How to Add Pops of Color to Art Journal Pages Using Paper

Mixed media artists are always looking for new ways to make their work pop. When they’re first starting out, though, ideas seem hard to come by. This is an idea loosely related to scrapbook decorating, but works very well with collage and assemblage as well.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Colored paper (can be cardstock, construction paper, craft paper, ect.)
• Glue sticks
• Collage materials
• Scissors

1. Use bookmarks if several pages need to be worked on. Sift through your art journals and find page spreads in need of some extra pops of paper color and additional collage elements.
2. An altered book will work well for this project, as well. Open your art journal to the page spread that needs some extra pops of color. Spread your materials out in front of you so it’s easy to pick out collage items and corresponding paper colors
3. Don't forget to check through paper scraps, also. Choose the pieces you’d like to add, then cut the colored paper down to the size of the collage item. Be sure to leave a border around the collage item so enough color pops through when added to the page.
4. Using white glue will cause the papers to bleed into the next. Affix the papers and collage items to the pages using a glue stick.

Tips & Warnings

• Rather than cutting the items out, tear along the edges for extra interest.
• Consider inking around the edges of the papers before adding them to the page.
• Don’t use a wet media or it’ll bleed through the page.
• Be sure the project is dry before rubber stamping to prevent smearing.