Make flower impressions on paper crafts with curragated cardboard and paint.

Join me on a journey this week fellow paper crafters as I test out ways to use corrugated cardboard for paper crafts.

Got a lovely corrugated cardboard envelope in the mail this week (containing a great read btw, “Corked” by Kathryn Borel) and instead of recycling in the paper pile, I’ve decided to challenge myself to find a way to use this box in creative ways for paper crafts.

Starting with today’s experiment… corrugated cardboard flower impressions. This technique for embelishment has probably been around for eons, but it’s new to me, so, here we go!

Corrugated cardboard flower impressions are uber easy. All you need is a rolled piece of currugated cardboard (pictured) and a little paint. I used a pearl pink fabric paint to start to add a little texture to the flower.

Use rolled corrugated cardboard to create a flower impression.

As you can see in the picture, it makes a pretty neat impression. I’m still testing the technique on scrap paper, but I’ll return to show you the results of a finished product (I’m thinking card or gift bag.) If you are inspired to try this technique out, too (and I hope that you are) send a link to your creations, I’d love to see them!

Also stay tuned for more experimentation with currogated cardboard paper craft embelishments. If you have any suggestions or ideas, please post them in the COMMENTS section and I see about giving them a go!

Simple fabric flowers can quickly add interest and texture to your cards.

1) Recycle and/or use what I already have on hand

2) Keep it simple (fancy is fun, too… I’m referring to simplicity in design and function.)

1) Cut a square piece of fabric (about twice the size you wish the flower to be.)

And voila!  Instant garden!

Shabby Chic lip stick holder- it's a recycled vinyl record!

If a record no longer plays, give it a new entertaining purpose. This simple craft that allows you to recycle an old warped record into a useful, versitile, and nostolgic bowl.

Bowlscan be used as planters, catch-alls, potpourri, candles, and they make great gifts, too. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination.

If you cannot bear to part with your vinyl or do not have any records on hand, baskets full of vinyl history await the creative crafter at thrift stores.

When weeding through to find titles, I choose records with obvious scratches or wear and tear that indicated the record had damage rendering it useless (don’t worry, these imperfection disappear during the molding process or add character to your piece.)

If I’m not able to find a band that I knew I, or the recipient of my finished piece would like, I look for movie soundtracks, well-known icons, or funny titles to use instead.

Recycled Vinyl Record Bowl

Items Needed:

1 Vinyl Record (full album or small single versions work equally well)

Glass or Ceramic Oven-Safe Mixing Bowl

Cookie Sheet

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.

On cookie sheet, turn glass or ceramic bowl upside down. Place record on top of the bottom of the upside down bowl. Carefully place items in the oven, making sure the record stays squarely on top of the bowl.