Custom Creations From Cardboard

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Making use of ordinary, inexpensive materials to create a custom effect:

At right is a pile of cardboard pieces left over from doing a class craft project. I simply couldn't throw them away!

• First, we purchased a 4 x 8 piece of 1/2" plywood, and had the store cut it to 30" wide.
• With the plywood laid flat on sawhorses, the pieces of cardboard were glued randomly - but keeping either vertical or horizontal lines.
• I purchased latex paint to match my fabrics. Dry sanded grouting was added to the paint and brushed on liberally, mostly covering the corrugated edges of the cardboard.
• Metallic copper paint was dry-brushed to the edges of the cardboard pieces.
• The "cardboard mosaic" cross was done beginning with a basic cardboard shape, and gluing small pieces of cardboard. Full strength white glue was added to more of the sanded grouting for strength. When dry, the "mosaic" pieces were dry brushed with gold, and then copper metallic acrylic paint. The starburst was made of polymer clay.
• The custom valance, side drapes, and bedspread were made after that.