Collage is my favourite way to customize and beautify everyday objects, usually notebooks, sketch books, folders, etc. And it is definitely worthwhile as an art form asking to be framed. But I prefer to decorate the mundane. I like to give my eyes get a treat every time I have to check a date in my planner.
Small pieces (like a notebook) are fairly quick to complete. For me it is usually around 3 hours to get a composition I like, though I have definitely taken longer. More often than not my objective is to create a cohesive storyline or theme featuring a background, middleground and foreground.
But collaging doesn't have to be all about "cohesive themes" or "integrated elements." The point is to spend a few hours creating and relaxing. Below are pages from a book I made a few years ago to consolidate a large pile of images I had accrued. I separated all of the fashion photos and glued them down by category and by theme. Not really a revolutionary project, but I still prefer a tangible idea board over a digital one.
There is only one rule or strong suggestion I would share with anyone who feels like collaging: don't go into it with an image of your final product. For me, collage is more about exploring the ideas that come to mind in the moment. This isn't like a painting, where the only thing holding you back from an image of a monkey riding a jet-ski in a ball gown are your skills with the paintbrush... trying to create something similar from found images (in a short time frame) usually just leads to frustration.
First, simply go through your magazines and cut out anything you think is pretty. Start to layer and rearrange your images, and before you know it you will see your theme taking shape. Then what you might do is put aside certain pictures for another day, and go through your magazines again for the specific elements that will really round out your piece.
The last part of the process should be to scan or photograph your finished product. I try to scan everything I make. Usually because what I make is either given away, sold, or put into use. If I am protecting the collage on a planner by covering it with clear tape or contact paper, I scan it beforehand to preserve the appearance of my art. The bonus of having all of my work on my computer is that I can make new collages years later! And cool pictures like this:
The last part of the process should be to scan or photograph your finished product. I try to scan everything I make. Usually because what I make is either given away, sold, or put into use. If I am protecting the collage on a planner by covering it with clear tape or contact paper, I scan it beforehand to preserve the appearance of my art. The bonus of having all of my work on my computer is that I can make new collages years later! And cool pictures like this: