Wednesday, September 7, 2016

DIY textured cardboard letters

Last Thursday , when I was checking some beautiful ideas on Hometalk I came across a Pistachio Shell flower wreath by Kelli from Craftshack. She used a textured letter "S" in the middle on the wreath. I liked it very much that I clicked her blog link to check how she made it. She has explained that she used a textured copper backsplash and covered the cardboard letter. I was like I need those letters and suddenly remembered a post that I saw two years back on Instructables where corrugated cardboard is used  to make beautiful picture frames. So, I combined those two ideas and came up with this DIY textured cardboard letters to decorate the small space between the pegboard and the ceiling in my craft space. Let's see how. 



How to make curvy words using cardboard


Materials Required :
Cardboard
Scissors
Sandpaper
Craft knife
Paint & Paintbrush
Printer(Optional)
Spray bottle with water 

Step 1: Take a piece of cardboard. You can cut a piece from the shipping boxes you already have at home. You want to remove the top part of the one side of the cardboard to get the textured/ Corrugated part of the cardboard.
 To do this, you can just peel the top layer or just use a spray bottle filled with water and spray over the cardboard and then try to peel the top layer. 
I find the spraying with water was easier and gives best results. If you still have few cardboard pieces here and there, you can spray some water and peel them off. 











Step 2: Use a sandpaper and sand the extra bits of cardboard and have a clean surface to work with. 



Step 3: Now print the word you want in the reverse, you can do this any photo program of your choice. I couldn't accommodate the full word "Create" in one page , so I printed "reate" on one page and  "C" separately in another. You can also free hand the design on the back on the cardboard but you have to do it the reverse to get it straight in the front. 


Step 4: Attach the printed piece on the plain/back side of the corrugated cardboard and score the letters using a craft knife. 




Step 5: Use scissors to cut the letters and use the knife to trim the pieces here and there. I found using small scissors works best in this case. I also cut some craft tools to add on the sides. 




Step 6: Paint the cardboard pieces and allow it to dry. I cut a part of C and joined the rest of the piece using glue to make it as a continues word. 

 Use a picture hanging strip or  cut a small piece painter's tape and roll them . Stick it to the back of the cardboard pieces to hang them on the wall. The painter's tape idea might not sound good to you but I found they are easier compared to the picture hanging strips. But I am not sure whether the hold will be stronger but it is holding fine till now. I will update if it ever falls down ;) If you are using it as an accent piece on anything(like a canvas) you can use glue. For additional strength, you can try adding a coat or two of mod podge or glue to the back of the cardboard piece. That's it. Here is how it looks in my craft room above the pegboard that I made two months ago. 









I really like how this turned out. Hope you will like this too. You can make these letters for various purposes, like making one single large letter to add in the middle of a wreath or as a decor by gluing it on the canvas. Let me know how you will use these letters in the comments below. Share what you think of this idea . As always I will be happy to hear from you. 

Other crafts you might like :









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27 comments:

  1. That is so amazing Sahana! Thank you so much for sharing with me how you made your letters, I'm super flattered that you found inspiration from my wreath. They turned out amazing! I'm absolutely going to take this technique and tuck it away for later!

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  2. Nice! I am making some wall art for a teachers' lounge and was trying to paint simple words. I like the texture that using the cardboard will add to the wall art. Plus, when I saw your pegboard, I became inspired to paint one and organize some of my craft tools for easy access.

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    Replies
    1. Wow, thank you so much. This will be perfect for the teacher's lounge. I am very glad that you are inspired by my pegboard.

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  3. Love the "Create" from cardboard. It has such a neat effect. Visiting from Hometalk. Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled.com

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  4. What a fabulous repurpose of cardboard! The possibilities are endless with what you could make and turn into wall art!

    Thank you so much for sharing your fabulous project over at Waste Not Wednesday! :-)

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  5. You are very creative and you have a good memory to remember that cardboard post from years ago! Thank goodness for Pinterest. So glad you share with us at Merry Monday.

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  6. That is adorable!! Now I'm wondering if my Cricut can cut cardboard, then I don't have to! :) Love this. #HomeMattersParty

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  7. I love the word/wall decor trend and this would be a great way to create a custom piece for practically free. Thanks for sharing this idea, definitely pinning so I can try it. #HomeMattersParty

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  8. Wow, These are so cute, I've only seen the wooden ones, never thought of cardboard letters .. Great idea!

