collage Archives - Linda Germain

Making collage papers

collage, mark making, stamping tools / Linda Germain / April 3, 2026

I have been making a lot of collage papers in preparation for my grid collages. I think it is important to have a variety of types of marks and papers to create interesting collages.

So to do this, I use the several different techniques. Nothing too complicated. I have been incorporating my tiny little foam stamps into these collage papers. That makes the process very fast and easy. I have been using 2 inch squares to make these collages.

The squares above were all printed with tiny foam stamps that I made. Some fit nicely on the 2 inch square and some are a little oversized. So that encouraged me to make new stamps that are small enough to be affective on this 2 inch square.

If you are interested in making these foam stamps I do have a course that is on sale for this month of April. Check out the details on the workshop page.

It is possible to create several new stamps in a very short period of time. The process is fun and can be quite addictive. It is one way to make unique marks, papers, and prints.

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Fun with grids

collage, combined techniques, sketchbook ideas / Linda Germain / March 17, 2026

Most recently, I have been making lots of grid collages in my sketchbooks. Grid making seems to be an easy way to get into creating without having to think too much.

I have a couple of steps that I take to making grids. I like to make my own collage papers with different mark making techniques. So that’s one step all on its own. That’s quite fun and easy and accessible.

For this step I use stamping, watercolors, scribbling, and various mark making techniques. I like to have papers with a variety of marks and line quality.

In my most recent collages, I have been using index cards that I cut down to 2 inch squares so they fit into my 6 inch square sketchbooks.

Another thing that I like to take into this sketchbook process, is to embrace the studio rules that I have outlined for myself.

Enjoy the process
Be gentle with myself
Pause often to recharge
Approve of the choices I make
and play

As you develop your studio practice, I encourage you to make your own set of guidelines or rules to support your creative growth.

I would like to remind you that the sale class for March 2026 is the 100 print project. Check out the workshop page for all the details. Enjoy.

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Finding new habits

collage, inspiration, sketchbook ideas / Linda Germain / December 15, 2025

My sketchbook is a great place to find and develop new habits. It is a safe place to experiment. Hopefully I don’t bring in a lot of judgment and expectations to the process.

I find a lot of inspiration on Pinterest. I’ll often take an image and use different materials to make it my own.

My favorite materials these days are simple, crayons, and water colors. I like how the crayon resist produces a sketchy mark.

I use lines in squares and circles to mark up and start a page. I often work back-and-forth and do not complete one page or spread at a time.

My sketchbook can be a place to release and discover emotions and feelings.

Often I will glue in words or feelings, in the form of a collage or mandela. This is one of the habits that I offer in the class Creating Habits. It is 27 short videos with 20 new habits and it is the sale class for January. Check out the details on the workshop page and save $30 this month.

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Bits and Pieces – sketchbook Practice

book arts, collage, drawings / Linda Germain / June 19, 2025

My sketchbook practice is always evolving. It is kind of funny because I don’t really love to draw, but I find myself choosing to draw and doodle a lot in my sketchbook.

I make a lot of unrelated marks that in the end seem to come together in the end.

I do add plenty of stamped marks and pattern like marks. I collage little bits and pieces here and there and move back and forth through the signatures.

I work up the signatures individually and then glue them together when I have most of the pages done. This way I can keep working in the sketchbook even while wet media is drying.

I have common themes here throughout most of my sketchbooks like birds trees, other animals and positive phrases.

Usually, I will couple of angel cards with those positive words in my sketchbook with the date. It gives me a starting point, and something to think about. It is fun to look back and see what I was working more each month. I do finish about one sketchbook per month.

This month I have included lots of old book pages and parts as inspired by the Books as ART Materials class. It is the featured class for the month of June. You can save $30, now only $95 for this 18 project class. Get all the details on the workshop page.

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Fun with Books

book arts, collage, inspiration / Linda Germain / June 12, 2025

I have been exploring ways to use books and book parts as art materials. (This Months featured class – On sale save $30 – now only $95)

Above I used part of a black out poem and book cloth and book pages for collage.

I love hunting for books with special qualities. I like the large font of children’s books. I am lucky to have a great thrift store close by that sells 6 books for just $1.00.

Today I borrowed the spine cover idea from one of the 18 projects in the Books as Art Materials class for my current sketchbook. These signatures are worked up separately and then glued together. The book page spine cover will give it a nice finish.

Black out poems are always fun and an easy way to get started. Sometimes I cut them up and use them as collage bits.

Lastly I am inspired by images in books. I love finding new ways to draw trees. So take advantage of the June sale and enjoy the 18 projects in Book as ART Materials. Get all the details on the workshop page.

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