Layered Tissue Paper Collages

Do you have left over crepe paper from birthday parties? Do you save gift wrapping tissue hoping to reuse it? Here is a funky art project that uses both of these supplies in a creative way. Gather these supplies up at the table and have some fun creating and connecting with your kids!

Materials You Will Need 

• A variety of crepe paper and/or gift wrap tissue paper
• Mod Podge or glue 
• Cup of water
• Large paint brushes
• Watercolor paper (I strongly recommend using this as opposed to other papers because of how absorbent it is and how well it holds up to the water)

Let's Get Creating!

• Mix a small amount of Mod Podge or glue in with your cup of water. 
• If you plan ahead to do this project, soak your paper in gluey water in a shallow pan for about 10-15 minutes. If you forget or just don't have the time (like me), you can just brush it on but you will have to do it more than once as the paper dries.
• Once paper is wet, tear pieces of crepe and tissue and being laying them on the paper. Be organic and spontaneous, following your impulses. Crumple it, wrinkle it, smooth it out. Just have fun and experiment.

• After you lay down a few pieces, blot some of your gluey water on top of the tissue or crepe paper. 

• Keep going... layering and adding pieces to your creative heart's content!

• Here's my finished piece. I will note, when it's dry the crepe paper isn't as transparent as it is here, so, unfortunately, I lost some of the cool layering effects. If you can think of a way to capture this, let me know!

• In the end, paint over your entire piece with a layer of Mod Podge or slightly thinned glue. 

We had to let Kellan get involved as well. He practically demanded it. Being on my back in the Kangapack wasn't enough, he had to have his own pieces of tissue and a paintbrush. It's such a cool sensory experience for him, how could I refuse?