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  9. This is such a cool project! I love how you use repurposed cardboard! So nice to have you as co-host of HomeMattersParty

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  10. Oh yay, that's brilliant. I never thought of using shipping boxes, well I did, but they always looked terrible when I tried taking them apart ;-) So thank you very much for the tip about spraying and sanding

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  11. Love this so much. What a great way to recycle all the cardboard boxes that I have. Love having you as a cohost on #homemattersparty

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  12. This is such a great idea. It can be used by teachers for their bulletin boards and help save them loads of money.

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  13. I LOVE this! I've been saving cardboard boxes for about a week now! For your "Create", what size font did you use? I'd love to make one for my craft room too!!
    Thank you so much for the awesome idea!

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    1. Thank you :) The font size is approx 400 in silhouette machine software. But it varies depending on the program you use I think. Also as you can see in the tutorial I printed the "C" separately and "reate" separately. So, whichever program you use, just type the word and fit it to the 8.5" X11" paper size and print it to use as a template. Hope this helps :)

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  14. Okay, this is a great idea! I love how it turned out, too! #HomeMattersParty

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  15. What a great idea! I was thinking of doing some words in my craft room, now I think I'm going to make them this way! #HomeMattersParty

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  16. That is just incredible. I appreciate you sharing with Accounting And Bookkeeping Services In Dubai me how you created your letters, and I'm honored that my wreath served as your source of inspiration.

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  19. Wow, these DIY textured cardboard letters are absolutely amazing! I love how they add a unique and personalized touch to any space. The step-by-step instructions are so easy to follow, making it a fun and enjoyable project for anyone. The use of simple materials like cardboard, paint, and glue is genius, because it's cost-effective and accessible. Plus, the end result looks so professional and stylish. I can already imagine creating these textured letters to spell out inspiring words on my office wall or to use them as party decorations. This tutorial has definitely sparked my creativity and inspired me to try it out. Thank you for sharing this creative and budget-friendly DIY idea!

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  20. Wow, these DIY textured cardboard letters look incredible! I love how they add an artistic touch to any space. The fact that they are made from everyday materials like cardboard makes it a budget-friendly project as well.
    The tutorial provided in this blog post is so easy to follow, even for someone like me who is not very crafty. The step-by-step instructions and clear visuals make it foolproof. I can't wait to gather my supplies and start creating my own personalized letter designs.
    The best part about this DIY is that it allows for so much creativity. Whether you prefer a rustic, distressed look or something more modern and sleek, the possibilities are endless. Plus, you can customize the textures and colors to match any room's decor.
    Thank you for sharing this brilliant idea! I'll definitely be trying this out and sharing my results. Keep up the great work!

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  21. Wow, these DIY textured cardboard letters are absolutely stunning! I love how they add a unique and personal touch to any space. The texture really makes them stand out and adds a fun element to the design.
    I can definitely see myself trying this project at home. It seems like a great way to get creative and repurpose materials that would otherwise end up in the recycling bin. Plus, the steps seem straightforward and easy to follow.
    I think these textured cardboard letters would be perfect for a nursery or a child's room. Imagine spelling out their name with these charming and eco-friendly letters. It would make such a sweet and personalized decoration.
    Thanks for sharing this awesome DIY idea! I can't wait to get my hands on some cardboard and start creating my own textured letters.
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  22. "Vikalpah.com showcases a brilliant DIY project on creating textured cardboard letters, adding a touch of creativity to home decor. The step-by-step guide and engaging visuals make it easy for readers to embark on this artistic journey. The blog's commitment to sharing innovative and accessible crafts inspires readers to infuse their spaces with personalized, handmade charm. Kudos to Vikalpah.com for fostering a community of craft enthusiasts and encouraging them to explore their artistic potential through engaging projects like these textured cardboard letters."
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  23. Wow, these DIY textured cardboard letters are such a creative and affordable way to add a unique touch to any space! I love how they bring an instant pop of personality to a room without breaking the bank. The step-by-step instructions provided in this blog post make it super easy to create your own custom letters.
    Using items that most of us already have lying around the house, like cardboard, glue, and some textured material, anyone can achieve stunning results. Plus, the possibilities are endless when it comes to choosing the textured material - from burlap and fabric to glitter and paint, you can truly make these letters your own.
    I can already imagine spelling out inspiring words or names on a gallery wall or using these letters as eye-catching decor for special occasions. This DIY project is definitely going on my to-do list! Thanks for sharing this fantastic idea.

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