Debasree Dey

Have you ever wanted to create your own rust printed papers and fabrics for mixed media, collage, or art journaling? This beautiful process is surprisingly easy, super satisfying, and only takes a few basic supplies—most of which you probably already have lying around at home!

In this blog post, I’ll show you how I created a stash of rich, textured rust printed papers and fabrics using a few old book pages, some scraps of cotton and muslin fabric, and rusty hardware bits. Whether you’re into grungy textures, vintage-style papers, or just love experimenting with organic, natural dyeing techniques, this is for you!

If you’re anything like me, you probably have a collection of vintage ephemera—old letters, postcards, book pages, receipts, or even brown paper bags—waiting to be transformed into art. In this post, I’ll walk you through a step-by-step process of how I turn these nostalgic pieces into expressive, colorful collage papers using acrylic paints and energetic mark making techniques.

If you’re like me, you love the rich, earthy tones of rust—but not everyone has access to actual rusted materials for their art.

So I asked myself: What if I could create that rusty, weathered look using only acrylic paints?

I experimented a bit and came up with an easy, no-fuss way to make gorgeous rusty-colored collage papers right at home.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through my process step-by-step. This is an easy, low-cost method, and you’ll be amazed at the textures you can get!

Transform your old books, journals, and scrap papers into stunning inky collage papers that are perfect for art journals, junk journals, or mixed media projects. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every detail of the process—from gathering your materials to executing each creative step—so you can turn forgotten paper into vibrant, expressive art.