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!
What You’ll Need:
Acrylic paints (see color list below)
Spray bottles
Old calendar paper (or any type of paper you’d like to experiment with)
Coffee powder (optional, for Method 2)
Water
If you enjoy experimenting with mixed media techniques like me, I have a collection of creative projects for you! From abstract mark making to textured collages and art journaling, explore a variety of tutorials that will spark your creativity.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Mix Your Rusty Color Palette
I created four different shades of rust using acrylic paint:
Burnt Sienna (reddish brown)
Burnt Sienna with Yellow tint (yellowish brown)
Van Dyke Brown
Dark Brown + Orange (orangish brown)
Thin each paint with water and pour them into separate spray bottles.
Step 2: Choose the Right Paper
I tested a few different paper types. Here are the results:
Calendar paper (shiny white backside): Best texture and color flow
Canvas-textured paper: Very interesting texture
Copy paper or sketchbook paper: Good color, but flatter texture
Step 3: Method One – Spray and Let It Flow
This is the most effortless way to create rusty textures.
Instructions:
Take your chosen paper (shiny side of the calendar paper works best).
Spray the acrylic mixtures randomly.
Let it air-dry.
You’ll get organic, uncontrollable textures that are rich and layered.
Step 4: Method Two – Add Coffee Texture
This adds even more grunge and depth to your papers.
Two-Layer Version (Recommended):
Spray paint the paper and let it dry.
Spray water on the dried surface.
Sprinkle coffee powder lightly over the wet paper.
Let it dry completely.
Brush off excess coffee.
Single-Layer Version:
Spray paint on wet paper.
Sprinkle coffee immediately.
Let it dry.
This method creates lighter, subtler textures, still very usable in collages.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need real rust to create stunning rusty textures. With just acrylics and a few easy steps, you can create beautifully aged collage papers that are full of depth and character. These are perfect for mixed media, art journaling, or vintage-style projects.
Collage Papers: Printable Rust-Inspired Set
Along with the handmade rusty papers I created using sprays and textures, I also designed a few more digitally — drawing from the same color palette and grungy aesthetic. These digital designs are perfect for printing and using in your own art journals, collages, or mixed media projects. I’ve put together a set of 10 printable collage papers inspired by this process.
You can download the full set here.
Video:
Watch the Full Process Here on YouTube:
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Thank you!
