Along with pretty much any and all adult hobbies, we predicted that magazine collaging would make a comeback in 2025. Now, with vacation season approaching, we have a new idea for rediscovering this nostalgic craft: a dream vacation collage. This simple and mindful activity lets you flex your creativity in a fun, low-pressure manner while resulting in meaningful artwork to display in your home. Like a vision board, hanging up a collage inspired by your personal perfect vacay can motivate you to complete the steps needed to buy that plane ticket.

If you’re interested in trying it out for yourself, here are the three steps you need to know to make a custom piece of art inspired by the trip you’ve always wanted to go on. 

1. Choose Your Medium

First things first, decide how you’d like to create your collage. While you can’t go wrong with paper and glue, it’s certainly not your only option. For those who are more tech-minded, digital collaging may be for you.

The digital route can also be an easier method for beginners. While you don’t need much to make a physical collage, if you don’t have the necessary supplies on hand, it can mean an extra trip to the store—and sourcing imagery online is undoubtedly simpler than cutting out your photos and words.

That said, we must also advocate for the old-fashioned art of collaging: There’s something so mindful and relaxing about crafting with your hands, so we’d encourage you to try it if it’s accessible to you.

For those interested in digital collaging, there are plenty of free online tools to help you get started. You’re probably aware of Canva, the graphic design platform that’s known for being extremely intuitive to use—plus, you can play around with all kinds of cute fonts, stickers, and borders. For images, Google is, of course, the most accessible resource. Alvarez-Borland also suggests using free stock image sites like Unsplash or Pexels.

2. Gather Materials

If you plan to collage with physical materials, the next step is to gather everything you need for the project. Alvarez-Borland recommends using thick card stock, poster board, or canvas board to form a sturdy base. You’ll also need glue to stick things down—a standard bottle or Mod Podge are both reliable, classic options. Next comes the fun part: finding your images! 

There are myriad ways to find vacation-inspired images for your collage, from travel magazines to Pinterest to old posters and more. Ultimately, the theme of your collage and the destination you’re manifesting factor into the best spot for sourcing your photos.

“Start by gathering images that capture the feeling of your dream trip—think beach sunsets, cozy mountain cabins, vibrant city streets… whatever speaks to your wanderlust,” Alvarez-Borland says. Don’t be afraid to layer textures like tissue paper, maps, or even ticket stubs for dimension.”

3. Get Designing

Once you’ve gathered your materials, it’s time to lay everything out. This can feel intimidating at first, but remember that you don’t need to start gluing things down right away. 

“For beginners, my advice is don’t overthink it—just start cutting and playing around with layouts,” Alvarez-Borland says. 

Have fun experimenting with textures, shapes, and colors in different configurations until you’re happy with how things look. Perhaps you want to create a scene that looks and feels realistic, or maybe you want to recreate an iconic landmark using interesting photos and textures. Focus on flexing your creativity rather than getting it to look “perfect.” If you’re having a hard time deciding on the design, turn to Pinterest or TikTok for inspiration.

“Once you’re happy with your design, Mod Podge or glue everything down, let it dry, and pop it in a pretty frame,” Alvarez-Borland says. “It’s instant, meaningful wall art and a little daily reminder to dream big.”