Collages are the staple artistic diet of college students; they are easy, look good and have unlimited artistic potential.   

Newspaper articles, magazine clip outs and various household objects are great for making attractive, thought provoking work. But my favourite as a former art student was CD covers. CD covers are the easiest to use (they’re all the same size) and they are individual canvases of art in their own right. Just so you know these rules spread across the board for all materials not just CD covers. 

Things You'll Need:

• CD covers
• empty frame, glass is optional
• thick cardboard for insert (if it’s missing)
• white glue (dries clear)
• disposable chopstick for mixing glue
• foam brush
• LIGHTLY dampened white soft cloth
• water-base polycrylic
• brown parcel paper for backing

Step 1

To make a CD cover collage, gather CD covers together. If there are no willing CD cover donors in your home (aka teens), you can buy used CD covers on Ebay. Dive into a bin if you have to. However you get them, they are so varied in design that just a few will make an interesting collage.

Step 2

Remove insert.Take the cardboard insert (and glass, if any) out of your frame. If it's not at least 1/8" thick cut an additional piece of cardboard for backing and glue the two cardboard inserts together. This is the canvas for your CD cover collage.

Step 3

Play with layout. To make a CD cover collage, cut the CD covers first in square shapes, exactly where the folds are. Keep long pieces too if the graphics are pleasing to you. Play with their arrangement on the cardboard until you are satisfied with the look you're getting. You may discover an even more interesting layout as you progress; this is the beauty of this art.

 Step 4

Mix white glue in a bowl for the CD cover collage with some hot water drizzled over the glue through your fingers. Add a little at a time. If unsure, start with a teaspoon of hot water; it must not be watery, but smooth and thin in texture.

Mix with chopstick. With your brush, apply a thin coat of glue on cardboard where you want your first piece to go. 

Step 5

Gently dab excess glue. Continue layering and gluing the CD cover collage. With your VERY lightly dampened cloth, gently dab any air bubbles with each piece. Remove any big glob or streaks of glue on the collage as you go.

Tear a cover's edge for interest, or cut out song lyrics to layer on top. When finished, let dry well.