Things You'll Need:
- Computer
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Step 1
Go to www.polyvore.com and register with your email address.
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Step 2
If you want to get a feel for others' collages (called 'sets'), or if you need to get inspired, click 'Explore' at the top of the page. This will allow you to browse others' submissions. If you see an item you like, clicking on it will give you information, let you find more sets where it was used, or find related items. If you click the name of the item, you will be taken to a page where you can load it into a new set or save it to 'My Items'.
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Step 3
When you're ready to create your own set, click 'Create' at the top of the page. Choosing the tab 'All Items' will allow you to search for pictures to use. If you don't have a specific item in mind, typing in a general adjective, such as 'pink' or 'lace' will bring back plenty of results that you can browse. If you've decided on a theme for your collage, type in words related to that theme. Looking through the search results can help you develop more search terms to find the perfect images.
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Step 4
When you've found a picture, or if you already had an item saved in 'My Items' that you want to use, you're ready to start creating your collage. Drag your desired picture into the large 'Drag items here' box on the left side of the screen. When you've added a picture, you will be given a toolbar to increase or decrease the size of the picture, flip the image, show/hide the background, duplicate, and move the image to the foreground or background.
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Step 5
Keep adding pictures, and make good use of the tools to get your picture just right. If you like the detail of a skirt or necklace, you can make the picture as big as the frame and use it as a background. If certain images aren't fitting together, try moving one in front of the other or flipping the image (if there isn't writing!). Get creative and try everything out, don't worry about messing up because you can always undo.
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Step 6
Not every great piece you find will fit into one collage. If you find something cool, but it just doesn't fit the theme you're working on, make sure to save it to 'My Items'. You can go back later and use it in a different collage, or use it to inspire a new theme.
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Step 7
Once you're done with your set, show it off! Publish it to Polyvore, share it with your friends, print it off and hang it on your wall! Take your sets when you go shopping- even if you don't find the specific pieces, you might find a great piece that you would have passed over if you hadn't been thinking of a certain theme.
