Creating a collage is a fun and easy way to make a complete work of art in a relatively short amount of time. The process of collecting images is as enjoyable as assembling them into your own unique creative expression. I especially like to make collages in January which are reflective of the intentions I have set for myself for the coming year. It can really be fun to invite a group of friends over with their magazine stash, scissors and plenty of glue to collage together. Throw in some martinis and you've got yourself a party!

To begin your collage collect old magazines, calendars and even personal photographs to get your image bank stocked up. If you know that you would like a specific image, a shiny red car for example, then try an online image search and print out anything you'd like to include in your collage. Trim everything up neatly so you'll be ready to use what you have when it is time to glue. It is a good idea to take anything you like out of the magazines even if you don't think you'll use it for this particular collage. I have a special drawer in my desk for storing collage material so I can cut and paste whenever the mood strikes.

Next you need to decide how big you would like your collage to be and select your 'canvas'. Poster board is a good choice and can be found at craft stores, office supply stores and sometimes even at drug stores. Another good choice is the plain old cardboard box. It can be utilized for its flat sheet or consider a 3-D collage and decorate all sides of the box. Truthfully one can collage on any surface (sometimes called decoupage) so use your imagination and start decorating!

Once I have all of my images trimmed and have selected my board I am ready to make my collage. First, I like to lay everything out on the board to see which things go well together and to try out different combinations. I usually have a clear purpose in mind when I collage and know what the overall theme I want is, but I like to let the magic happen in the lay out stage. Experiment with clever ideas. Use images of picture frames to frame images on your collage. Cut out the windows from a photo of a house and lay it over another image so that you can see through to it. Use large close up images (of a flower perhaps) to fill in background space, but continue pasting over them. Use this lay out phase to experiment with your design and get exactly what you want before you commit to glue.

After I've set my layout and have made sure that every image I want on my collage will fit and looks good it is time to glue it down. It can be tricky to remember what you want placed where and I recommend snapping a quick digital photo for reference. The low-tech option is to do a rough sketch or just do your best to remember where everything goes in relation to other things. It bears mentioning here that you might need to think about working in reverse when gluing down some images. For example, if something goes over the edge of one image and under the edge of another you will want to devise a plan so that you don't accidentally glue something down and mess up your lay out design.

For glue options I have found that a glue stick works pretty well and also keeps the paper from rippling too much. Slightly thinning out Elmer’s glue with a little bit of water is also a good option when applied evenly over the back of the cut out with a paint brush. Another good technique is to only apply glue on the outside edge of your cut out. Once an image is pasted down, smooth it out a bit to reduce rippling and use a damp cloth to clean up any extra glue that may have been ‘squeegee’ out. After you have attached all of your images let your collage dry thoroughly before hanging it up, overnight is a good rule of thumb.

Usually I make what I call 'dream-boards' when I collage. These are a collection of imagery relating to something that I am manifesting in my life. Making them around New Year’s is a wonderful way to visually represent your resolutions. I love the process of collecting images and assembling them. When my collage is finished I put it somewhere visible so that I can be reminded of my goals and experience the exciting feelings that dreaming about them creates.