How to Make Marbled Collage Paper with Easy Marble

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After taking my yearly break to launch Collage Joy, followed by my annual beach retreat, I’m back with a brand-new series of art demos for Tune In Tuesday! First up: a technique that has stolen my heart – creating gorgeous marbled collage papers using a product called Easy Marble.

This method is fast, wildly fun, and totally addictive. It’s also unlike anything I’ve taught before, and it can be applied to almost anything. Paper, glass, envelopes, seashells, even that old wine stopper in your junk drawer. If it can be dipped, it can be marbled.

Let me walk you through how Easy Marble works, what you’ll need, and a few tips to help you get started making marbled collage papers.

What Is Easy Marble?

Easy Marble is a solvent-based resin product that behaves a lot like oil paint. It floats on water and allows you to create dreamy, marbled patterns that instantly transfer to whatever you dip into mixture. Because it’s solvent-based, it can be a little messy, so gloves are a must, and you’ll want to protect your clothes and workspace.

The Process

1. Fill your tray with just ¼ to ½ inch of cool tap water. You don’t need much.

2. Shake your Easy Marble bottles well and open them before you start pouring. Once the paint hits the water, the clock is ticking, so ya gotta be quick!

3. Drip colors onto the surface of the water. They’ll float and expand.

4. Use a pointed tool to swirl the surface into a pattern you like.

5. Dip your paper or object, let the paint adhere, and lift to reveal the magic.

Each marbling setup is good for about 90 seconds before it starts to dry and become unusable, so work quickly and have your paper or objects ready to go.

Along the way, I learned that cooler water is essential, and the marbling doesn’t behave well in warm or hot water (whoops!). I love subtle designs, so I was drawn to creating simpler patterns that will complement and blend into my collages, and I experimented with mixing up colors to play with during this process.

Also, don’t toss your failed papers! You can add a layer of marble and completely transform a paper that you thought was unusable.

I had so much fun filming this one, and honestly, it was hard to stop. Once you see what’s possible, you’ll start looking around your house wondering, What else can I marble?

 

4 Quick Tips for Using Easy Marble

1. Wear gloves. Trust me—this stuff loves to stick to your skin.

2. Prep your colors ahead of time. Shake and uncap before you start pouring.

3. Keep your water cool. Room temperature or cool water works best.

4. Limit your sessions to 30 minutes (or work in a well-ventilated space) to avoid feeling woozy from the solvent smell.

Happy marbling, my friends. I can’t wait to see what you dip, swirl, and create.

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The Supplies to Create These Papers:

Easy Marble by Marabu
Mixed Media paper, 108 lbs 
Old collage papers you want to enhance or revive
Any papers or 3-dimensional objects you want marble – almost anything works!
A container to hold room temperature to cold tap water
Toothpick, skewer or something with a point

*Some links are affiliate links which pay a small commission to support the production of this art demo series, while not costing you anything more.

 

Are you interested in learning more about how to incorporate your collage papers into your art?

Check out my Collage Workshops!