Getting Started

• Gather materials you might want to use for your collage. Part of the fun of creation is in the hunt. Elements might include photos; colored papers cut from magazines or newspapers; packaging; seed packs; keepsakes; leftover crafts materials from other projects such as bits of fabric, yarn, ribbon, beads, or wire; and stuff from your junk drawer. You also can use pressed or air-dried flowers, petals, leaves, pods, cones, and twigs -- just about anything that isn't too heavy to attach.
• For the background, use corrugated cardboard cut from a box, foam core of different colors, stretched canvas, or any other art boards readily available in an art supply or crafts store.
• You'll also need scissors and white glue, a permanent glue stick, an acrylic soft gel, a glue gun, gorilla glue, or epoxy for heavier elements. 

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Prepare Your Design

If necessary, cut background board to desired size. Cut or tear paper and other elements, then lay them out on your board. Papers also can be folded, fringed, shredded, crunched, or pleated.

Get it Just Right Before Gluing

Move the pieces around until you're happy with the layout. Don't glue until you're satisfied; ripping up leaves a mess of uneven debris on the collage (If you end up not liking something, cover it up!). 

Apply Glue With a Brush

Brush glue on the paper with a paintbrush. Small bits require a small brush; with larger pieces, a 2-inch brush is more effective. If you're using colored tissue paper, spread the glue on the board first and put the tissue paper on top of the glue. Use the same technique if you want to glue down small seeds, tiny beads, or fragile leaves: Spread glue on the board, sprinkle tiny things, and pat down carefully to adhere.

As you paste down any paper, start on the center of the paper and press to the edges, squeezing out any air.

Learn how to press and dry flowers with ease.