How to Create Collage Art with a Dictionary, Vintage Photographs, and Other Collage Elements

Augusten Burroughs, or at least his wacky psychotherapist's family, invented Bible Dipping. When any member of the family had a question and needed to speak directly to the big guy (aka God, not Santa Claus), he'd grab the dictionary, flip open to a page at random and stick a finger on the page for the answer. It didn't often make sense, hell, half the time the answer was down right inappropriate--though what part of Burroughs life wasn't?--but it was a method that had a higher success rate that prayer. So they kept doing it.

Me, I love dictionaries. I'll grab a dictionary, flip it open at random, and there's a brand-new word somewhere on that page that I've never read, let alone heard spoken out loud or heard used in a conversation. But reading a dictionary? That's not enough for me. I desecrate 'em. Rip out pages, cut out dictionary entries, glue the little pieces of paper to anything and everything, all in the name of Art, that most holy* act of creation. (*You might argue that the act of conception is holier than creation, but I've seen some of the lewd things people do in bedrooms--hell, I've done a few--and ain't nothing holy about bumpin' uglies.)

Want to use a dictionary to inspire your creative process? Here's what you do. Buy an old dictionary at the local thrift store. You'll also need thick cardboard cut to fit your choice of recycled frame, Modge Podge, colored charcoals, a paintbrush, tissue paper in your choice of color, and some old magazines. You might want to include colored photocopies of some vintage photographs, scrapbook paper, and glitter.

Tear out a page at random from the dictionary. Choose a word as your theme. I generally go with the first word that catches my eye or point at a word at random and use that. If you really can't use the first word, you can always choose your own word from the page, but when you do, you risk letting the logical, ultra-verbal part of your brain disrupt your creative process, by telling you what a stupid word you choose or how maybe you should have chosen a different one.

Pick up the charcoals and color the cardboard background. I like to use variations of a color theme--three shades of green, perhaps--to add extra dimension to the background. Use your fingers to rub the charcoal into the background, letting the colors mix together. Your hands will be filthy when you are finished, but being messy is part of the fun. When you like the colors on the background, use the paintbrush to coat the background with a solid layer of Modge Podge, which if you aren't already familiar with it, is a crafty gal's wet dream.

While the background dries, flip through your old magazines or other scrapbook supplies to find an image (or a series of images) that call to you. Cut out the picture. Using the small squares of ripped tissue paper and Modge Podge, make a silhouette of your picture. Allow to dry then glue your picture on top. Glue the dictionary entry to your collage, whether it's at the end or part of the process, and when you are finished, give everything a nice thick layer of Modge Podge and dry overnight. The next morning, frame and enjoy!