My Favorite Materials for Collaging with Young Artists
Collage is such an accessible art medium for young artists. It can be done with almost any material you have around your home and is a wonderful way to engage children in planning, cause and effect, and experimentation. As I always say, the best materials to use are the ones you already have. In this case that is 1000% true because all you need to collage is paper and an adhesive. However, if you are looking to make collage a bit more enticing with some new supplies, I’ve got you covered. These are all tried and tested supplies I’ve used for years. I use affiliate links and any purchase you may make from the links below might result in a small commission for me. Thank you for supporting Start With Art!
Astrobrights Colored Cardstock
When creating collages with young artists, one can expect a heavy hand with the glue. When that happens, having a sturdy base for your collage is crucial. I love this economical card stock that comes in a wide variety of colors. This 65 lb. weight paper is thick enough to hold a lot of material, while still thin enough for older children to cut through. It also makes for wonderful card making!
Elmer’s Washable Liquid School Glue
This is a no brainer but a lot of people turn to glue sticks these days. I love glue sticks but for very young artists, liquid glue is the place to start. Take some of this glue into a container and add a little bit of water. Use a paint brush to spread the glue! This is a much easier way for small hands to begin using glue.
Elmer’s Jumbo Disappearing Purple Glue Stick
When your artist is ready for a glue stick, I love using these. They are jumbo in size making them easy to grip. The purple color helps children see where they are placing the glue but dries clear!
Origami Paper
Origami paper is wonderful for so many uses. I always turn to it for collaging. It’s easy to cut, rip, and of course fold. It comes in beautiful saturated hues and is already in an easy to work with size for small hands.
Cello Sheets
This is the ultimate fun material to use when collaging. These transparent colorful sheets are truly the sprinkles in a collaging sundae. I love to use them to explore color mixing!
Self Laminating Sheets
I’ve been using these a lot lately! These are giant transparent sheets that stick to each other meaning there is no need for glue or tape when collaging onto them. I have loved using them with cello sheets or natural materials that are hard to glue like leaves and flowers.
Loop Scissors
These spring loop scissors are a first step in learning how to use traditional scissors. While not a necessary step, they can aid in the process and help your young artist take on cutting sooner!
Colored Masking Tape
This tape can be used as an adhesive but I love using it as its own kind of paper when collaging. It comes in bright colors that adds to a young artist’s collage without it feeling like tape.
Keep on creating!