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Materials that can be associated with cartonnage.

Very often the cartonnage is just covered with paper or fabric, sometimes embroidered. Personally I like to combine it with other materials, sometimes found in drawer bottoms. Here are a few models that I made and that could inspire you:


For some parts that you want to be transparent, you can use rhodoïd, much lighter than glass or plexiglass, but also less rigid. On this box, in which I store my stitchings in progress, it protects the embroidery of the cover and the charms. And to keep them from touching it, I inserted little wedges.

The cane was used in the past for the seats of chairs and armchairs because it is less hot than the fabric. It will give a little exotic look to our creations but also transparency.


You may have seen this handbag with a bamboo flap that I made for Cartonnage et Broderie in July. That's what I also did with this glasses case with a flap cut from a bath mat.


It is a construction set made of wooden sticks to build a forest house that inspired me when I imagined this house. The tutorial is in preparation. I used small flat wooden sticks (agitators) to cover the roof and make a fence, but I admit it, there is no resemblance with this old toy!


Cork is not always easy to use. Either it's too thick and you can't bend it, or it's too thin and tearable. I had offered you a cactus tutorial to hang notes, well this time I made a bigger one to hang jewelry.


More difficult, I also covered wooden balls with beads (Peyote weaving). My husband drilled them to put a screw to make handles. You could also glue the beads but be careful, you need a special glue otherwise they might tarnish or melt depending on their quality.



And you, have you used unusual materials?




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