Make a Surrealist Collage
Create a surrealist collage by cutting images from magazines and combining unexpected elements with glue and paper to explore imagination and visual storytelling.
About this activity
Create a surrealist collage by cutting images from magazines and combining unexpected elements with glue and paper to explore imagination and visual storytelling.
What you need
Step by step
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Step 1
Clear a workspace and cover it with scrap paper or newspaper to protect the table.
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Step 2
Gather all the materials listed and put them within arm’s reach.
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Step 3
Flip through the magazines and choose 8 to 12 images or textures that look interesting or strange.
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Step 4
Carefully cut out each chosen image using scissors while an adult watches.
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Step 5
Pick one piece of plain paper or cardboard to be your collage background.
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Step 6
Place the largest cut-outs on the background to make a basic layout without using glue.
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Step 7
Add smaller cut-outs and move them around to create surprising combinations and unexpected stories.
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Step 8
Glue each piece down starting with the background ones and press them flat so they stick.
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Step 9
Use colouring materials to draw details or color in gaps to help the pieces blend together.
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Step 10
Let your collage dry completely so the glue is no longer tacky.
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Step 11
Write your name and the title of your collage in a small corner with a pencil or marker.
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Step 12
Share your finished surrealist collage on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I make a surrealist collage with my child?
Start by looking through magazines together and picking images that spark curiosity. Brainstorm strange pairings (a fish with a clock, a face on a tree). Help your child safely cut or tear images, then arrange pieces on cardstock without gluing until you like the layout. Glue pieces down, add drawing or paint for extra effects, and give the collage a title or short story. Display it proudly and talk about the ideas behind the images.
What materials do I need for a surrealist collage?
You’ll need old magazines, newspapers, or printed images; a sturdy sheet of paper or cardstock; child-safe scissors and glue stick (or white glue for heavier pieces). Also have a pencil, eraser, colored markers or watercolors, and a protective mat or table covering. Optional extras: textured paper, stickers, washi tape, stamps, and old photos. A smock and a tray for scraps make clean-up easier.
What ages is this surrealist collage activity suitable for?
This activity can be adapted for many ages. Toddlers (with supervision) can stick pre-cut shapes; preschoolers (3–5) enjoy tearing and simple pasting; ages 6–9 can practice cutting and composing unexpected images; tweens and teens can explore deeper themes and mixed media. Always supervise scissors and small pieces, and tailor complexity to each child’s fine motor skills and attention span.
What are the benefits of making surrealist collages with kids?
Surrealist collage boosts creativity, imagination, and visual storytelling while strengthening fine motor skills through cutting and pasting. It encourages risk-taking, problem-solving, and flexible thinking as children combine unrelated elements. Talking about their work builds language and emotional expression. Because materials are inexpensive and reusable, it’s an accessible group or solo activity that also fosters confidence when children display and explain their finished pieces.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use instead of magazines, scissors, or liquid glue if we don't have them?
If you don't have magazines, use printed images or old greeting cards and wrapping paper, and replace liquid glue and scissors with a glue stick or double-sided tape and safety scissors or pre-cut images.
What should we do if pieces curl up or won't stick when we glue them down?
If pieces curl or won't stick, apply a thin layer of glue under the edges, press each glued piece flat with a clean scrap of paper and a heavy book as you glue the background pieces, and then let the collage dry completely as instructed.
How can we change the activity for younger or older kids?
For younger children have an adult pre-cut the magazine images and provide a glue stick and safety scissors, while older kids can use an X‑Acto knife with supervision, paint or textured backgrounds, and invent a more complex title in the final step.
How can we extend or personalize our surrealist collage after finishing the basic steps?
To enhance your collage, add fabric scraps, stickers, or small glued-on 3D items for texture, draw extra details with colouring materials, varnish or laminate after it dries, and then share the finished piece on DIY.org.