Virginia A. Spiegel

Eye Spy
Sherryl Buchler
7.75″x7.5″
Read more about this collage donated to Collage Mania on Sherryl’s blog.

I hope this FAQ answers many of the questions I have been receiving about how to mount your collages for Collage Mania. If not, e-mail me at Virginia(at)VirginiaSpiegel.com and I will add more information here.

No More Time
Patty VanHuis Cox
10″x8″
Read more about this collage for Collage Mania on Patty’s blog. It was donated in memory of her father.

1. What is Bristol board? Here’s Mister Art’s description. You can certainly buy more expensive and heavier varieties, but I buy a pad of this 300 series and cut it down to the size I need. You can buy it at chain craft stores, such as Michaels, and, of course, art stores such as Mister Art and Dick Blick. If you can find it at your locally-owned art or craft store, hey, I’m all for that. It is called “board” but it really is a very heavy paper.

2. What is mat board? Again, here’s a description at Mister Art. You can also buy it a Dick Blick, some craft stores, and, of course, at framers. Make sure it is acid-free and white or neutral.

3. Do I have any other options for backings? Yes, you may buy a precut mat sized to your collage, but the overall size with backing board must still be 10×8″. Be sure you also receive a backing board on which to mount your collage. I’m sure you know the drill: Acid-free, white or neutral.

Update on January 31: Also now acceptable is creating a collage on 10×8″ archival artists’ canvas panel. Click here for an example.

Update on February 27: Also now acceptable is creating and/or mounting your collage on 10×8″ 140 lb. or 300 lb. watercolor paper.

4. How do I attach my collage to my backing?
What follows are some of the ways which have worked well for me. Please leave a comment if you have other suggestions.

Primarily paper: Self-adhesive linen mounting tape (here is one example). Acid-free adhesive of your choice such as: gel medium (I use Golden soft matte per Lesley Riley’s suggestion), Mistyfuse (seriously!), Xyron, and acid-free glues and adhesives. Go to a craft or office supply store and you will be amazed at the variety of acid-free adhesives available and their many forms.

I have heard good things about Yes! paste, but it is so thick that I have pretty much given up on it. Here is another view on Yes! and other adhesives. But, remember that we ARE concerned with acid-free.

Primarily fabric: You can, with care, sew fabric to either Bristol or mat board using your sewing machine. Lengthen your stitch so you don’t end up making a perforated line. You can also punch two little holes under just the top two corners or all four corners of your collage while it is laying on the backing in its correct position. Then just sew the collage to the board. You can also use Mistyfuse or other fusible depending on the thickness of your piece.

Update on February 5. Cynthia St. Charles generously shares her method of mounting her collages to the backing board used with a precut mat:
I have found that an acid free glue stick works wonderfully for mounting my paper and cloth collages to a backing board. I apply a generous coat of glue stick to the art. Covering it completely. I put it in place, then burnish it or rub smooth with my hands to get complete adhesion. Then, I place it under a flat weight for 24 hours. This results in a very clean, smooth bond that seems to hold up well. Occasionally, I will coat my paper art with mat medium, but usually, I don’t bother. I used this same technique when I made all my fiber art postcards for FFAC. I am not sure a glue stick would be good for anything much bigger than an 8×10 because it dries so quickly. I am so glad a glue stick works for this because I have chemical sensitivities and even mat medium tends to give me a headache. The glue stick I use is non-toxic and odorless.

5. Why do I have to mount my collage on a backing? This is to ensure that your patron will receive a piece ready to be framed and enjoyed.

6. How do I sign and date my work? This is another good reason for mounting your collage on a backing of mat or Bristol board. Write, in pencil, the title of your work under the left bottom edge of your collage and sign your name, followed by the year under the right bottom edge of your collage.

7. And, as long as we are discussing all the technical details of Collage Mania, here are a few shipping hints. An easy way to protect your collage when you ship it to your patrons is to use a sheet protector. Cut the edge with the punched holes off and slip your collage inside. If your collage is on Bristol board, tape the sheet protector with the collage inside to thin cardboard or poster board before shipping. If you are going to be shipping more collages in the future, check out Clear Envelopes. I use padded envelopes to ship collages. It’s probably not necessary, but why not add another layer of protection for your artwork?

Again, comments, questions and suggestions welcome.

Reminder - The deadline to participate in my million hit opinion survey is noon CST today, January 24.

Sampler No. 12
Francesca Burra
6″x4″

I will be featuring some of the wonderful collages for Collage Mania II as their jpegs are accepted prior to the April 1 deadline. There will be a preview of ALL the collages starting April 28 for the week prior to the opening of Collage Mania II on May 5.

The above collage by Francesca Burras of England is truly a mixed-media artwork with materials including vintage, commercial and handmade papers; transparencies; lace, cheesecloth, Angelina and felt; card; acrylics paints and metallic waxes; and found objects. Francesca’s website is here and do visit her new blog.

Delta
Louise Schiele
7″hx5w”
Marbelized silk noil, tissue lame, rubber stamp,
computer printing to organza

This is one of three collages with a very interesting fish theme that Louise has donated and blogged about here. Visit Louise’s website here.

I welcome Fiber Art Traders to Collage Mania II. Under the guidance of their List Mom, the Energizer Bunny herself, Normajean Brevek, the FAT yahoo group has undertaken Collage Mania II as a service project.

Thank you, Louise, Francesca, and FAT members for supporting Collage Mania II, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause.

Reminder: The deadline for participating in my opinion survey (see Monday’s post) to celebrate over a million hits is noon Thursday.

Fire in the Forest

If you didn’t know about sumac’s bright red color, you would think that I Photoshopped this. Oh, no. Sumac is a great plant, but very “rambling.” I made the mistake once of bring home a sumac from my parents’ woods and planting it in my front yard. When we moved, I left the new owners a note to be very serious about cutting down any baby sumacs that sprouted. One day you have one sumac, the next year you have a hundred. But, oh, the color in the Fall and Winter.

In case you missed it, please see yesterday’s post for an opportunity to participate in a little opinion survey.

July 26

I finally took the time to look at my summary stats for last year. That’s right 1,826,933 hits.

My stats include both my blogs and website, but, still! Over 51,000 unique visitors stopped by for 97,896 visits. I really had no idea.

Thank you, dear readers! I think this deserves a little appreciation gift on my part. I will be giving away the above artwork to one lucky reader. (The deadline has now passed for completing the opinion survey to be entered in the drawing. Thank you for all your comments. I will announce the winner on Friday. )

Stone House Window by Denise Aumick
10” x 8”
Photo, modeling paste, plaster tape, acrylic paints, pigments.

Denise Aumick was the first artist to have her jpeg accepted for Collage Mania to benefit the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause. There is a great story behind this collage which you can read here on Denise’s blog.

Four other artists’ jpegs have been accepted and you can see their collages on their blogs:

Sue Bleiwiess
Michelle Bonds
Terri Stegmiller
Judy Carpenter

Here is more information about how to submit your collage jpegs. Please read the submission guidelines carefully. The deadline to submit jpegs of collages you wish to donate is April 1.

The first 50 artists whose jpegs are accepted can choose one of my ATCs with a drawing for the last 10 ATCs. You can see all the ATCs here.

Collage Mania II will be held May 5 and 6 on my website. There will be a Collage Mania II preview page with more information for patrons prior to that date and all available collages will be posted a week in advance so you have time to study your choices.

100% of proceeds are donated directly to the ACS through Fiberart For A Cause.