Recycled cardboard has so many uses in my art. It’s been a background for my handmade art journal covers, I’ve created a Christmas tree from recycled shipping boxes and handmade cards with small remnants. It also makes a great material for stamping. In this exercise, you’ll cut strips of cardboard to form rolled stamps.
rotary paper trimmer
recycled cardboard cut into 1⁄2" (13mm) strips
scissors
dry adhesive line
Using a rotary paper trimmer, cut a piece of recycled cardboard into 1⁄2" (13mm) strips by 10" to 12"(25cm to 30cm) in length. Cut against the grain of the cardboard. This will make it easier to bend the cardboard in circular shapes.
Hold one end of the cardboard strip between your thumb and forefinger and then run your other hand across the entire length of the piece to make it more flexible. This will add a curl to the cardboard, similar to the way you would curl ribbons with scissors. This makes it easy to bend and roll the cardboard.
Begin to form shapes by rolling the cardboard strips into circles. Start at one end and roll tightly to form the end of the cardboard into a circle. Place a piece of dry adhesive line in the center of the cardboard to secure it in place. Add another strip of cardboard in between the center of the rolled cardboard, then attach it with a piece of dry adhesive.
Tuck another strip inside where the previous circle ends and secure it with another piece of dry adhesive line.
Roll the end tightly to form a small circle and bend it around to the right to form a loop. Secure it with another piece of dry adhesive.
Repeat the last step. Continue to roll and bend pieces to create a freeform shape. This process is very free flowing; there is no plan. Keep securing the cardboard strips as you go until you are satisfied with the shapes.
Wrap the last strip of cardboard around to the right and secure it with dry adhesive. Use this technique for a variety of shapes including pieces of flower petals, circles and leaves. These can be used as stamps and stencils.
Visit artistsnetwork.com/printmakingunleashed for a free bonus demo on how to print with cardboard stamps to make acrylic skins that can be used in collage.
