There will be times when you create painted papers or printed papers that you are unhappy with overall. Instead of throwing out those pages, view them with a viewfinder or an open matte board to see if you can isolate a gem of an area in your composition. Cut out and use that section to collage onto a Hardbord or wood block surface.
Once you find the spot of the paper you want to save, mark it and trim it down using a craft knife and a metal ruler.
In a well-ventilated room, use spray adhesive to adhere your paper to the surface. Be sure to move anything that might be affected by the overspray of the adhesive.
Use your fingers to flatten any bubbles and to slide your design onto the board.
Place a piece of deli paper over your collage and roll the brayer over it to adhere the glue and paper to the surface. Spray adhesive can be tricky to use, as it is extremely sticky. Take care not to move the paper too much. Place a weight over the collage or painted paper.
Trim any excess paper after it has completely dried. Your once less-than-desirable full painted paper/collage is now cropped down into your favorite area of the composition.
If you have a large piece of painted or printed paper, consider cutting it up into multiple pieces. Use a variety of board sizes (6" × 6" [15cm × 15cm], 8" × 8" [20cm × 20cm], 10" × 10" [25cm × 25cm]) to make an interesting display of your collection.