Using Your Audubon and Audubon Florida Naturalist Magazines to Make Art

What do you do when the Audubon or Audubon Florida's Naturalist magazines come to your door? Read them cover to cover of course! And since we know you want to remember them into the future, we come to you with another art project: collage trading cards.

We've previously created tutorials for making art from field guides and using bird-inspired Pokémon to connect with trading card fans - this project melds these ideas when making collages. 

What you need: scissors, glue, magazines, backing paper.

Step 1: Pick out a magazine.

It could be the Audubon magazine, the Naturalist, or any other mag you have lying around. You can also print photos from online to use.

Step 2: Cut out your trading card.

Trading cards come in at 2.5 inches wide by 3.5 inches tall. We recommend using cardstock for your backing if you tend to be heavy handed with the glue. Cut out as many as you want to make (or you can order blank trading card-sized pages online).

Step 3: Cut out birds and other interesting images from the magazines.

It's easiest to cut out a small pile to begin. You can pick and choose what might work, without being overwhelmed by options.

Step 4: Arrange the pictures on your card.

Try a few different arrangements before you make final decisions. Play around with assemblages, colors, and more.

Step 5: Glue.

Start with the pictures that will be on the bottom of your card (the bottom layer) and build up until you've covered all the space on the card.

Step 6: Turn the card over and trim any edges. 

Now you're done. Congrats! Share and trade your work with other enthusiasts.