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Tutorial for Waxed Paper Collage

Supplies:

Mod Podge Matte
light or lightly patterned cardstock for base
waxed paper to cover cardstock
flat ephemera: cardstock scraps, tissue paper, vellum, doilies, napkins, diecuts, flat or thin fibers (anything that will go through the embossing machine after collaging)
embossing machine and embossing folders
distress inks
sanding block
rag or paper towels

Step 1--crumple/fold the waxed paper and then unfold
Step 2--coat the base cardstock with modpodge and layer the waxed paper on top; allow wrinkles to form as you press the waxed paper to the cardstock
Step 3--glue a first layer of ephemera on top of the waxed paper layer; use a good coat of modpodge both under and over the collage layer, but not so thick that it oozes out from underneath.

Step 4--Add a second layer of ephemera
Step 5--Add more layers of ephemera (I have found if you're going to add fibers to put them in the second to last layer so that some of the fiber is pinned under the last layer) LET DRY! the more layers you have the more time it will need to dry.
Step 6--Cut to a size that will fit through your embossing machine. Three embossing folders will fit side by side along a 12x5 or 12x6 piece. The sample here is cut at 5, 5 and 2 inches x 12 inches.

Step 7--emboss the entire sheet of paper or cut to individually emboss pieces; your preference.

It's hard to see the embossing with all the different collage items so I showed how the back looks after embossing.

Step 8--Sand the whole piece with a sanding block; you are trying to rough up the raised edges, but you don't want to sand them all uniformly; a good light sanding works for the first layer.

Here are 3 different first sandings

Step 9--Ink over the whole piece with your chosen distress inks. Lighter colors first and wipe off between each color.

Step 10--Sand the whole piece again paying more attention to areas that weren't sanded the first time around.

Step 11--Ink the whole piece again with distress inks. Again wiping ink off between colors.

Step 12--Sand again, you should start to see layers from underneath coming through now and will be able to tell where you need to sand some more.

Step 13--Ink again. You can dampen your rag and remove more ink if it's getting a little too dark in areas.

Continue to sand and ink in this manner until you're happy with the result.

Here are the 2 pieces I cut at 5 x 12 inches, one piece sanded and inked and the other still plain.

Use the pieces as is as journal pages or scrapbook pages, cut for card fronts or make diecuts from them.

If you have any questions or need a clarification to the directions just let me know.

Happy Collaging!

Thank you Rachelle! Can't wait to play with this technique.

Thank you!

Very cool Rachelle! I hope to try this one also.

Wow, interesting technique! Thanks for showing us how to do it.

Thankyou for sharing the technique, Rachelle. Your samples are really impressive. Just one thing I don't understand, why do you use the waxed paper? And then cover it with all the ephemera etc. What does this layer contribute to the finished effect? Just wondered!
Kathryn.