Fun Magazine Scrap Cow Collage

   Hi, everyone!  I've been running here and there the past few days, and I haven't had much time for crafts or blogging, but I'm back now with a very inexpensive and fun art project!  I've mentioned before that I'm working on decorating a room at my mom's house.  I've been trying to think of really inexpensive pieces of art to bring color and fun to the walls.  The room has a farm theme....I know this sounds weird, but it will make sense whenever I get to reveal the finished project.  When I think of farms, I think of cows!  I found some cow prints that were really cute on Etsy, but I wanted a DIY project.
   When I was in fourth grade, we did an art project where we had to choose a bird and make a collage with construction paper.  I don't know why I remember that because I have a horrible memory, but I remember being really proud of my cardinal collage!  So with that and those cute cow prints from Etsy in mind, I decided to make a cow collage.  I knew it would cost next to nothing, and if I didn't like it, I could just trash it!  After finishing the project, I kind of like it.  It looks a little weird maybe, but I think it's fun!  So here is the how-to...
   First, you need to gather your supplies for your collage:

• Image:  First of all, you need an image you would like to make your collage like.  I googled cows and found three pictures I liked that acted as a guide for my collage.
• Canvas:  You need something to glue your collage to that will be pretty sturdy.  (Otherwise, the glue will have it looking all wrinkled.)  You could also use cardboard or wood.  I had some canvases that I bought when they were on sale at Michael's, so I just used one of those that was 8x10.
• Pencil:  You must sketch your image on the your background before you can create your collage.
• Magazines or Patterned Paper:  You need different color paper for your collage.  The cheapest option is magazines, and when you use them, you're recycling!
• Mod Podge:  You need Mod Podge to adhere your paper clippings to your canvas.  Plus, a final coat of Mod Podge over the finished project acts as a sealer.
• Scissors:  You need something to cut all those pages from the magazine into tiny scraps.
• Paint Brush:  This is to apply the Mod Podge.

   After I found my cow photos that I liked, I sketched a very rough image of a cow on my canvas.  It doesn't look all that great, but it doesn't have to.  The final project will almost look like an impressionist piece of art in the end anyway.

    After I had my cow sketched and I had an idea of the colors I wanted to use, I got busy cutting my magazines up.  I found advertisements or articles that used a lot of blue, black, white, and pink because those were the main colors I chose to use.  I tried to find different variations of those colors too because that makes the piece look more "collage-y."  I used my scrapbook paper cropper to cut the paper in strips.  Then I used my scissors to cut the paper into tiny squares.  I put the different colors in different paper plates to keep them separated.  I did this while watching tv, so it wasn't too boring. ;)

   When I had what I thought was enough paper pieces, I started filling in the cow design.  I put Mod Podge on the canvas in the area I was applying the paper.  I used my paint brush to help me get the paper pieces to stick where I wanted them.  If you want to layer the paper, just put more Mod Podge on top of the pieces you have already applied and then add more paper pieces on top.  This is something else I did while watching TV.  It's a bit monotonous.  The only time it gets minutely difficult is when you get near a line where you want to use a different color.  You just have to cut or tear the paper to fit around the line.

   After I FINALLY finished filling in all the blank spaces with paper, I made sure everything looked like I wanted it.  (If you think you need more paper somewhere, just get your paint brush, more Mod Podge, and paper scraps.  You can layer as much or as little as you want.)  Paint the piece with a final coat of Mod Podge to seal it, and your masterpiece is complete!!!
   I guess you probably want to see the finished piece, so here it is!

    I have a thrift store frame I plan on putting this little guy in.  For a piece of art that cost mere pennies, I think it looks pretty good.  ;)

Update:  Here's another cow collage I made.  I think I may like it better than the first!