Oddsockworld

Make a rubber stamp from an eraser

A quick tutorial on how to make rubber stamps for next to nothing . I bought a pack of 12 pencil topped erasers for $2 and drew a small design on each one. Next I cut around my outlines and lifted the negative shape away just like easing a slab of cake off a plate. Simple and easy to hold. Happy stamping!

Mobile made from recycled cardboard

 

My latest recycling project- shapes cut from cardboard wine boxes, 2 scored lines down the centre to form a hollow for the sticks. Any type of glue will do - I used PVA, place the stick and then twistround to give an even covering of glue. Then stick the lifted layer of card back down on top of the stick. Coat with gesso and then paint in the colours you like......the anchoring block was a piece of wood brought in by the tide, dried out, sanded and coated with some outdoor furniture oil.....then holes drilled at an angle. Then insert the sticks.......voila....a standing mobile!

 

The cardboard circles have been painted as flowers for another project.

Handbag made from recycled cardboard

Things to make with a cardboard box - Making a designer handbag from a wine box is a clever way to upcycle a cardboard box. I chopped off the top 10 cm (which I will keep for another idea). Then measure approx 5 cm horizontally from the top corners of the box, draw a line from the marks to the corner at bottom of box and cut the 4 pieces away.

 

Front side of cardboard bag with handle

 

Decorate and varnish the cardboard bag with acrylic paint and satin varnish,add handles and bind sides together. Handles were made from strips of waste corrugated cardboard, painted one side with lamp black gloss craft paint - dries with a semigloss finish - then run the strips over the edge of a desk to curve them and squash slightly. I used the sewing maching to hold the edges together and also to top-sew the square handle holders. Further photos will be published in a full tutorial.

Bird mobile from recycled cardboard

This is a quick project using cardboard and recycling. I made up the shapes as I went along and added a beak with v-shaped pieces of florist wire. Cut a slit in the body and insert a pre-cut curved wing. Paint with acrylics adding detail and hang from thread. Another great way to make a gift from recycled materials...

Papier mache fish tutorial 5

Add eyes and a few teeth by wrapping strips of masking tape and cover with more strips - ready to paint but advise leaving for a few more days to dry inside too. The smaller fish was made by cutting a flat cardboard shape, screwing up 2 sheets of newspaper and wrapping masking tape round to cover the paper - then add a layer of floury strips and dry, then paint detail. Finish with water-based varnish. Finished version next week. Any questions pls email.

Papier mache fish tutorial 4

When fully dry, take stuffing out and cut back a bit to make larger hole for mouth. Put mouth (the two bowl shapes) in hole and tape with masking tape then use more strips of paper to cover and secure. Make fins from card and cover as well. Attach to fish body when dry with more tape and paper. Next: almost finished phew!

Papier mache fish tutorial 3

Make the fish body from pieces of cardboard box,tape with masking tape,stuff with scrunched newspaper and start covering with strips of paper dipped in flour mix-see tutorial 1 for recipe. Build up a few layers and dry out. Then cut in half lengthways to insert head-next tutorial.

Papier mache fish tutorial 2

The 2 bowl shapes should be squashed before dry and kept in place with tape or string. This is going to be the mouth.

Papier mache fish tutorial 1

Papier mache fish tutorial part 1
Recipe:flour mixed with h2o
tear strips of newspaper by folding horizontally across as if you are reading paper - quick! Then start covering the mould or balloon with 2 layers of paper and allow to dry....cont'd later

For a really quick idea of what it's going to look like eventually - check out this video: