I basically discovered collage a little over two and a half years ago after a multitude of health issues forced me to quit a job I loved and go on disability. Little did I know that  having all that free time would turn out to be one of my greatest blessings.

The whole process of doing collage is a very spiritual for me. My studio becomes my world where time, space and my pain slowly disappear. My collages are like looking into one of my diaries. They reveal my pain, joy, happiness, sadness and sometimes me just being a goofball. I want people to see who I am when they look at one of my pieces. I pursue my work with such ardor that by the end of the day I am exhausted.  I also like to add something that is very special to me in my collages then intentionally cover it up with paint or another layer of paper so only I know it is there. It’s like a little secret between me and the images. My desire is that people think of my work as mysterious, complex and fun.

When I’m not in my studio ripping and tearing paper like a madwoman, I enjoy travel, hanging out with my son, laughing, drives up the coast, kissing puppies and chatting with my wonderful friends in the ARTchix Studio YahooGroup.

Instructions
Cut a piece of 3x4 canvas board and coat with a layer of Golden's soft gel medium.

While wet, cover with a piece of dyed paper towel (see instructions below) and add green mesh as shown.

Carefully burn edges around the beautiful woman image from the Her Wish transparency sheet.

Ink up a small piece of watercolor paper, when dry, edge with Krylon gold leaf pen. Attach transparency woman image with staples.

Cut butterfly wings from the Garden collage sheet collection in half and glue on the back and then attach everything to board.

Make a little crown out of paper, add ARTchix Copper Heishi and glue down.

Add two Purple Metal Roses to corners and attach green glass leaves as shown.

On the back of a blue glass heart attach refrigerator magnet with Diamond Glaze. Glue to board.
Add colored strip of decorative paper to the bottom.   
 

Instructions
Start by gluing decorative papers on an 8x10 stretched canvas using Golden's soft gel medium. Keep in mind that most of this will be covered up.

Begin the next layer with the idea that most of these papers will be seen. Tear the papers so you don’t have straight lines. This is also when I add my homemade and favorite decorative papers. Take a strip of black and white paper and stamp on red stars, adhere to top.

Cut a 4x4 piece of the paste paper (see instructions below) and glue in the center. Add desired border. I used a different color of paste paper but you can add whatever you like. Tape mounting tape to the back of fairy image from the Garden collage sheet collection and adhere as shown. Add Party Hat, Small fairy wand and cigar label. Highlight wings of fairy with glitter.

Place words from the Lil Duos collage sheet on bottom as shown. Adhere the dancer images from the Saucy Showgirls to each side as shown. Cut an image from The Eyes Have It collage sheet in half and stamp with crackle stamp using sepia ink pad (or whatever color you choose) Circle punch the other eye out and glue to left side as shown. Adhere the other half to right side. Cover eyes with colored bingo pieces.

When you are happy with the way it looks start sponging Golden’s Payne Gray acrylic around the edges and let dry. Then sponge on gold Lumiere again around the edges. Add a found gold star and metallic blue dots. Edge with strips of the Gold Borders .
 

Supplies & Instructions for Mary's Paste Paper

Supplies
Sheets of 140 lb. watercolor paper
Bright Gold Lumiere Paint
Different colored ink pads or whatever inks you prefer to use
Square notched adhesive spreader/ rubber comb

Instructions
Lay down different colored inks onto the watercolor paper. Let dry.
Paint entire surface with Lumiere paint. Start at one end and drag the adhesive spreader across the paper. Do this with one smooth movement. You can turn the paper and repeat if you wish. Let dry.
Note: Because we didn’t seal the inked paper, the Lumiere gold will pick up whatever color ink is underneath it thus adding subtle tones to the gold. Very pretty.