Naked Cardboard and M&M's

I just love using cardboard on my pages ... the texture, the dimension .. the 'grungy-ness' of it.  As Guest Diva at Challenge Masters a couple months ago, I challenged the ladies to use cardboard on their page.  It was an easy challenge, but my goal was to inspire them to give it a try.  In addition to the sample page I posted with my challenge I also included some simple instructions on how to strip the cardboard and thought I'd share them with you. 

For this example layout I used a box that contained some scrapping supplies shipped via USPS.  Tear the box open and lay it out flat on a cutting surface. 

 

Using a straight edge and a craft knife, cut the cardboard into a rectangle shape getting rid of the folds and creases. 

Now gather up a hand towel and a soft rag.  Lay the cardboard on the towel and get your rag good and sopping wet.  Then, press the wet rag all over the cardboard. What this will do is loosen the adhesive that holds the backing to the corrugated piece in the middle.  The exposed edges will absorb the water more quickly than the center, but that's okay. Just get it good and wet. 

Starting at one of the exposed corners, begin to lift the backing.  

It should lift easily around the edges where it is more wet.  On the interior it will take a little more soaking with the rag ... just continue pressing the wet rag onto the backing, lifting as you go.  continue this process until all of the paper backing is removed. 

You may have a few spots with a thin layer of paper still attached. I kinda' like that look but if you don't you can continue wetting the spot and lifting up the residue pieces. When you're finished, take a heat gun or a hair dryer and dry the cardboard. For the most part, it should dry flat. If you need to, turn it over and dry the back side as well, until the piece is completely dry. (Tip: You can also stick it in the microwave for a minute or two. Place your cardboard on a kitchen towel and just nuke it .. all you're doing is evaporating the moisture.) If you want to you can also just set it aside in the sun and allow it to dry. 

At this point your cardboard is ready to use. We've all seen those stinkin' cute JilliBean Soup Corrugated Alphas, haven't we?

 http://www.jillibean-soup.com/corrugated_alphas_kraft.php 

Well, you can make your own using your Circut or any die cut machine. But, what we're going to do is paint it. For this demo I used white Gesso ... but, only because I had some handy. I usually use craft paint which works well. Or, you can even spray paint it. Whatever floats your boat! ;)

Using a foam brush loaded with paint, just brush it across the surface. You can be as OCD about this as you want. I want it to still look like cardboard, so I like to leave 'holidays' in mine ... mostly covered but with tiny areas left unpainted. And, you don't have to paint it white ... any color that works with the colors of your papers or photos will work. Just paint the entire rectangle. 

Set it aside to dry. It shouldn't take too long ... 30 minutes to an hour at the most. You can even help it along with the hair dryer if you want. Once it's dry you're ready to trim it to the finished size you need for your project. 

While working on this project I learned that the larger the piece of cardboard the more 'curling' I had. So, I cut my cardboard to an 11 x 11 square and mounted it onto a piece of cardstock. Later on I decided I needed more color so I mounted that onto another piece of cardstock. But, only because of color. I used my regular double sided adhesive to mount it. Just added a little extra to the edges and a big 'X' in the center. Adding layers of patterned paper to the front of my cardboard was easy, too. Just used double sided adhesive again .. adding a tish more than usual. And, my flowers and embellies were hot glued onto my page. But, that's how I normally adhere them so I'm sure your usual method will work. After all ... it's only paper! 

Here's the finished page as an example: 

 

 

 

 

     

Comments

[Jing-Jing]

Thank you SOOOOOOOO MUCH for enlightening me on how to get that cardboard, you are the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FABULOUS layout, just so cheery and bright!

[patti smith]

I really like the look of "raw" cardboard but this white look gave me new ideas...as always love, love the layout..great pics too!!! hugs!!

[Kimberly Aardal]

Very clever and what a great way to recycle! I would love to go to the M&M place. I got a sugar rush just looking at the pics.