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60 Materials to Use for Collage Art


60 Materials to Use for Collage

What creative materials can be used to make a collage? I made a list of 60 things to use and repurpose for creating collages, scrapbook pages, or art journals. Items used in collage can vary because it’s anything you think fits into the theme or layout you’re making. Usually magazines are a common thing you think of for handmade or analog collages, but there’s a lot more paper types and materials than just magazines. For your next creative mixed media project or collage, I’m sure there’s something new for you to try out from this list!


Besides magazines, here are 60 creative material ideas to use for collages:


  1. Wrapping paper 

  2. Fabric scraps

  3. Postcards

  4. Notepad paper

  5. Old coins

  6. Used stamps

  7. Envelopes

  8. Junk mail

  9. Cereal boxes

  10. Bottlecaps

  11. Receipts

  12. Stickers

  13. Dried flowers

  14. Dried leaves

  15. Washi tape

  16. Duct tape

  17. Transparent tape

  18. Book pages

  19. Newspapers

  20. Clothing tags

  21. Photo prints

  22. Watercolor paper

  23. Cyanotypes

  24. Paper bags

  25. Ticket stubs

  26. Cardboard

  27. Greeting cards

  28. Business cards

  29. Clothing buttons

  30. Gift tags

  31. Paint samples

  32. Tracing paper

  33. Old journals

  34. Wax seals

  35. Fancy dinner napkins

  36. Stamped paper

  37. Tissue paper

  38. Vellum paper

  39. Restaurant menus

  40. Store catalogs

  41. Playing cards

  42. Calendars

  43. CD covers or album booklets

  44. Bookmarks

  45. Colored transparency sheets

  46. Yarn

  47. Polaroids

  48. Dots from a hole punch

  49. Sequins

  50. Popsicle sticks

  51. Pipe cleaners

  52. Sheet music

  53. Maps

  54. Flyers

  55. Exhibit brochures

  56. Programmes

  57. Feathers

  58. Foil

  59. Glitter

  60. Ribbon


To attach these items, a glue stick, white glue (either standard or thinned with a little water), or a hot glue gun should work fine. It’s always good practice to try a test piece, just in case, to see the results before you add the item to your final project.


To find collage materials, you just have to start looking. Many of these items could already be around your house. Cleaning out a box, drawer, or pile of papers could let you round up some of these items and materials. You can add additional designs with paint, markers, or ballpoint pen. Exercise your creativity! There are no rules.


If you found this list helpful or have an idea you’d like to see as a future blog post, please let me know by sending me a message.


Keep creating.


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