How to Source Collage Material: Where to Find Collage Material for Cheap and Collect Materials

The Flanzella Collage College is now open! Let's learn about how to source your own vintage collage materials and brainstorm other ways to get papers. For the past 4 years I have been deep in the rabbit hole of vintage papers and it's all thanks to these methods!
Join my Collage Club Discord Channel: / discord
❤ Products ❤
Art Prints, Collage Kits, Stickers, & More!
Website (Art Prints): www.flanzella....
VIEW ALL ON MY STOREFRONT
Collage tools, camera gear, etc.
Canada www.amazon.ca/...
USA www.amazon.com...
Like my music? Get your Artlist Subscription here and get 2 additional months free:
bitly.ws/3bMZU
_
❤ See more on my other platforms ❤
Website (Art Prints): www.flanzella....
Instagram: / flanzella
Tik Tok: / flanzella
Business Inquiries: [e-mail]

[@user-oy1jb1zr6g]

Goodwill clearance centers sell by weight. They have huge bins with books and mags on their last leg. I think items that are not deemed worthy of their main stores are sent there, as well as items that did not sell. Perfect for junk journals and Collage. Thank you for your tips!

[@flanzella]

That's a great one! Ours here still usually is by book which is still quite expensive. I'll have to check it out though!

[@sherilegacy8870]

My mom lives in a 60+ building and they have a “give away” table where you can find anything from old magazines to a can of sardines..😂 I asked my mom to keep her eyes out for magazines for me and grab them for me if she sees them! (I even “donate” to the table so I feel like I’m being fair lol

[@flanzella]

That is so cool! I'm sure some weird things will turn up there 😂 I love the community aspect of that though! How fun!

[@deborahneumann9162]

Wonderful video, as always. 🙂 Where I presently live, our county Library sends old books and videos to the County Warehouse, a place where businesses will send no longer needed office equipment, furniture (even a piano once), etc. You never know what you are going to find there. Since I am also into Gel Plate Printing (to make some of my collage papers), it seems there is always an abundance of large commercial-sized boxes of envelopes, paper, and so forth. I've even bought 10 accordian folder boxes, which I use to sort my collage papers and other ephemera used for collage. All of the books that they want to get rid of goes there. All books are only $.25 (as are the movies) and I find endless varieties of books, including huge coffee table books, historical books, old books, new books... ad infinitum. A massive resource for Me. Believe Me when I tell you that you can buy a LOT of books at $.25 a piece! LOL LOL

[@flanzella]

Oh my goodness! This is so amazing. It's nice to hear from multiple people that there are centres for this. I wonder if they exist where I am from, but I doubt it since real estate is so expensive it would be impossible to operate! Getting books for that cheap is dangerous, I'd have so many 😂

[@deborahneumann9162]

Dangerous is putting it LIGHTLY!!! LOL LOL I have found INCREDIBLE books that are 'graphic novels' with every page in 'blue ink'...wording and pictures... pretty wild. I've even found books that all the pages are designed to have a 'swirly smokey' effect for emphasis. I find graphic medical books that I cut up body parts to use in surreal imagery. - - - You could check with local libraries and ask them what they do with the books that don't sell at yearly Book Sale Events. Maybe your local county office would know if they have a warehouse for such things. Yep! Dangerous is PACKING them ALL to MOVE out of state in 6 weeks!! I need about 4 Marines to load the truck! (I'm serious!) Fortunately, I live in a military town in NC... easy access. LOL I am SUCH a HUGE fan of your work... loving the Retro Vibes. I was born in 1950, so you see where I'm coming from. LOL If you had an email address, I would love to show you some of my work - hear your thoughts. I've just gotten a rough draft a couple days ago from my Graphic Designer/Printer (I wish I had the skills to do what you do - your own digitizing) of turning my 'images, their narratives and collage name' into Motivational Posters (20x30). I used to be a Life Coach (one of my long list of Faces and Hats I possess). So, I have a LOT to say in this upside-down world we seem to exist in. I trust by looking at my images and narratives combined, the viewer can step into the pictured-words in a thought-provoking manner and perhaps find it helpful to navigate the treacherous waters we swim in these days. :) I also used to be a Newspaper Reporter/Columnist... LOVE to write; can you tell? LOL LOL I texted the draft to a precious friend of mine - a Therapist who specialized in PTSD for the military and now does private practice. She flipped at the concept and ordered the entire series (15 in the series) to frame all of them for her office... and they aren't even done yet. And she wants to spread the word in her industry. Whew! :) Didn't see that one coming! LOL I just want to express my Gratitude for learning SO much from your Expertise... VERY much appreciated. At 73, I'm just a BUDDING 'Narrative Collage Architect./Surreal Imagery Design'.. began at 71 in the beginning of the Pandemic. I cannot draw, paint, etc... ad infinitum. BUT I found out that I CAN 'Paint with Paper'. LOL When lockdown hit, KZbin became my BEST Friend... and You were one of the very first videos that popped into my feed from the Cosmos... hence, where I am today... a Sprout In The Forest Of Art! THANK YOU! Thank You... Thank You!!! MUCH Love & RESPECT... Deborah@@flanzella

