
Funnystrange is a website run by graphic designer Sarah Ovenall that is jam-packed
with helpful information. She has some fabulous work here too. Check out her Art
Car!
Here is a link to NOLO’s website page on when the use of copyright material is acceptable:
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/fair-use-rule-copyright-material-30100.html
Nolo is the integration of some of the Internet’s first legal sites, including Nolo.com,
Divorcenet.com and AllLaw.com. These sites were combined with the ExpertHub technology
platform in 2011 to form the Nolo Network. Nolo began publishing do-it-yourself legal guides in
1971. In the 40 years since it’s founding, Nolo evolved with technology, developing do-ityourself software and building Nolo.com into one of the Internet’s leading legal websites. Learn
more about Nolo’s history.
Basically it comes down to asking and answering questions like this:
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Are you creating a new work or copying someone else’s work?
This becomes a matter of percentages. How much of your collage is made up of a single
image?
Does this image have a copyright?
Is any image you are using so recognizable that the percentage of the image being used
doesn’t matter?
Are you creating a collage that makes the work you are using look bad?
It is best to assume that words and images taken from published books, magazines, calendars; the
Internet, etc. do have an active copyright and create with this in mind.
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How to Make a Collage
step one: choose a theme
To begin, choose an idea or theme for your collage. For instance, do you want to make a
collage about an idea, like imagination? Or do you want to make a collage about a thing, like
the forest? Maybe you want to make a collage about farming, or swimming, or loving a
child…or some other activity! Just as with a drawing or a painting, you can choose to make
a collage about anything you find interesting.
step two: choose a size
Ok, so you have your theme in mind. Next, you want to decide how BIG to make the collage.
I like to use large long sheets of tag board or art board that measure 18” x 24” for my paper
collage work.
It looks like this:
This surface is ideal for a collage that is made of words and images clipped from magazines
because the paper used to print magazines is very thin. If your surface isn’t smooth, your
images will not lay flat on the page. They will wrinkle and possibly tear if the surface has a
lot of texture.
Another reason I often choose to use ta smooth art board for my paper collage art is that it
is very inexpensive. This means I can make a lot of collages very affordably! You can pick up
100 sheets of 18” x 24” Pacon Storybook 2-Ply tag board from Blicks for $20.50. This will
give you a lot of sheets to play with so you don’t have to worry about wasting money if you
mess up. If you end up with a collage you don’t like, it’s not expensive to start fresh with a
new piece of tag board.
Another nice thing about working with tag board is that it is easy to cut with a scissors to
create any size or shape you like, including unique shapes like stars or circles or frames to
go around another image or funky abstract shapes. It’s all up to you and what you need for
the piece you are making today.
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step three: choose a surface
There are many other surfaces you can use for collage. Here are some of my favorites!
This assortment of colored art board offers a nice range of colors if you want to begin your
collage on a colored surface. The sheets are 9” x 12” and you can pick up a package of 16 for
under $5.00.
• Foam board
Foam board is a nice lightweight option for
a collage surface that offers a very rigid
surface for building your collage without
adding weight. Foam board is also very
smooth and fairly inexpensive. A package
of 12 pieces 3/16” thick and fairly large
(16” x 20”) will run around $30.
Foam board also comes in very large sizes!
Blick sells a package of 12 sheets measuring 46” x 96” for $582.
If you want to make very large collages this is the way to go. I have used large foam
core board for classroom collages when I taught art in elementary schools. This is a
perfect surface for a group project because it allows everyone to have a little room
to work without crowding. They are lightweight and easy to hang for display.
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Primed Canvas Panels
Canvas Panels are a step up from Foam board in sturdiness. Each panel is a solid sheet of
canvas that has been glued to a rigid surface and them sealed with gesso. They offer a
slightly more textured surface than tag board or foam core.
One way to tone
down the texture
when using a canvas
panel is to apply a
thin layer of acrylic
paint or glue, like
mod podge, to the
panel. Let this dry
completely before
assembling your
collage materials.
A pack of 24 panels
measuring 9” x 12”
will cost about
$18.00.
• Pre-stretched canvas
This is a great surface to use for the collage work
you plan to sell. The canvas does have a little
texture, which can easily be toned down by
applying a layer of paint or glue and letting it dry.
