Sometimes I really regret calling my blog Unique Creations because sometimes it is really difficult to come up with something unique each time.  Our latest challenge for IBC (International bloggers club) was to come up with a project made from cardboard. More about IBC at the end of this post.  After a lot of brainstorming and coming up empty, I found inspiration in one of my failed mannequin projects. This cardboard bust was the result.

DIY has always been my first hobby but in the last 2 years, I have discovered mixed media art.  One of my favourite projects to do is to decorate mannequins

The failed project idea was to use thick Kraft paper and cover the mannequin surface as my base.  It looked really great at first and I was over the moon with the results.

But a couple of weeks later the whole covering just slipped off the mannequin. The reason this happened was that I used cheap glue to attach the paper.  This then gave me the idea for my cardboard bust. My thoughts were if the paper just slid off so would the cardboard.

How to make a cardboard bust sculpture

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Prepare your cardboard

To make my bust I used a thick cardboard box which I ripped into small pieces. Next, I put the cardboard into a bucket of water to soften.

After an hour the cardboard was still really hard which was disappointing. I thought I would try adding boiling water and this did soften the cardboard enough to pull apart.

Even after soaking in hot water, the cardboard was still pretty tough.  I first tried my hand blender to mash up the cardboard but it was taking too long.

I am not very domestic in the kitchen but I do have all the appliances.  So after 20 years of sitting in the cupboard, I thought I would give my blender a whirl.  This worked fast and mashed up the cardboard perfectly.

The cardboard was added to the blender with water and blended until it was a pulp. I did this in small batches so it was not too much strain on the blender.

Strain the pulp

Next, you need to remove all the excess water from the pulp.  I used some mesh fabric I had at home, a stocking will also work if you have some. I put the pulp inside the mesh and squeezed out all the excess water.

You can now add your glue to the pulp.  I used a cheap craft PVA glue so it would not stick to the mannequin once dried.

Using gloves you can mix the pulp and glue together in a bowl.

Adding the pulp to the mannequin

I added a layer of plastic to the mannequin first but this did not work.  The pulp kept sliding off the mannequin while I tried to shape it.

You can add the cardboard pulp to the whole mannequin by pushing it down onto the mannequin shape. I chose to just add the pulp to some parts. I wanted it to appear like a bust sculpture that had been broken over time.

You can now leave the cardboard to dry.  Mine took 2 days for the top layer to fully dry as it was winter here in Australia.  After 2 days I lifted the cardboard from the mannequin and left the inside surface to dry for a day.

Painting the cardboard bust

You can use black gesso or black acrylic paint if you want to achieve the same effect as mine, and paint everything black.

For a better cosmetic look, I painted the inside too.

At this stage you can add any colour metallic wax paste, I used bronze because I wanted it to look old. To add the wax you touch the wax with the tip of your finger and wipe it over the raised surfaces of the cardboard.

Sealing the bust

While the bust was firm it was not as strong as I would have liked.  To seal the paint and make the bust stronger I added 2 coats of epoxy resin which I painted on with a bush. I also added a layer of epoxy resin to the inside. This made the bust really hard.

Making the stand

A few years ago, I was asked by one of my followers to see if I could make a Steampunk Christmas tree.  While I did make one it was not something I needed.  So I recycled all the parts I made into other projects.  I used the stand from the Christmas tree to hold up my bust and the gears went on my steampunk mannequins. To attach the bust to the stand I used a nut the correct size for the threaded metal rod and used epoxy resin glue to attach it to the back of the bust. You can then screw the bust into the threaded rod.

I had a difficult time photographing my bust, but to give you a good idea of the side profile I removed the background.

More about IBC

If you follow my blog you will know I am part of IBC (International Bloggers Club) which is a group of talented bloggers from around the world. We have members from Spain, South Africa, Australia, the United States, and Canada. Each month we come together and create a project with a common theme.

If you missed last month’s “All bottled up ” theme here is the link to my “How to add texture to mixed media art“.    The “Cardboard creation” contributions from my fellow bloggers for this month’s challenge are listed below, please feel free to jump over and give them some love.

1. Kippi At Home|DIY Yarn carrots
2. Interior Frugalista|Easy cardboard tube spring napkin rings
3. A Crafty Mix| Upcycled cardboard vase
4. Me
5. Birdz of a feather | Lampshade makeover DIY

If you are looking for any of the items used in this project, please consider using our links. By clicking on the links we will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Which helps us come up with new and exciting ideas to share with you.