[@papabear2515]

Loved this video! We have a local “recycling center” where we can access books and magazines for free! Sometimes it’s a “feast” and other times, it’s “famine”! Rarely are there vintages there, but I also have scored some older magazines at yard sales and thrift stores, etc. Of course, the prices have increased over time, but still overall pretty affordable. I’m grateful for that! I have accessed wallpaper books at paint/decor vendors and library sales too. There are some really good resources for images! And, I agree, that word of mouth is the BEST way to find connections for magazines, books and other goodies! Loved catching the replay your 5K video! Sorry I missed it live! All of the collages you made were spectacular! Congrats on the digital download collage book! Really appreciate your passion, talents and sharing so generously!

[@flanzella]

That sounds amazing 😍 I'd be addicted to going and checking it out very often. No worries about missing the livestream, glad you enjoyed the replay! And thank you!!!

[@lilyraymond573]

WAIT I am so excited for your book!!! Definitely will be ordering💕 Thank you for being my comfort youtuber! Most of my inspiration and motivation comes when you post!!

[@flanzella]

This comment means so much to me, thank you Lily ❤️ glad I can be there for your comfort and help inspire your art practice. Much appreciated ☺️

[@artpiratecollage]

Here in the UK, we have charity shops, which used to be a gold mine for my source material, however the type of books and magazines I like to use are more increasingly rare, and the shops now compete with sellers on eBay, however I have bought recently more from charity stores on that platform. Car boot sales used to be good too.

[@flanzella]

Ah! Well I hope you're able to still find some, may just take more time now. I loved the charity shops when I lived in London! They were such a treasure mine!

[@artpiratecollage]

@@flanzella yes they were, and maybe in London they still might be. I live in a small town, so pickings are slim.

[@user-pk1fj1jf1r]

I visit the recycle center. Sometimes there are some magazines and catalogs.

[@cathyrae8323]

Great info!

[@TheMaverickNest]

The recycling center we use has a giant container for magazines. If it is getting full, I can get them out and take them home (I would never dumpster dive). I agree that if you tell people you will get so much material. I use more current magazines (I don’t sell my art) like Vogue or Architectural Digest. My company has a system where you can buy “rewards” using points. I was able to buy 8 year long subscriptions with my points. I also like catalogs with my favorite being Johnny Was, which I get for free just by requesting it. But I’ve even used images the catalog from Cabela’s before, again, sent to me free.

[@ChristineScott-s6h]

Love this video, nice to hear how others find papers to work with fir collaging!

[@flanzella]

Thanks! I'm hoping the comments also come up with some amazing ideas 😋 hopefully it'll be a good resource.

[@mglouise97]

I love thrifting magazines! Where I live in the US they're 50 cents each

[@flanzella]

That is a DREAM! I wish that was the case!

[@megansimonson]

Where I live we have a reuse centre, and it used to be pay by the pound but now everything is free! You have to go often to make sure you can source something useful but every so often there’s a treasure trove. The first time I went there was about 50 Nat Geos and I assumed that was normal and I was overwhelmed so I only took 4…. Haven’t seen any since 😬 oops. They have categories like magazines, calendars, greeting cards and postcards which I’ve sourced!

[@flanzella]

That is so cool 😁 that is such a great source that I'm sure makes your collage unique to you!

[@rebeccaelliot6586]

How is it that you're making this video series but not wearing your sweatshirt that says "COLLAGE" in college-style block letters?!

[@flanzella]

LOL 😂 I try to mix it up but you are 100% right, it should be my uniform!!!