Every mixed-media project leaves something behind.
A corner of painted paper.
A torn book page you couldn’t throw away.
Whisper-thin tissue that felt too beautiful to waste.
If you’ve ever ended a session with a pile of leftovers and no clear plan, this post is for you. Today, we’re turning those forgotten fragments into Collage Clusters—small, ready-to-use compositions that bring depth, texture, and meaning to your future work.
In my previous blog, we built a layered collage mastersheet and, in the process, ended up with heaps of gorgeous little bits—painted paper snippets, torn text fragments, and fabric scraps.
Instead of letting those leftovers collect dust, we’re going to transform them into ready‑to‑use collage clusters that add instant depth and texture to any mixed‑media piece.
▶️ Watch the Full Process on YouTube
In this short demo, I show exactly how I sort my scraps and assemble them into cohesive collage clusters in just a few minutes.
Mixed Media Artist Resource Library
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What Are Collage Clusters?
Collage Clusters are intentional groupings of scraps—paper, fabric, text, texture—layered together to form a mini composition.
They’re not background fillers.
They’re not random piles.
They’re story-rich building blocks you can use again and again in:
Art journals
Artist books
Tags and cards
Canvas or mixed-media panels
Most importantly, they help you use what you already have, instead of constantly reaching for something new.
Why I Love Working With Collage Clusters
For a long time, I used to save my best scraps “for later.”
Later never came.
Creating Collage Clusters changed that completely.
They taught me that:
Materials are meant to move, not sit in drawers
Scraps become less intimidating when they’re pre-arranged
Small compositions feel safe, playful, and freeing
Once clusters are made, starting a new project feels easier. The fear of the blank page softens.
How I Build My Collage Clusters
Sort & Group
Separate scraps by color, texture, or transparency—this makes building harmonious collage clusters a breeze.
Arrange & Layer
On a fresh scrap of cardstock, experiment with small groupings of 4–7 paper bits. Overlap edges until each mini‑composition feels balanced.
Secure & Embellish
Use a dab of gel medium or glue stick to fix pieces in place. Add a few hand‑stitched accents to your collage clusters for extra charm.
Trim & Store
Once dry, carefully cut around each cluster and tuck them into labeled envelopes or pockets. Your collage clusters are now at the ready for future art journals, cards, or canvases.
When Collage Clusters Want to Become Something More
Sometimes, Collage Clusters stop feeling like embellishments.
They start feeling like pages.
Like memories waiting to be held together.
That’s exactly how my class Gentle Reminders was born.
Gentle Reminders: A Journal Made Entirely From Scraps
Gentle Reminders is a soulful mixed-media concertina artist book, created almost entirely from:
Leftover papers
Torn book pages
Fabric scraps
Texture-filled clusters
At its heart, this class is about coming home to yourself through slow artmaking.
Each page becomes a quiet affirmation—a reminder made from fragments that once felt insignificant.
You’re not just learning techniques.
You’re creating something that feels layered, imperfect, and whole—just like you.
Why Gentle Reminders Pairs Perfectly With Collage Clusters
If this Collage Clusters process resonated with you, Gentle Reminders takes it deeper.
In the class, you’ll:
Turn Collage Clusters into story-filled pages
Build textured master sheets from scraps
Add stitching, pockets, and gentle words
Bind everything into a concertina-style artist book
Nothing is rushed. Nothing is wasted.
Every scrap finally finds its place.
Turn your forgotten scraps into a soulful artist book.
Join the Gentle Reminders class (Currently available at 50% off)
💬 Final Thoughts
Collage Clusters remind us that nothing is truly leftover.
Not paper.
Not fabric.
Not parts of ourselves.
Whether you use them on a single journal page or allow them to grow into an entire artist book, you’re practicing care, presence, and trust.
And that, in itself, is meaningful work.