Pre-stretched canvas is lightweight and comes in
a wide range of sizes. It is also one of the
spendiest options for a collage surface! A single
9” x 12” canvas will cost about $8.00.
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• Art Board
I generally use Art Boards for my
surface when I plan to sell the
collage I am making.
Art Board is a rigid archival surface
that is used for a variety of media
and techniques – from drawing to
painting and collage.
I often want to add paint elements
to my collage work so I will choose
an art board because it gives me a
little more flexibility with materials.
Art boards come in a variety of
colors, finishes and sizes. I like to
use the 16” x 20” boards, which cost
around $3.00 a sheet.
These are the specific types of art boards I use most often for the collage work I sell:
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Cold or hot press watercolor boards. They have a little texture, which is just what I
want for some of my collage work with a painted background.
Black drawing art boards. This has deep black pigmentation and offers a slightly
textured surface.
Bristol plate art boards are super smooth and very rigid. This comes in a natural
white color.
Pure white drawing art boards are that perfect white I sometimes want for a
pristine collage background.
How to Make a Collage
step four: assemble the tools
These are the tools I use to make a collage
with paper elements.
• This blue plastic tool is made by 3M.
Unfortunately I can’t find it for sale
anywhere! I’ve had this one for over 20
years. I have a friend who works for 3M that
is doing some digging to see if she can find
any. I’ll keep you posted with updates if I
have any luck finding it. If you find it for sale
please let me know! It is my favorite tool for
smoothing paper to any surface.
The tool is about 4 inches wide, which makes
it the perfect size to fit in your hand. The two
ridges act as little ledges to give your fingers
a place to grip. I use this tool to smooth glued paper to the surface. It seamlessly adheres
the paper to the surface with no wrinkles.
• Foam Brayer
This soft but dense foam brayer is ideal for all
collage adhesive techniques using paper. It
features a plated steel handle and a solid wood
core under the heavy foam that allows for
smooth rolling. The handle opens for easy
washing or replacement of the foam roller.
The brayer is 4” wide and sells for under $8.00.
It gives a little when pressure is applied and
easily smooths paper onto any surface without
wrinkling.
In light of the fact that I can’t recommend a source for the 3M tool, this is a good second
choice. And it can be used for other types of art projects. Especially printmaking! If you are
only going to get one tool, I recommend this brayer.
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• Scissors
It is important to have a sharp scissors for making
a paper collage. I use large and small Fiskars
scissors. The smaller scissors is for making
precise cuts around little words or images. The
larger scissors is for cutting everything from large
pieces of magazine paper to sheets of tag board.
• Adhesive
I prefer to use glues that require very little water for creating a paper
collage. There are many different brands you can use so don’t feel that
these are the only kinds that work. These are simply the ones I use!
.
• Elmer's X-TREME School
Glue Stick is specially
formulated to work on bigger,
tougher projects and it is
perfect for collage because of
its extra staying power. Some
cheaper glue sticks lose their
hold causing elements to lift
off of a finished collage.
This glue stick features
an extra-strength formula
that works on a variety of
surfaces such as paper,
photos, wood, fabric, craft
materials, foam board,
cardboard, and much more.
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• YES! Stickflat Glue
This all-purpose, layflat, white glue won't
wrinkle paper. Many professionals,
including bookbinders, printers, libraries,
greeting and art trading card makers, use
it.
Yes Stikflat Glue is an acid-free, smooth
flowing adhesive, and it is permanently
flexible. It is low odor and easy to cleanup.
This glue has a thick paste-like
consistency that helps keep thicker paper
bits tacked down on a collage. I apply this
with a stiff acrylic fiber paintbrush.
• Spray Adhesives
When it comes to covering a lot of paper with glue for a collage, you can’t beat a spray on
adhesive.
3M Spray Mount bonds practically any lightweight material instantly, yet allows work to be
lifted and repositioned. This spray adhesive requires only one surface application. Bonds
do not yellow, nor do they become brittle or flaky.
3M Super 77 forms a slightly stronger bond for things like small pieces of foam board that
can be used to create dimension in a paper collage. Use Super 77 on the foam board, adhere
it to the collage surface, and add the paper elements to the top of the foam board to give it a
little “pop” up off of the surface.
Elmers Craft Bond is another great spray adhesive for paper that is repositionable. It is
perfect for thinner vellum types of paper; it doesn’t bleed through, it dries fast and clear.
