A work of art made from paper, photographs, fabric, and other found objects is called a Collage.A fun way to experiment with shapes, layout, and even texture is with a Collage.Electronic images can be placed on a digital background.You can glue cut-out images and text onto paper.Sand, shells, and plants can be used to stick to a piece of paper.You can make amazing art by using all sorts of different materials.
Step 1: You can come up with a central design.
It can be anything you want.Whatever sparks your creativity, paper has a lot of different options.Maybe you want to make a statement or collect pictures of your favorite actor.You could arrange old photos to make a picture of your family.There are no limits to what you can do.You could arrange small pieces of paper so that they form a larger image.You can find an image that speaks to you and design the rest of the picture around it.
Step 2: Use pictures and other images to make a picture album.
There are many ways to find images.You can find inspiration in old magazines, newspapers, and picture books.You can put your favorite images in a box until you are ready to use them.Add elements like fabric, ribbon, or natural materials to your mix.Cut-outs can be found through magazines and newsprint.The ink on Newsprint may rub off on your fingers.Use photographs to capture a retro feel, but be careful with what you use.Cut up your favorites by making copies of them.Old wallpaper can be found for something unique.Home improvement stores and other places that sell wallpaper will often give you a free sample.
Step 3: A sturdy piece of paper is needed for the base.
Something thick to serve as a background is what you should choose.The thicker the paper, the less likely it is to fall apart.To avoid color contrasts with any pictures you plan on using, stick with a white background.cardboard, construction paper, and canvas are some of the background materials to consider.It's usually thick and flat that holds up well.You could use a picture frame.Glossy paper is not a good choice for art paper.The material doesn't hold up under glue and is more expensive.
Step 4: You can cut out the images to fit in a piece of art.
The way you cut out pictures affects how they look.Most of the time, you will cut out the entire image without leaving any space around it.Some images have borders.You could use a different way to highlight certain parts of the image.You could cut a hole in a picture to expose the paper underneath it.
Step 5: Don't glue your images on the paper.
Place your main image in the center and fill the rest of the paper with other material.You can expand on the theme by building around each scrap.Since you won't be able to remove the images once you glue them in place, plan out your final design.Wait to glue anything to the page until you are satisfied with your design.If you change your mind, this will give you more time to find new materials.
Step 6: Adding adornments like ribbons will make the Collage more colorful.
If you want, you can add a lot of unique items to your Collage.You could use feathers, ribbons, and fabric.They can be put around the images or used for additional decorations.Take a walk through a nearby craft store or look for items around your home.You are going to find a lot of interesting things.You could draw an animal on the paper and put it in a container.A mosaic can be created out of small cuts of paper.
Step 7: White glue is used to glue the material onto the paper.
Work forward after starting with the background.As you press the images onto the paper, spread a small amount of glue or glue stick on the back of them.If you use it in small quantities, the glue won't be visible.You may need to use a craft glue to pin the decorations to the paper.To secure heavy beads and buttons, switch to a thick craft glue.There are bottles of glue or rubber cement at your local craft store.Don't forget that not every piece has to be cut in half.Crumpling or folding decorations will add flair to your piece.
Step 8: The glue needs to be settled by overnight drying.
It needs a lot of time to dry since it probably contains several layers of glue.Take a look at your work the next day.If the paper is dry and the decorations stay put, you can put your piece on display.An hour is enough for a small piece of art.If you think the glue is wet, give it more time to dry.If you made a large piece of art, point a fan at it.The air blowing on a low setting encourages the glue to dry quicker.
Step 9: Pick a theme for your artwork.
A photo collages is usually fun.It's possible to pick a theme like your family, pets, trip, or something you like.You don't have to make yours that way if you use photos you took.You can use random images you find online to make something cool.You could make a picture of puppies.People love looking at pictures of puppies.Track down pictures you like and paste them together.
Step 10: Word processor is an easy-to-use photo editing program.
One of the many different editing programs can be used to combine photos.If you want to make a picture on your computer, you should use a basic program like Word.You can try uploading pictures to online websites.You can use the apps on your phone to make your own picture.You can use a photo editing program if you know how to use it.
Step 11: You should collect photos and images to use.
You can search online for cool things to put on a piece of paper.You could use old photos, fabric swatch, magazine clippings, and other items to make a paper collage.Use your collection as a source of inspiration.You can save posts from your favorite social media site for your project.You can save online images by right-clicking on them and selecting the "save as" option.
Step 12: You can choose between 5 to 7 images.
If you don't have an assigned theme, think of what you want your finished piece to look like.You may have an idea, image, or pattern that makes you want to do something about it.Give your piece some meaning by building around it.To make a consistent whole, find images that share colors, shapes, or patterns.Adding too many photos may make the Collage feel crowded.It feels empty when using too few.You can choose a series of pictures from a trip.Select pictures that show off your trip, what you saw, and the people who live there.
