Mixed media is one of my favorite ways to create. It's such complete freedom to use whatever you have available. Collage tends to be a big part of my projects, and I've been having fun rescuing various bits and pieces from the recycling bin.
The word "collage" tends to bring to mind a piece made with newspapers, scrapbooking paper, book pages, or magazines. And those are all great materials to work with, but there are so many other paper-based materials that can easily be incorporated into an art piece.
Postage stamps are bright, colorful, and typically get tossed in the recycling bin along with the envelope. Both the envelopes and the stamps can be used in a collage or mixed media project:
Playing cards make a sturdy background for postcards or gift tags (you can also use them to make your own oracle cards, if that's something you're into):
Old road maps eventually become obsolete. Instead of tossing them, use them as a beautiful backdrop for mixed media:
Other ideas include:
- Gift wrap
- Florist's paper
- Construction paper
- Gift bags
- Wallpaper
- Sheet music
- Junk mail
- Paper shopping bags
- The pages from last year's day planner
- Receipts
- Matchbooks
- Old textbooks
- Paper doilies and other leftover party decorations
- Your own journal pages
- Your kids' schoolwork or artwork
- Calendar pages
- Printed napkins
- Paint chips
- Clothing tags
- Phone book pages
- Food labels
- Bookmarks
- Greeting cards
- Crosswords, word searches, or other puzzles
- Postcards
- Anything handwritten - shopping lists, notes, to-do lists, etc.
I even saw one piece (which I unfortunately can't find now) that incorporated the insert from a prescription. You can use anything. Here is a sample of papers from my own collection:
Clockwise from top left: the top of the packaging from a stencil; the backing paper from a set of pencils; a soft paper, like a napkin, from a homemade jar of jelly; and the lining from a tray of cookies.
Simply pay attention throughout your day as you pick things up to toss or recycle, and take a moment to consider whether you could use those materials in your art. Essentially any type of paper can be added to your piece. And obviously many other types of materials besides paper can be used in collage, but that is fodder for another post :)
