Hey everyone! Today, I wanted to create a fun and colorful collage and journal page spread.
I gathered some supplies: a glue stick (you can also use any acrylic medium, mod podge, or gel medium you like), various craft papers, including scraps, gel prints, and more. My goal was to cover the entire page with a random collage of these papers.
After sticking down the papers, I used some KingArt gel sticks and Liquitex gesso to add texture and soften some of the patterns. I dabbed the gesso on with a brush, then used a paper towel to remove some and create a more muted, blended look. I especially wanted to preserve some of the handwritten sentiments from old greeting cards that I had collaged in.
Since the gesso made the collage a bit dull, I brought some color back with a pink gel stick. I softened the pink with a damp brush to create a dreamy effect, then went back in with a baby wipe to further distribute the color and achieve a more subtle, blended look.
For some extra pops of color, I decided to add yellow using the trusty baby wipe technique. I dabbed yellow gel stick around and then used the wipe to spread it out, creating a soft effect that complemented the pink nicely.
After letting the collage dry for a few minutes, I grabbed some interesting finds: a vintage flower catalog clipping from 1995 (thrifted!), and a scrap piece of paper with a wood grain pattern. I wanted the tulip image from the catalog to be the focal point. I also added the wood grain paper in the corner for some extra texture.
To frame the tulip and add some more visual interest, I used stencils and hickory smoke Ranger ink to create a subtle, light gray floral pattern in the background.
Now came the question of where to place the tulip flower. I didn’t want to cover up the handwritten sentiments I liked, so I positioned it strategically. I used Dusty Concord Ranger ink to adhere the tulip down and I really liked the final look!
To add some shading and dimension to the flower, I used a brown ink pad. I think it turned out pretty cute!
Overall, I’m really happy with how this collage and journal page spread turned out! It was a fun way to use up some scraps and create a unique and colorful piece. I hope you enjoyed creating along with me, and until next time, keep creating!