Mom Gothic Arch - #7 Cardboard Grunge

Down to the last few Gothic Arches to complete our Inspirational Mom Book :)

If you've been around here for a bit you know how much I love to incorporate one persons trash into art.  Today I want to challenge you to use one of my FAVORITE recycled materials ~ Cardboard!!  I LOVE this stuff...it never ceases to amaze me how cool this stuff makes art look. 

So grab yourself a hunk of cardboard and get ready to play!

Supplies:

Corrugated Cardboard
Molding Paste, Embossing Paste or Acrylic Paint (optional)
Acrylic Paint (metallic or other)
Sponge (damp)
Embellishments

Instructions:

1. Draw and cut out your arch from the corrugated cardboard.

2. Begin peeling away one layer of the cardboard to reveal the corrugated center.  You can peel away as much or as little as you would like.

Me?  I like to peel away lots and lots!  If you're having trouble getting the cardboard to peel away you can use scissors or a craft pic threaded into the corrugation, lift to tear the upper layer of cardboard giving you an area to start peeling.

3. Glue your main image to the arch.

4. (optional) This step is totally optional but I like the dimension it adds to the arch.  Use a spatula to apply a layer of molding or embossing paste around the photo.  It doesn't have to be pretty...we're going for a patchy Fix-er-Upper kinda look.   

Note: If you don't have molding or embossing paste on hand you can get a similar look by using several layers of acrylic paint.  Simply apply a thick layer of the paint around your image, let dry and repeat 2-3 additional layers.  

Let the paste/paint dry completely.

5. Paint the cardboard and paste with desired color of paint.  I personally like to pair metallic paints with cardboard.  The metallic color really emphasises the texture of the cardboard and molding paste.    I used Golden's Iridescent Bronze and Micaceous Iron Oxide paints that I applied using a damp natural sea sponge.

6. Embellish as desired.  I added a few clock parts, dried flowers, a nifty wire squiggle and pearls to emphasise her "unique-ness" and the sentiment.

just another view to show the depth of textures....

Several people have e-mailed me about their arches curling as they dry.  No worries...if this happens gently bend them back either while the arch is drying or after.  If it bends one way it will bend the other as long as you are careful :)   I have had this happen with a few of mine as well but once I re-bend it and attach it to my book pages you can't tell they were ever wonky.

Also, I wanted to drop a little teaser for you all...I've got some fun stuff coming up to share with you in the next couple weeks.  I'm going to be sharing the mystery project that I posted photos of some of the "ingredients" last week;

I have a great store/mfg to share with you that I have been planning on sharing for a while now

and

I have another fun give-away planned for a very big milestone here at Ink Stains. 

 I can hardly wait....

I think you're going to enjoy it all ~

well, at least I hope you will ;)  LOL!!!