| The word "collage", as defined by the | | | | on one day, gather magazines and decorative items |
| Merriam-Webster dictionary, refers to "an artistic | | | | the next few, spend another day cutting out items |
| composition made of various materials (as paper, | | | | designing the layout, and spend the final day |
| cloth or wood) glued on a surface." It is derived from | | | | assembling your personal masterpiece. |
| the French verb, coller, which means to glue. Collages | | | | 5. Create a place. |
| are fun to create and can be incorporated as a useful | | | | Create a quiet space and time to sit down to work |
| coaching tool. You might encourage your clients to | | | | on your collage. Select the best time of day and your |
| make collages around different things, qualities, ideas, | | | | favorite day of the week that works for you. You |
| and opportunities that they wish to attract into their | | | | may want to play some relaxing music in the |
| life. These personal artistic creations are a powerful | | | | background. You may want to work on it in the early |
| way to make a statement about what you want | | | | morning, at twilight, or even late at night. Pick a |
| most. While there are a lot of techniques you can | | | | special time of day when you feel relaxed and |
| use when designing and developing your collage, here | | | | focused, but excited to use your mind and hands to |
| are some tips to keep in mind. | | | | create your vision on paper. A collage is a wonderful |
| 1. Laying the foundation. | | | | way to invest in yourself; a short vacation to visit |
| You need to find something to create your collage | | | | with your vision! |
| upon. Poster board, which comes in a variety of sizes | | | | 6. Make it your own. |
| and colors, is a good place to start. Large poster | | | | To make sure you are directly connected to your |
| board measures 22 inches by 28 inches and is | | | | work of art, include a photograph of yourself on the |
| available at any office supply store. White is probably | | | | collage or sign your name on it. This "ownership" will |
| the best choice since you can add color, as you | | | | remind you that this collage is made by you and for |
| choose, to the background. You can purchase 8.5 | | | | you. |
| inch by 11 inch packages of colored paper and place | | | | 7. Leave some space. |
| them in various areas on the white board to enjoy a | | | | Make sure to leave some space between the various |
| multicolored background. This is especially nice when it | | | | items you place on your collage. The space |
| highlights or brings out the color in a picture that you | | | | symbolizes the space, clarity, and even the room for |
| place on top of it. You can also paint the background | | | | growth that you desire in your life. Certainly it is fine |
| with a design or solid color, or even use wall paper or | | | | to overlap items, however, don't cover every inch of |
| other decorative scrap book papers to create the | | | | your poster board. You don't want a life that is filled |
| background that you desire. | | | | to the brim with no space for welcoming in new |
| 2. Materials, materials and more materials. | | | | things. |
| You need some basic materials on hand in order to | | | | 8. Words are power. |
| get started, including poster board, scissors, colored | | | | Consider writing phrases, verses, or quotations which |
| pens and pencils, and some glue sticks. A collage is | | | | hold special meaning to you above, below or beside |
| your personal canvas, yours to decorate in any way | | | | the pictures that you include on your collage. You can |
| that you please. Gather magazines and other | | | | search for quotations on the internet by simply |
| materials from which you can cut out pictures, words | | | | typing the word "quotations" in any search engine. |
| and phrases. Add money or coinage, or the scent of | | | | 9. Display your work of art. |
| your favorite perfume or cologne (these scents will | | | | Place your collage where you can see it every day. |
| fade with time). Add colors and designs penned with | | | | Spend time looking at it and thinking about the |
| colored markers or pencils, or even crayons. Add bits | | | | meaning behind the various pictures, words, and |
| of decorative paper, colored string or other | | | | colors you have chosen. Your collage isn't just a |
| ornamentation. Include special photographs. You might | | | | dream, whim, or passing thought, but rather it is a |
| even want to add pressed flowers, a small bag of | | | | living vision that you can access every day. |
| beach sand or other small items which are important | | | | 10. Specialty collages. |
| to creating your masterpiece. Use whatever materials | | | | There are so many things one can do with a collage. |
| you enjoy that will bring your vision to life. Make this | | | | One idea is to create a collage in the shape of a life |
| multi-sensory experience all about you and your | | | | vision wheel. A life vision wheel is a circle, divided into |
| vision. | | | | 8 different sections. Each section represents an |
| 3. Its all about...you. | | | | aspect of your life. It might include: finances, |
| Spend some time thinking about what you want to | | | | spirituality, career, hobbies/interests, romance, friends |
| put on your collage. You might have some preliminary | | | | and family, health, and physical environment. You can |
| ideas about colors and layout. After you have cut | | | | make up the number of categories that works for |
| out pictures, you can mock up your collage and try | | | | you. You could tape several poster boards together |
| laying out things in different formats. Think about | | | | and draw a big circle on them representing each of |
| these questions as you work on your collage: What | | | | these areas. Then you could create mini-collages for |
| do I want to attract for myself or for others? Why | | | | each section. Or, you can create separate collages, |
| am I creating this collage? What special meaning does | | | | each on its own poster board, for specific areas you |
| it have for me? | | | | want to work on, like your health or wealth. The sky |
| 4. Take your time. | | | | is the limit. Have fun with creating collages. They are |
| Rome wasn't built in a day and your collage doesn't | | | | a wonderful tool to support you in creating the vision |
| need to be either. If you're busy, buy the materials | | | | for the life you want to live. |