Step 13: Shapes and coloring tools can be used to change the images.
You can find the images on your computer.If you want to open them, click on them or drag them into your editing program.It is possible that the pictures need a little work to mesh.You can change the size and coloring of them until you are happy with the way they look.To cut the image down to a manageable size, use the resizing and crop tools.You can change the colors of the images.To make photos look faded and grey, contrast them with bright text or images.
Step 14: To match one another, change the resolution of the images.
Your images look different because of the resolution differences.Click on the file option to change the resolution.The resolution option can be found under the "Advanced" and "Image Size and Quality" options.This will change the resolution of images you have selected.Depending on the size of the image and where you plan on displaying it, lower-resolution pictures tend to look blurry.The images should be set to a resolution of 72 ppi if you are going to post them online.The resolution should be 300 ppi if you plan on printing it.
Step 15: Text and other features are optional.
If you have space for extra design work, mess around with the editor.Clicking the "Insert" button in Word allows you to add text boxes, image borders, background colors, and other design elements.The new features should fit in with the images.Add a title to your picture.The title could add flair, but you could let the pictures speak for themselves.Adding a title to a traveling collage will let the viewer know where you went and when you took the pictures.
Step 16: If you want it to be posted or printed, save it.
If your computer crashes, click the save button often to keep your work safe.If you want, you can display your collage with pride when you are done editing.You can post your work on social media.You can use the print feature on the editor to display it.The final appearance of your piece depends on the printing paper you choose.To give it a shiny sheen, choose a high-gloss paper.To give it a dimmer, less colorful look, use a matt-style paper.
Step 17: Pick a theme for your artwork.
You can make it nature-themed by using plants.Sand, shells, and leaves are some of the things you could add to a landscape.This is the easiest way to incorporate found things into a piece of art.If you do not want a theme, you don't have to have one.Cool things could be arranged on a page.The themes in most collages make them look more complete.
Step 18: For a base, choose a solid paper.
The base paper needs to be strong to hold up the sand.You can find thick and sturdy things at a craft store.Some materials you might consider are cardboard and construction paper.If you are going to glue heavy items, regular printer paper is not a good choice.If it feels thin, you should expect it to be flimsy.
Step 19: A pencil is used to sketch a design.
You can draw the scene you want to create.Pick out any areas you plan to cover with found items.Place them until you are ready to glue them.If you are drawing a seascape, sketch the sand bed at the bottom of the page.You should outline where you want to make fish or shells.Simpler designs are better for small children.They can draw whatever they want, if you don't have a specific design in mind.
Step 20: Add shells and other items to your collection.
You don't have to stop at sand.All sorts of items are included in your Collage.Plants and shells can be used to make your art more unique.To make it stand out, match the material to the theme.Seashells, insect shells, flowers, leaves, and seeds are some examples of items to include.Many of these items are available for purchase at craft supply stores.You can find something unique that adds a twist to your picture.
Step 21: Use paper towels or heat to dry your items.
Your items may rot if they aren't dry.After wiping everything dry with a paper towel, bake flowers that would normally decay.Plants can be heat in the microwave for 1 to 5 minutes.They can be put on a drying rack and kept in the oven for 2 hours.Another way to preserve plants is pressing.They should be kept between a piece of paper and a heavy book for at least 7 days.Rocks and shells do not need to be heat-dried since they will not rot.You can wash shells by boiling them for 5 minutes, then soaking them in cold water for a week.
Step 22: Attach a craft or glue to the outlined area.
Pick a bottle of craft glue and a clean glue brush.Put glue in an even layer on the page for sand.Some of the glue can be added directly to shells and plants.If you are making something large and intricate, make it in small sections to prevent the glue from drying out.Glue sticks and glue are not strong enough to support found items.
Step 23: If you are using sand, put it on the Collage.
Open up a bag of sand and start pouring it onto the paper.You can scatter the sand by dipping your hand in or using a small paper cup.It will stick to where you put glue.When you are done, tip the paper to get rid of the excess.The part can get a little messy, so keep a paper plate underneath it to collect the sand.To avoid using too much sand, try to add small amounts at a time.
Step 24: The remaining items need to be secured.
If you want to attach shells to your project, break out a hot glue gun.Put a bead of glue on your item and press it to the paper.If you changed the background, you could use the same craft or glue.For at least a minute, stick your decorations in place.Plants are preserved with wood glue.It is possible to keep the plant fresh and shiny by brushing it over.
Step 25: Allow the glue to dry before handling it.
The open spot on the countertop is where you should put your collage aside.Wait for it to feel dry before attempting to move it.If you want to show off your work, place it on display or take photos.