Scrappy Vases: Playful Collage & Mixed Media Sketchbook Idea
Do you ever stare at your paper scraps and wonder, what now? This sketchbook idea might be exactly what your creative brain needs. In this video, I’m showing you how I use completely random collage scraps to create playful little vases, filled with real or imagined flowers, and brought to life with mixed media.
It’s not about making a masterpiece. It’s about experimenting, layering, scribbling, and discovering what feels good on the page. The goal? To loosen up, have fun, and maybe fall in love with the unexpected.
You can watch the full video, or scroll down for a quick materials list and step-by-step process so you can try it yourself.
Materials You Need:
Paper scraps (anything goes. Leftover collage bits, old drawings, envelopes, packaging… you name it)
Glue stick
Sketchbook or piece of paper
Something to draw with (I use a Micron pen, but anything works)
Something to add color (markers, paint, watercolor, pencils, whatever’s within reach)
How to Make Scrappy Vases
Start with scraps
Grab your random bits of paper and just start gluing them into your sketchbook. Don’t overthink the placement, just go with what feels interesting.
Add flowers (real or made up)
Use your pen or pencil to draw flowers sprouting from the top of each vase. Think real flowers, doodles, weird organic shapes. Anything goes.
Bring in color and texture
This is where it gets fun. Add watercolor splashes, scribbles with colored pencil, bold strokes of acrylic marker… just let loose. See what happens.
Don’t worry about the result
Seriously. The point is to play. To explore. To figure out what excites you and what doesn’t. This is your creative playground.
Want more sketchbook play?
If you liked this idea, you might also enjoy my Scrappy Collage Flipthrough. This is a video where I walk through my favorite intuitive collage pages made with scraps, scribbles, and layers of experimentation.
Let me know if you tried scrappy vases yourself.
