Collage Fodders

Have you ever been captivated by the spontaneous flow of watercolor—the way colors melt into each other, unpredictable yet soothing? I have. I love the softness and meditation that watercolors bring.

But as someone who has painted with acrylics for over a decade, I’ve developed a special fondness for them. There’s something about acrylics—their versatility, texture, and vibrancy—that keeps drawing me back.

So I asked myself: What if I could play with acrylics in a way that feels like watercolor? That’s how this method was born—a playful, intuitive way to dye papers using diluted acrylic paint.

If you love making tags for your art journal, happy mail, or collage projects, you’re going to love this! In today’s blog, I’m sharing a simple and creative way to make embellished mixed media tags using scraps of fabric, easy hand stitching, and a master sheet of mini abstract paintings.

These tags were cut out from the same master sheet I created in this blog post, where I shared how I painted a large intuitive background and then cut it down into smaller mini abstracts. If you haven’t seen that yet, go check it out first – it’s all part of the free tester workshop, and you can even join the class to learn how to create your own expressive master sheet for free.

Once I had my mini paintings, I realized there was more goodness left on the page – so I used the leftover sections to cut out tags!

I have to admit: for the longest time, I shied away from black. It felt heavy, overpowering, and too final. But lately I’ve fallen in love with black, especially when paired with white.

In collage, mixed media projects, or art journaling, black becomes a compelling character—adding depth, contrast, and mystery to every layer. That’s why building a stash of black and white collage papers for mixed media art journaling is essential for any creative arsenal.

In this post, I’ll show you how to create your own black papers—from smooth, velvety sheets to textured, layered wonders. Use these backgrounds or print-and-mark techniques as foundations for your next journal spread, collage panel, or mixed media masterpiece.

I have to admit: for the longest time, I shied away from black. It felt heavy, overpowering, and too final. But lately I’ve fallen in love with black, especially when paired with white.

In collage, mixed media projects, or art journaling, black becomes a compelling character—adding depth, contrast, and mystery to every layer. That’s why building a stash of black and white collage papers for mixed media art journaling is essential for any creative arsenal.

In this post, I’ll show you how to create your own black papers—from smooth, velvety sheets to textured, layered wonders. Use these backgrounds or print-and-mark techniques as foundations for your next journal spread, collage panel, or mixed media masterpiece.

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 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.

Discover the magic of minimalism as you transform discarded book pages into stunning art using just black and white acrylic paint. In this project, you’ll learn to create striking collage pages with a subtle touch of vintage accent using burnt umber during stamping. Embrace the elegance of monochrome art and experience how simplicity can yield powerful visual statements.

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.

When I first came across the idea of paper dolls on Megan Quinlan’s page , I was immediately inspired to try it out. Megan creates her dolls using stencils and stamps that she designs herself (her shop is definitely worth a visit). Since I didn’t have access to those tools, I decided to hand-draw the dolls, make multiple copies, and color them in.

What I really loved about this project was how easy it was to give each doll its own unique emotion or expression with just a little pencil work. Coloring them felt almost like working on adult coloring pages—it was so calming and meditative. I had a lot of fun with this project and definitely plan to create more dolls. These dolls are meant to be used in art journaling, something I’m still learning from Megan. I can’t wait to share my art journal once I’ve added the dolls to it!