Wednesday, June 20, 2012

i ♥ cardboard rolls!

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If there is one thing I have learned by spending a good part of my life creating on a limited budget- it's that you can always use something- ANYTHING to make art and you don't need lots of money or fancy supplies. My favorite place to go "shopping" is in the trash or the recycling bin and I have a bit of an obsession with cardboard rolls. There a so many different ways to use them when working with painted surfaces- here are a few of my favorites.


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I ALWAYS have a paper towel towel roll on hand when I am painting lots of layers. I love dipping it in paint and using it as a stamp- it is a really quick and easy way to add circles to your surface.


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You can even bend or manipulate the cardboard into simple shapes.


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I tend to work fast so I enjoy applying a layer of texture or pattern in my mixed media surfaces quickly. Inspired by my own creation a while back (see here) I have started using my cardboard rolls to roll on my texture and pattern. I cover the surface with all kinds of everyday things. Bubble wrap makes for great polka dots!

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Wrapping string, twine, yarn or just about any fiber is another great way to roll texture onto your surface.


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Use scrunched up saran wrap to wrap around a roll, cover in paint and roll onto your surface.



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Or tightly wrap saran wrap around the cardboard roll and then paint designs all over it. While the paint is still wet, roll it onto your surface.

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Use 3-D paint to cover the surface of the cardboard roll with designs and while the paint is wet roll it across your surface.

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43 comments:

Carmen said...

Great ideas, I'll have to try some. I keep saying my rolls just in case I might need them for something.

Unknown said...

I love everything that you make and the tricks you doing are very nice. Have a nice afternoon!

diya said...

very creative ideas to do from the throw away cardboard box,Alisha!

Nesrin said...

you are a genius!

J said...

wow, great!

Nancy said...

Great ideas! The wrapped twine creates a nice design! You can also use hot glue to create a design on the role, let it dry, paint and roll!
Thanks for sharing!

Emy said...

Love these ideas xx

Bee said...

Great ideas!! I love all the different textures. And...the price is right!

noomiy said...

I just love it!
Can put this tutorial on my blog in post "What I loved in this month?" Of course I'll link it back here :)
Love this creative idea!

Anonymous said...

ça me fait penser à une phrase de Picasso: " fais tout avec rien sinon tu ne feras rien du tout" !!

Alisa you're great , I love your work
see U on your blog

Corinne from France

astr!d said...

those are great ideas. i love that you keep it real and cheap but explore each idea!

Kelly said...

Love these ideas! I've used the end as a stamp and etching "tool" but didn't think to wrap stuff around it -fantastic! Thank you!

Joanne said...

ditto - love love your economical easy practical ideas -- wish you lived closer so I could take a workshop from you in person -- you are such an inspiration to me --

Anya said...

Love your ideas! I've been wanting to try bubble wrap "stamping" for a while now. I just might give it a try tonight!
Thanks for the inspiration and great ideas!

DonnaL said...

Simply brilliant!

Harmony Thiessen said...

OH YEAH BABY...you are on a roll! (:-) One other idea to throw in...use tar gel to create loose intuitive design on the roll, and then apply paint. Plus the tar gel lasts for repeated uses.

Flannel Jammies Farm said...

Wonderful inspiration to stay inside and create on this HOT, HOT day! Thanks so much for sharing these ideas.

Shahrul Niza said...

WOWW. Simply amazing patterns out of the simplest objects. LOVE it. Just the other day I was so inspired by your very yellow flats and I created journal pages out of it!. SO INSPIRING!. Loving your art ever more now :)).

manoraya said...

waw! it's great!

Unknown said...

How creative!!! That is such a simple way to create unique designs! Perfect for arts and crafts time with my niece :)

Laura said...

Very cool Alisa - always a breath of fresh air visiting you! And I totally agree that you can make art with just about anything. Awhile back I made a small series of mixed media pieces on the cardboard inserts that came w/ my art supplies :> Have a great week, xo

Shelly Penko said...

Thanks so much for sharing these great ideas! Just when I needed them too! ♥

Cindy Lietz, Polymer Clay Tutor said...

As always Alisa, you are a treasure trove of cool creative ideas! Thanks for sharing your brain!

Lynette (NZ) said...

You are such a fabulous inspiration :-)

Stacey said...

So simple, but brilliant. Thanks for sharing!

Jen xo said...

some fantastic tips here ...thank you :)

Teddi said...

astounded, delighted, & inspired! :D

Robin Sanchez said...

I save all my paper towel rolls not knowing what I was going to do with them......now I know!! Great ideas.

becky said...

Oh my .... I just love EVERYTHING you do. These are soo cool. I am kind of getting to be a pack rat just to do things like this. I so wanted to take your class in Irvine ... but my husband had to have surgery. I just love your style.

Unknown said...

love love love everything you do

Renata said...

So simple and so cute! Love the bubble wrap one. I´ll try it out this weekend!

Netta said...

This was EXACTLY the inspiration I was looking for! THANK YOU!

Anonymous said...

Awesome <3

Cassie Shella said...

So inspiring!! Thanks so much for posting - who knew? I love that it won't cost me a thing - just a trip through my kitchen and the recycle bin:) Love your stuff, have a Blessed week.

Narah-Kimberly said...

Brilliant!! :)

Anastasia said...

This is so great!!! Thanks for sharing – very inspiring…now I want to experiment!

Jenn said...

L-O-V-E the bubble wrap idea! I could see an entire canvas of just multi colored polka dots hanging above my couch. Delightful!

Drangulije said...

Wonderful idea :) Thank you for sharing it.

splendeurcaisse said...

All such awesome ideas! Thanks for the inspiration!

Anonymous said...

Thanks a lot for sharing these beautiful pieces os art with all of us.
You are a very sharing person - that's something beautiful about you.

http://timebite.blogspot.com

Samantha said...

Smart.

Clay Delgado @ World Packaging said...

That’s an interesting use of cardboard rolls. I particularly like the one where you used the saran wrap and 3-D paint, though the one with the strings look great as well. Though the one with the bubble wrap might tend to look limited, since you’ll mostly get polka-dot patterns with those, and you’re mostly limited to just changing colors.

whyducks said...

Very cool

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