How to Create a Cottagecore Collage in Photoshop

Final product image — What You'll Be Creating

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create a scrapbook page in Photoshop that doubles as an Instagram template.

The cottagecore aesthetic in collage is characterized by countryside and celebration of simple living. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create a scrapbook page in Photoshop that includes scrapbook tape PNG files, paper backgrounds, vintage botanicals, and aesthetic pictures with cottagecore vibes.

If you don't have time to learn how to create scrapbook paper in Photoshop, be sure to check out Envato Elements. There are plenty of ready-to-use scrapbook journal graphics and cottagecore art vibes. For a small monthly fee, you can have access to high-quality assets and unlimited downloads. Check them out!

Did you know there's a new collage maker app? Learn about ‘Shuffles’ by Pinterest and how to create a cutout collage!

What You'll Learn in This Cottagecore Collage Tutorial

In this cottagecore aesthetic collage tutorial, you'll learn:

How to create multiple artboards in Photoshop
How to use Adjustment Layers
How to manipulate and transform images
How to export Photoshop artboards

What You'll Need for This Cottagecore Collage Tutorial

For this tutorial, we'll use a number of digital scrapbook paper that will make the design process easier. We'll also use cottagecore art like scrapbook tape PNG files, botanical illustrations, and images of butterflies and moths:

1. How to Create a Photoshop Artboard File for a Cottagecore Collage

Step 1

In Photoshop, go to File > New.

Set the Width and Height to 1080 px on the New Document window. Check the Artboards option. Set the Resolution to 72 dpi.

Click Create.

Create a new Photoshop file with Artboards

Step 2

Select the Artboard with the Selection Tool (V). Press Option-Shift and drag the artboard to the right to duplicate it.

Repeat this step to create a total of three artboards.

2. How to Create the First Cottagecore Collage

Step 1

Locate the 25 Vintage Isolated Papers folder and select the 02.png file, which looks like digital scrapbook paper. Drag it to Artboard 1.

Resize the image to fit the artboard by pressing Command-T to Transform.

Step 2

In the Layers panel, go to Create a New Fill or Adjustment Layer > Solid Color.

In the Color Picker window, set the color to Black.

In the Layers panel, set the layer Blending Mode to Overlay.

Add an adjustment layer and set the Blending Mode to Overlay.

Step 3

Select the Festive Mood image and drop it into Artboard 1. Set the Width and Height to 54% in the Options bar.

Step 4

Using the Text Tool (T), create a text box with the text "Crafted with care" in all caps.

Open the Character panel by going to Window > Character. Set the Font to Ripon, the Size to 30 pt, and the Tracking to 200.

Place the text in the center, above the image.

Step 5

Using the Text Tool (T), create a second text box with the text "Custom Made" under the first text box. In the Character panel, set the Font to Ripon Script and the Size to 135 pt.

Step 6

Locate the Butterflies and Moths Vintage Graphics Vol. 1 folder and pick two butterflies. For this specific cottagecore collage, I chose the files ending in 01 and 13.

Use the Transform tool by pressing Command-T, which allows you to resize and rotate the image. Place each butterfly on either side of the image.

Add a graphic from the Butterflies and Moths Vintage folder.

Step 7

Locate the Vintage Botanical Illustrations Vol. 7 folder, select the Sambucus Ebulus.png file, and drag it to Artboard 1.

Place the botanical image on the lower right corner of the cottagecore art collage. On the Options bar, set the Width and Height to 45%.

Step 8

Locate the 32 Tape Stickers Collection and select the file ending in 26.

Since this image has two tapes, it's perfect for a corner. Place the scrapbook tape PNG file in the top-right corner, and resize it on the Options bar to 12%.

In the Layers panel, place the tape layer under the text and butterfly layers.

Now you're done with the first cottagecore art collage!

Add a sticker to the cottagecore collage.

3. How to Create the Second Cottagecore Collage

Step 1

Locate the Wood Background image and drag it to the second artboard in Photoshop.

Head over to the Options bar, and set the Width and Height to 170%.

Step 2

Locate the Tea Time! image and drop it into Photoshop.

Head over to the Options bar, and set the Width and Height to 20% and the Rotation to 9.