How to Make a Collage
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step five: gather your images!
The real fun begins when we collect the materials we want to use for a collage.
I have a process for priming my imagination to gather images for my collages. I brainstorm
on a sheet of paper to get the ideas
flowing before I even start looking for
images to use.
Here’s how it works:
Let’s say the theme for my collage is
“making a fresh start”. I have an idea that
what I want to look for will be images
and words that follow this stream of
thought: an open field, a boquet of
flowers, a beach, people laughing, a
person diving into water, a runner at a
starting block for a race, the first day of
school, first day on the job, a wedding, a
graduation, retirement, a summer
vacation, a new car, a new house, a
phoenix rising from the flames; words
that talk about beginning, excitement,
diving in, going all out, having faith, dreaming big, trusting your instincts, following
hunches, looking for signs, believing, magic, feeling confident, feeling alive, feeling nervous,
breaking free, relaxing into fresh possibilities.
Next I search through a
stack of magazines and see
what I can find. When I find
something I like I tear out
the whole page and create
a pile. I use a large
envelope or a file folder to
store the images. I label it
so I can keep track of the
theme the images belong
to. It is rare to use all of
what you collect in one
collage. Make it easy to find
the images later by giving
the collection a good
descriptive name.
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Here are some of the files I’ve created for my collage words and images.
As you create more and more collages you will
want to have a way to save the files of words
and images you are collecting. Having a general
theme title for the images will help you file
them. I group things like “fresh start” and
“dream big” in a hanging folder I label “Playful”.
I keep my hanging file theme titles simple. Often
just one word will do: celebrations, angels,
Xmas, challenges, flowers, women, men,
children, landscapes, fresh starts, etc. This way I
can group a lot of specific themed folders into
one hanging file folder.
Portable storage boxes or file cabinets are a perfect way to store your image and word
collections. Use tabs to create labels by theme or subject to help you keep your files
organized. It is helpful to put these labels in alphabetical order inside the file system to help
quickly navigate to a specific theme.
I find that using this file system frees me up to collect images and words without getting
overwhelmed, which is what used to happen when I first started collaging. It’s a funny kind
of art supply, these pieces of paper with images that I hope to use to create a work of art.
Today I have three storage boxes for my collage words and images!
The beauty of this system is that as soon as I find something I can store it and easily access
it again when I am ready to put it into a collage. I used to lose images, or put them places I
couldn’t remember, and this was so frustrating. That experience helped me find ways to
keep all of the little bits and pieces organized. It truly makes for happier collaging!
Find a system that works for you and use it. It will save you lots of time and frustration!
How to Make a Collage
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step six: create your collage…lay it all out
Once you have some material to
work with, spread it out on a
large surface like a table or on the
floor if you need a lot of room.
Survey what you have. If you see
enough to get started, dive in. If
you think you need more, keep
looking.
To begin laying out your collage
identify the main images you
want to use and play with some
different ideas about where to put
the images.
Something to consider first:
Do you want a coordinating image
or color for your background?
If so, put this down first.
I sometimes use color
photocopies of my paintings and
artwork for backgrounds in my
collages.
I use photocopies because they
are thinner and easier to work
with than the originals. I also like that using copies allow me to work with my original art
without destroying the original piece in the process.
Color copies give the collage artist greater access to images. Anything we want to use like a
photograph, money, birthday candles, rocks, fabric, yarn, plants, animals, lots of 3D things,
can be scanned or digitally photographed and turned into a paper image that can be
included in a collage!
If you want a background, start with this. Then keep adding pieces, looking for unique ways
to combine them and get them to work together. For instance, let’s say you are working
with the idea of a phoenix rising from the flames for the collage but you don’t have any
pictures of a phoenix or flames. How would you create these images? One way to do this is
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to rip up some flame colored strips of paper and arrange them in a fire like pattern on the
tag board.
Another way to do this is to create flame like images that aren’t quite flames but have the
feeling of movement captured in a flame. For instance, I am working on a collage right now
about starting fresh that uses large leaf-like shapes to suggest a life force rising off of the
page to give birth to a new beginning.
Here is the beginning of this collage:
To this beginning I will add images that I would like to see rising from the leaves, images
that capture my idea of the fresh start I am experiencing in my life today. I’m not really sure
what they will be yet. I will look through my image files and see what I have to play with!
