Photo Collage Art with Decoupage

Sure, you can print out your favorite photos and put them in an album, or, you can turn them into art with Aleene’s Premium Decoupage! Decoupage makes it so easy to create collage art with your favorite memories, and there’s really no wrong way to do it – the creative process is entirely up to you! Craft Box Girls will show you how to make photo collage art with Aleene’s Premium Decoupage that’s perfect for gift giving or displaying in your own space where you can enjoy your favorite memories for years to come.

What you need:
- Aleene’s Premium Decoupage – matte or gloss
- Canvas – desired size
- Acrylic paint – desired colors + white (COLORSHOT Acrylic Paint used for this project) 
- Paint palette
- Plastic cup
- Foam brush
- Paintbrush
- Cardstock in desired colors
- Printed paper photos
- Letter stickers

Step 1

For this project, you can use any size and shape of canvas that you like. Choose paint and cardstock colors that coordinate, then get ready to have some creative fun!

Step 2

Start by painting your canvas with acrylic paints. Craft Box Girls chose to create an ombre-style base for her project, but you can create any style or designs you like. To paint ombre effects, start with your darkest color on the top edge of the canvas and brush and blend it downward.

Step 3

On a paint palette, mix some white paint into the darker shade to create a lighter version, then brush and blend it below the darker shade on the canvas. 

Step 4

You can continue to blend in more white paint directly on the canvas until you reach the center, then flip it over and repeat the process on the other side with other coordinating paint colors.

Step 5

Once you're happy with the effects, let the paint dry completely.

Step 6

Now it's time to cut out your photos! First cut around each image, cutting out any background sections you don't want in your artwork. Then hold each cutout in place over cardstock and cut around the cardstock in the same outline as your photos. Make the cardstock about inch bigger than the photo so it creates a colorful border.

Step 7

When you're ready to start creating your photo collage, get out your Aleenes Decoupage! Pour some into a disposable plastic cup and grab your foam brush for this part of the project.

Step 8

Brush a coat of decoupage onto the surface of your canvas (directly over the dry paint).

Step 9

Brush a thin layer of decoupage onto the back of the colored cardstock and press in place on the canvas (while the decoupage is still wet), smoothing the cardstock from the center out to the edges. Repeat on the back side of the coordinating photo and press in place over the cardstock.

Step 10

Decide how you want to layer the next set of photos over the base photo for your collage art, then repeat the process with decoupage and the cardstock and photo.

Step 11

Press and smooth the photo and cardstock layered in place over the base photo.

Step 12

Once youve decoupaged all of your photos in place on the canvas, brush another coat of decoupage over the top of the canvas to seal your artwork.

Step 13

If you're using letter stickers, press them in place on the canvas art for an extra special touch! Seal the stickers with another coat of decoupage and let everything dry completely.

Step 14

It's pretty easy to make your own photo collage art with decoupage, right?

Step 15

Collage art on canvas is such a fun way to display your favorite memories, or give as a special personalized gift to family and friends.

Step 16

What kind of collage art are you making with Aleenes Premium Decoupage? Tag us on social @aleenesdiy and share with us!