Step 3

Locate the Vintage Botanical Illustrations Vol. 1 folder, select the files 05 and 07, and drag them to Artboard 2.

Press Command-T to Transform. Arrange the botanical illustrations in the bottom left corner of the Tea Time! image.

Add the Vintage Botanical illustrations.

Step 4

Locate the 32 Tape Stickers Collection and select the file ending in 26.

Select the image ending in 01 and place it over the botanical added in the step before. Use the Transform Tool (Command-T) to resize and rotate the scrapbook tape PNG file.

Step 5

Use images from the Butterflies and Moths Vintage Graphics Vol. 1 and 32 Tape Stickers Collection folders to add a scrapbook journal style.

Add more images from the Butterflies and Months pack and the Stickers collection.

Step 6

Use the Text Tool (T) to add a text box with the text "Living in" in all caps. In the Characters panel, set the Font to Ripon and the Size to 70 pt.

Create another text box and add "the moment". In the Characters panel, set the Font to Ripon Script and the Size to 130 pt.

Your second cottagecore aesthetic collage is done!

4. How to Create the Third Cottagecore Collage

Step 1

Locate the Vintage Paper Textures Vol. 3 and select the file ending in 1. Drag it into Photoshop and place it on Artboard 3.

Add one of the Vintage Paper Textures background.

Step 2

In the Layers panel, go to Create a New Fill or Adjustment Layer > Solid Color.

In the Color Picker window, set the color to #f2cc84.

In the Layers panel, set the layer Blending Mode to Linear Burn.

Step 3

Locate the Kneaded Dough for Making Dumplings image and drop it into Artboard 3. Head over to the Options bar, and set the Width and Height to 45% and the Rotation to 8.

Add the Kneaded Dough for Making Dumplings image.

Step 4

Locate the Vintage Botanical Illustrations Vol. 7 folder and select the Tilia cordata Mill (flower).png image. Drop it into Artboard 3 and place it in the top-right corner of the image.

Locate the 32 Tape Stickers Collection and select the file ending in 22.

Use the Transform Tool (Command-T) to resize and rotate both images.

Add an image from the Vintage Botanical pack and a sticker from the collection.

Step 5

Locate the Butterflies and Moths Vintage Graphics Vol. 1 folder and select the file ending in 12. Place the image on the bottom left corner. Use the Transform Tool (Command-T) to resize and rotate the image.

Add an image from the Butterflies and Moths pack.

Step 6

Locate the 32 Tape Stickers Collection and select the file ending in 29. Drag it into Photoshop and place it on Artboard 3. Place one piece of tape on the bottom right corner of the image.

Locate the Vintage Botanical Illustrations Vol. 7 folder and select the Veronica Officinalis.png. Drag it into Artboard 3.

Locate the Vintage Paper Textures Vol. 3 and select the file ending in 12. Drag it into Artboard 3.

Place both of these images in the bottom-right corner of the canvas and place the tape over the botanical image. This will help enhance the scrapbook journal style.

Add images to design the bottom right corner of the cottagecore collage.

Step 7

Using the Text Tool (T), create a text box with the text "Joy is present in" in all caps. In the Characters panel, set the Font to Ripon and the Size to 55 pt.

Using the Text Tool add content to the cottagecore collage.

Step 8

Create another text box and add "every second". In the Characters panel, set the Font to Ripon Script and the Size to 100 pt.

Your third cottagecore aesthetic collage is done!

5. How to Export Artboards in Photoshop

Head over to File > Export > Artboard To Files.

Select the Destination and if useful, set a Prefix Name for your files. Select Artboard Content Only and set JPEG as the File Type.

Click Run.

That's It!

In this tutorial, you learned how to create scrapbook paper in Photoshop with a cottagecore style. This also doubles as an Instagram template—it has many uses! In this tutorial, we looked at many different aesthetic pictures with cottagecore vibes and how to transform them. We also looked at different cottagecore art like botanicals, butterflies, and moths with a vintage style of illustration. Do you have a favorite cottagecore collage?

If you don't have time to learn how to create scrapbook paper in Photoshop, be sure to check out Envato Elements. There are plenty of ready-to-use digital scrapbook paper options and aesthetic pictures with cottagecore vibes. For a small monthly fee, you can have access to high-quality assets and unlimited downloads. Check them out!

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