Often a collage takes on life as you work with the images and words. Enjoy this and give
yourself time to let the ideas flow. It helps to set up as much of the collage as you can and
then take a break. Come back to the piece the next day and see what you think. Make any
changes that come to you.
How to Make a Collage
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Only you will know when you are finished. A good way to tell if you are done is to look at
you brainstorming sheets again. Then look at your collage. Does it capture what you had in
mind? If it does, you’re done! If it doesn’t, figure out what’s missing. Is it in your
image and word files? If so, work it into your collage. If not, go back to the drawing board
with some magazines. This time try looking in some magazines you didn’t use the first time.
I decided I wanted something that felt like a creative explosion of possibility as a
background. Luckily I used thick fabric for the leaves! This allowed me to peel up the
leaves and tuck the background underneath.
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I found a bunch of images of girls and women showing playfulness, possibility, and
creative expression and placed them to emerge from the leaves. Then I found
Tinkerbelle with her magic wand and placed her in the corner to suggest a touch of
magic is at play. This one piece really pulled my idea together.
Here is the finished collage!
I added some Sparkle Mod Podge to the leaves to give them more of a shimmering finish. I
want the feeling of something magical coming out of the leaves and reaching up to the sky.
I chose a few simple words for this piece, focusing on my main theme: “Believe in the magic
of FRESH STARTS” dominates the center, while Tinkerbelle is saying: “here we go!” on the
right side. She is the one setting this whole process of emergence in motion.
I was lucky to find words and images that worked perfectly for this piece. Sometimes I’m
not so lucky. When this happens you will want to make some alterations to the images you
find to turn them into the perfect pieces for your collage. This is something I am just
beginning to explore in my collage work and I am very excited to give it a try.
Here is a link that will step you through how to alter an image found in a magazine to
transform it into something perfect for your collage. My friend and sister collage artist
Susanne Skenne told me about this cool website!
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http://www.freewebs.com/agnestheredtutorials/gessomagimages.htm
wrapping it up
When you’re done with the collage take a digital picture or scan of it. A digital image of the
collage will be a great resource for sharing your work online and it serves as a back-up
copy of the collage. I do this before I laminate the collage because once a piece is laminated
it can be too shiny when photographed. If you want to share prints of your collage, digital
files make it easy! You have so many options: e-mail a j-peg, print an image on a personal
inkjet printer or e-mail a j-peg of the image to a printer to have the collage professionally
printed.
Next, it’s time to think about protecting your finished collage.
step seven: protect your work
1) crystal clear bags
Crystal Clear Bags™ are a great way to protect a finished collage. They come in hundreds of
sizes, are very affordable, and they will not wrinkle or dimple the collage elements like so
many other protective options can. Mod
podge or any other paint on sealer will
always be a challenge to the paper crafter
because it has a tendency to leave the
paper with a ripple or a bunch of ripples!
There is nothing worse than a perfect
collage ruined by a wavy finish.
Crystal Clear Bags are my top choice for
protecting my collages today. They do not
actually touch the surface of the finished
collage. They are thick clear plastic
envelopes with top flaps and re-sealable
adhesive strips, which allow the bag to be
opened and resealed in necessary.
Using a Crystal Clear Bag is as easy as inserting an item, peeling the adhesive cover strip off
to expose the sticky adhesive and then folding and pressing the flap to the bag to seal it.
They look very professional and create a work that can easily be mounted on a wall or
framed.
You can find these online at www.clearbags.com
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Here is a collage preserved in a crystal clear bag:
How to Make a Collage
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2) Laminating film
I have used laminating film to protect my paper collages
for many years because it creates a permanent
professional finish. However, I have begun to rethink
this because I’ve found that over time the film can lift and
stretch due to heat and humidity loosening the sticky
adhesive. This creates ripples in the film and causes
unappealing waves in the surface of a paper collage. I’ll
add an example at the end of this section so you can see
what I am talking about.
The upside of using laminating film is that it is a
transparent, tear-resistant, permanent adhesive film
that's quick and easy to use: just peel and apply! It gives
a paper collage a fabulous finish. Laminating film comes in a variety of sizes, but it is easiest
to use in sheets measuring 12” x 18” or smaller.
If you want to use larger sheets of laminating film find someone to help you. It can be a
little tricky to keep the laminating film taught! A helper can secure the film in place on the
table while you place the collage on the film.
The trick to using laminating film is to get the film in place without lifting any of the pieces
of paper off of the collage surface.
A trick I have used with success is to place the film on a table with the finished (non sticky)
side down. Peel the sticker backing off of the laminating sheet and leave it on the table with
the sticky side up. Center your collage over the laminating sheet and press it down in one
smooth motion.
Turn the collage over and check for any wrinkles or folded paper. Gently lift the film off if
you need to correct anything. When you are happy with how the laminating film is placed,
turn it back over and press firmly with both hands to marry the film to the collage by
rolling a foam brayer or other smoothing tool over the backside of the collage.
After securing the film in place, turn the collage over. Now you are looking at the laminated
collage. Pick up your smoothing tool and roll or press it over the surface from side to side,
smoothing the entire surface.
Presto! One laminated collage.
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There is one downside to laminating. Notice the waves in the middle of the collage? The
laminating film was perfectly flat when it was applied. Now that the film is wavy it can’t be
fixed. There is no going back with laminating film once it has been pressed into place. So be
aware of this when you choose to use film! You may not want to risk this happening.
How to Make a Collage
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3) laminating film machine
There is another laminating option that is very easy to operate and does not require a
helper, electricity or heat. It is the Xyron 900 Creative Station Laminator. You can laminate
any sheet of art board up to 9” wide on this machine.
While it’s a little more
expensive than laminating
sheets or clear bags, the cutting
tool on the Xyron creates a
professional looking finish to a
collage that is more affordable
than taking your art to a print
shop to have it professionally
laminated.
The Xyron 900 also has
adhesive rolls, which can be
used to apply adhesive to large
or small pieces of paper. All you have to do is roll them through the machine, peel them off
the tray and apply them to your collage surface. This machine does a great job of taking
care of the initial smoothing step too. It presses the laminating film firmly to the surface of
the collage.
I have had one of these amazing little systems for over 10 years and I love it. It is well
worth the money if you plan on making a bunch of collages.
So how do I decide if I should laminate or use a Crystal Clear Bag?
I ask myself a few questions:
 Am I selling the original collage?
 If the answer is yes, what does the buyer want? Ask them!
 If the answer is no, what is best for making prints?
o Crystal Clear Bags can easily be opened and I can photograph the collage
easily without having to worry about a surface shine being a problem.
 Am I planning to put the collage in a show?
 What would be the best way to protect the piece if a lot of people will be touching it?
o I usually go with framing a collage under glass for shows. This is expensive,
but it ensures the collage will be unharmed.
Here are some examples of collages I laminated using the Xyron 900 machine. These are
great examples of when laminating works! These collages are over 10 years old. The
laminating film has stayed tight. No signs of any wrinkling or waves.
It is possible. They have been stored indoors in a heated or air-conditioned room for most
of the 10 year period, which I know helps!
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Collage Art Resources I love:
The Art Colony
The Art Colony Collage Art Group
http://community.art-is-fun.com/group/collage-art
The Art Colony is a virtual open studio for painting, drawing and mixed media. There are a
number of collage artists here offering tips and techniques as well as showing their work
and explaining what they did. It’s a great place to hang out with other collage artists and get
feedback on your work!
Collage Art
Collage Art: One of the best resources for links to websites offering supplies and tools for
the collage artist. It is the place I go back to again and again.
http://www.collageart.org/info/
Somerset Studio
http://www.stampington.com/somersetstudio/?gclid=CNOrm4zSvK0CFY0BQAoddnZxAg
Somerset Studio is a magazine dedicated to the art of paper crafting and stamping. I NEVER
use these magazines for collages! Each one if filled with fabulous ideas, tips and techniques.
e-crafting.com
Their e-crafting site offers hundreds of pieces of downloadable digital ephemera to use in
your collages. These truly one-of-a kind vintage photographs and documents are free to use
in your collage work. Very affordable at $1.95 a page. http://www.e-crafting.com/
Collage College
http://www.collagecollege.com/ is the Collage College website created and run by Joel
Sampson. It has lots of links, copyright information, techniques and helpful tips as well as
supply resources.
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