How To Use A Flower Catalog In Mixed Media Magazine Collage

Today I am going to show you how to harvest and make some magazine collage art with flower catalogs! Tips and ideas for how to use large and small flower images and then how to make borders with these flower beauties.

Flower Catalog

If you're looking for a fun and unique way to express yourself, let's talk about mixed media collage… especially using those beautiful flower catalogs!

Seriously, who knew you could turn something you might usually recycle into gorgeous art? It's a cool way to be creative and a little eco-friendly all at once!

I used the Brecks flower catalog, but any one will do… I am not sure if I requested one or if it just showed up, but I was super happy to get it!

I was blown away by how absolutely gorgeous the Brecks flowers were!

Walk Through Flower Border Video

Supplies Needed:

Flower catalogs: These are your stars! The colors and textures you find will be amazing.
Glue: Pretty basic, but this is what holds your masterpiece together. Here is an article about my favorite glues!
Scissors: For cutting all those gorgeous flower shapes. Make sure to use snips (little scissors with super sharp points!)
Extra goodies (optional): In the video I use “Inchies” to add interest to the borders… get some free inchies here!

Let's Get Crafting!

Find your inspiration: Flip through those catalogs! Look for colors, shapes, and textures that make you say, “Ooh, I love that!”
Cut it out: Time to carefully cut out the bits and pieces that caught your eye.
Play around: Before you glue, start arranging the images in your art journal. Experiment with how stuff looks together – this is where the magic starts!
Glue time! Once you like your design, start gluing everything down. Layer pieces for extra coolness.

Flower Magazine Collage Inspirational Borders

I thought you might like to see how I laid out the borders I made and what I was thinking about each of them!

I already loved this rust and acid green colored background, but when I found the green flowers and added some fairy inchies, it really made the whole thing pop!

On this side the bunch of leaves on the right side is not glued down so I can add some magazine collage images behind there if needs be!

This collage border looks even better in person! I love the soft tones of pinks, purples and teal!

I outlined the pieces of the border (including the pretty purple flowers) in purple paint using a Posca paint pen.

Turquoise and red is my favorite color combination so I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this page! The added fairy gal makes it even more special!

The layering of the flowers on this one is so fun! The bee and butterfly images are so fun in the corner there!

Okay, this background page is looking a wee bit haggard! She got stuck to herself, but with the addition of the flower border she is starting to bounce back!

And isn't it funny, I love the grunge effect this side of the page has, when the other side just look a bit of a mess!

I wanted to show you the difference it makes when the pieces are not outlined on the border. This one looks seriously not don, just pictures on a page instead a piece of art getting started.

Oh my heart, I love this one so much! I feel like this page could be a work of art all on it's own!

You know I love me some red and this page just makes me smile with the stencil background and the magazine collage of the flowers!

And I love this side even better! The bold red and yellow flowers look super cool with the red background!

How fun is the frolic of fairies twinchie in this piece. She fits right in there, up at the top right of the magazine collage background!

I think this is going to turn out to be a favorite too, just right now without the outline and no background color she feels a little “first draft” to me!

I like how the flowers cascade down the side of this page! They are super pretty and fun!

There are SO MANY INCHIES on this magazine collage background border! I love how I left that one side still with the paint and stencil to break up the border!

Magazine Collage Flower Borders Wrapup

Oh my gosh, this was such a fun project to make! I can't believe how many border pages I got from one little flower catalog!

If you do this project, make sure to send me pictures of your borders and I will add them to the page!

Here are some fun magazine collage articles you might like!