Create a Collage Series Using 5 Types of Papers

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I’m showing you how I used five types of collage papers, all taught in my last five Tune in Tuesday videos, to create two new collages that are harmonious to each other, and to the other 13 collages created in previous Tune In Tuesday demos.

This process has become one of my favorite creative challenges: choosing from dozens of handmade papers, narrowing it down to just a few I truly love, and combining them into a mini collage series where every piece complements the others beautifully.

In this Tune In Tuesday episode, I’m creating a cohesive collage mini-series using five types of handmade collage papers taught in my 5 most recent demos:

Bubble Printing on Paper with Acrylic Paint

Spray Paint Your Way to Stunning Collage Papers

6 Ways to Make Quiet Textured Collage Papers

Create Multi-Line Collage Paper Using a Root Comb Applicator

How to Make Marbled Collage Paper with Easy Marble

Why These Papers Work Together

What ties this whole series together isn’t just the types of collage papers; it’s the limited color palette I used to make them. Every paper was created using only two primary colors (Phthalo Blue Green Shade & Hansa Yellow Light), plus black and white for contrast and variation.

That limited palette gives all the papers a cohesive resemblance to each other, even when the techniques are wildly different. So even though I’m working with bubble papers, root comb lines, easy marble swirls, subtle textures, or spray-painted patterns, they all naturally go together because of the limited color palette used to create them.

A Peek at My Process

Let’s just say… I had a lot of papers to choose from. Too many, actually (as is always the case!) So the first step? Sorting through each type of paper and pulling out only the ones I absolutely loved. If it didn’t spark a clear “yes!”, it went in the “no” pile.

From there, I divided my yes papers into three categories: light, medium, and dark values. This helps create strong contrasts in my collages and gives the final composition more depth.

With my favorite papers sorted, I created two 5×5 collages using a few simple rules:

Each collage had to use five different types of collage papers (bubble, texture, spray, root comb, and easy marble)
Each paper on each collage had to be a different size and shape
There had to be contrast in value between papers placed next to each other

I started by choosing one favorite paper (usually the one that screamed “Pick me!”) and then built the collage around it. I looked for unexpected combinations, played with placement, adjusted sizing, and tuned into how the pieces felt next to one another.

And honestly? The result made me want to take my new collages all over the house with me because I loved them so much!

Creating collages this way continuously reminds me of a few important things, like how limiting my papers makes the decision-making process so much easier, and the consistent palette keeps the collection of papers looking cohesive. It also helps me fall back in love with some of my papers that were scraps that almost ended up in the trash.

Want to Try This Yourself?

You can follow this exact process using your own papers, or try making the five types I used by watching the full demos linked above! And if you’re ready to go deeper, my free 5-day workshop, Collage Kickstart, will help you turn your papers into finished, harmonious collages from day one. You’ll learn how to balance color, value, shape, and energy in every piece.

I hope this inspires you to start your mini collage series using what you already have (and love). Happy creating!

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