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Beautiful, Unexpected, and Totally Magical
This December, I am sharing six brand‑new collage paper techniques as part of my Countdown to Collage Breakthrough.
Today, we’re making bread texture collage papers. Yes… bread. And I promise you, this kitchen staple can create some of the most mysteriously beautiful textures you’ve ever added to your collage stash.
By the end of this month, you’ll have a full, harmonious collection of papers ready for Collage Breakthrough, my free New Year’s workshop where we’ll create four collage projects using simple-but-powerful composition principles.
But before we get there… let’s make collage papers with bread!
Why Bread Works So Well
To make these prints, you want bread with lots of holes (more texture, the better). A slightly stale slice works beautifully because the paint sits on the surface rather than soaking into the bread too deeply. I even grabbed a bag of bagels because I couldn’t resist playing with different shapes.
What I love about this technique is how versatile it is. You can adjust the pressure for different textures, and layer your colors to create rich and atmospheric papers.
And the best part? You can use any paper in your stash – old book pages, bills, dud collage papers, copy paper, rice paper, mixed media paper… they all respond differently to the texture of the bread.
Mixing Paint With Intention
Just like in Collage Breakthrough, I’m thinking in values as I work (light, medium, and dark) and whether the papers are “patterned” or “quiet.”
For today’s papers, I mixed blue + yellow (my two primaries), a touch of white, and a little black when I needed a deeper value.
Bread printing is naturally unpredictable, but understanding value gives you control over how your final papers will work together.
How to Make Bread Texture Prints
1. Load the Bread
You can roll paint on, but I prefer brushing it directly onto the bread, which it helps to push paint into the little holes so the texture shows up more clearly.
2. Press and Lift
Experiment with pressure.
Light pressure = more pattern
Heavier pressure = more quiet, dense color
Both are useful, and both can be layered over each other.
3. Layer for Depth
Often, the second or third impression is even more interesting than the first.
And if a paper isn’t quite working – don’t give up! Just add another layer.
Bread is incredibly forgiving.
Patterned Papers vs. Quiet Papers
This technique can create both. Whether you’re looking for patterned papers with bold and organic textures, or quiet papers with soft and subtle fields of color.
Warm vs. Cool Papers
I created papers in both palettes during this demo, and the warm ones almost tempted me to switch palettes for Collage Breakthrough. But for the workshop, we work in either warm or cool to make composition much easier in the beginning. You can absolutely make both now, but when we start the projects in January, you’ll choose one palette to focus on.
After everything dries, I sort each sheet into light, medium and dark patterned papers; then light, medium, and dark quiet papers.
This bread printing technique is just one of six that we’re exploring during December. By the time Collage Breakthrough begins, you’ll have your own stash of harmonious, beautiful papers ready to use.
✨ Click here to join me for Collage Breakthrough — my free New Year’s workshop.
You’ll create four collages using simple design principles that will completely transform your work.
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The Supplies to Create These Papers:
Bread with lots holes, stale is better than fresh!
1″ paint brush
Choose one or more papers:
Rice Paper , Drawing paper 80 lbs, or Copy paper
Old book pages, old painted collage paper
Acrylic paint using 2 paint colors (watch color video)
Palette paper or plastic plate to mix paint on
Are you interested in learning more about how to incorporate your collage papers into your art?
Check out my Collage Workshops!
