Select Artwork for Larger View and Item List
"Ctrl P" to Print
Colorful Collage - A Tutorial
by Cindy RolandStamping Deck Cruise Director
Happy Holidays! 'Tis the season to be jolly! It is December and where has this year gone? I can hardly believe that we have been all over the world and still looking for adventures in these two plus years. This really is an adventure this month, as we are sailing down to Antarctica! We won't take any foot trips, as I doubt they would be very pleasurable! We have hit the bottom of the world, so I guess we have nowhere to go but up now. I have some hot cocoa just waiting to be sipped and I even have whipped cream. Let's go create something and stay warm!
One of our readers, Wanda, requested this tutorial so I want to thank her for her excellent suggestion for this month's article. These are very bright and colorful collages that are made from many stamps and even more colors. They are quick and simple to accomplish, you will need plenty of colors of ink and a variety of stamps. I pulled out a few supplies for you to see what is required for the basic collage - you can substitute your preferred stamps and products. Here are some handy suggestions in making your selection for your collage.
- Floral stamps: Preferably more solid type similar to the Penny Black brushstrokes or the Hero Arts pressed flowers. They can pick up a lot of color with very little effort and look great.
- Large, non-detailed background stamps: You don't want these to be busy as they are mainly for adding large amounts of color for your background.
- Filler stamps: I like twigs or vine-like stamps for putting a little accent to point towards the focal point of the collage.
- Focal stamp: I have a preference for a fine lined, but not too detailed, stamp with no borders on it; face stamps make great focal stamps.
- Blow pens: I prefer blow pens, but you could also use a spritz of ink from a misting bottle such as the color washes by Ranger or a toothbrush or spatter brush and some ink.
- Glossy white cardstock: I prefer using glossy cardstock as the colors stay on the top and look more vibrant. You can use coated matte paper also.
- Dye inks: Many, many colors of different dye inks. Dye inks are used because they dry quickly. The quicker you work the better these collages turn out.
- Colored cardstock: Try to make your mattes as colorful and complimenting to your collages as possible, so pull out many shades and colors.
- Paper trimmer: You will want to trim your finished pieces down to give them a more finished look by eliminating the less desirable edges.
- Gold leafing pen: I think that the gold just adds a touch of class to these finished pieces of art.
- Last and most importantly, have a clear and open mind. Don't spend a lot of time planning these out. If you do, they will be stiff and contrived. Be free and open and play with different ideas. Not all of them will turn out but there are no mistakes on this project, some will just turn out better than others.
Now that you have your supplies and your open mind all in one place, let's get started! Remember, it's only paper. Relax and have fun with it.
It makes it simpler and quicker for me if I have my supplies laid out in front of me where they are handy to grab when I am getting ready to do one of these. I may or may not add a stamp or color once I get started but it really cuts down on the amount of time it takes if you have pre-planned your supply list. Make sure you give yourself plenty of room; you will create better and more efficiently.
Start out with a piece of glossy white cardstock and swipe a very light color across it, pad to paper. I prefer yellow as it really pops in the background and adds a lot of light to my collages but a pale blue, green or pink will do the trick, too.
Use your large background stamp for the next step and lay down more light color. Remember to keep your background colors light and transparent to compliment your top colors. I used a pale pink and blue combined on one stamp. Stamp once with full color and stamp again without re-inking. Repeat process, if necessary, to fill out the background.
Stamp a thin vine or leaf-like stamp randomly around the paper, not too much you want to use this stamp as an accent pointing to your focal stamp. I used a pale green with this stamp.
Start to add your bold color with your bold floral stamps. I used a Poinsettia and a rose leaf stamp in a bright, dark pink and green. Stamp and overstamp all over the page, purposely leaving spaces, until the stamps run out of ink. Repeat once more.
Now, it is time for your focal stamp. For this collage, I chose a face stamp and used a light brown ink. I prefer using light browns, olive greens, grays and other neutral shades to stamp the focal image. It seems to embed the image into the collage.
A script or word stamp is fun to use and I like using them in a color fairly opposite of what my color scheme is running. In this case I used a dark blue so it would be easily read and stamped it more than once, offsetting it. Sometime I will just stamp it once on the piece to coincide with the focal image.
A final splash of color is added by using turquoise and hot pink blow pens and spattering a bright spray of extra color to your already colorful collage. As I had mentioned before, you could lightly spray a color wash or spatter some ink with a toothbrush, however you best like to add an added splash.
It is time to trim your creation down, hold your hands around it like a box to find the best part and trim it down to make your collage. The final touch is to add a gold edge with the leafing pen. This really frames the collage and makes it ready to add your embellishments and matting for a bright and cheerful collage card. This is how I finished this one, how would you do yours?
Here are some more examples of color collage cards. You can even do a batch of Christmas cards with this technique. Stamp on a large sheet of glossy cardstock and cut out four to six collages per sheet. You can make a theme from them or just start stamping and see what comes up! Most importantly have fun and keep it fresh and flowing. Don't worry about making mistakes, there are none! If you are disappointed with your results, jump right back in and start another one. Use your mistakes to make serendipity cards with later. I already did an article about this technique earlier this year.
I hope you have fun doing these eye popping collage cards. They will be fun to do on a cold, dreary day to bring some sunshine in. Color can brighten up any day!
I hope you enjoy the rest of the Holiday season and get to spend some quality time with your friends, family and loved ones. May your season be one of peace, joy and serenity, and filled with wonderful memories.
I will see you back here next month for a brand new year of far away places and new creative adventures. Drop me a line if you have a question or just to say "Hi!" I love hearing from you anytime.
Happy Holidays to you all and God Bless!
Cindy Roland
cindyrolands@ssreflections.com
Stamping Deck Cruise Director
Reflections Publishing Group, LLC
This entire web site © Copyright Reflections Publishing Group, LLC Legal Statement
***Disclaimers - While individual techniques may vary, always follow product manufacturers' directions and cautions for safety and best results.
LINK TO NEXT PAGE