WHAT IS CARTONNAGE?

Even though the Petit Larousse defines it as "the making of cardboard boxes", it adds "and of objects made of … cardboard!" As is so often the case for most of us, we rush along and swallow half the message even faster!

For far too long CARTONNAGE has been confined to making boxes — which is a fine thing — but isn't the idea of creating, with your own hands and from a very ordinary material, extraordinary objects far more appealing?

Is there any more beautiful creative handicraft than making, from a single sheet of cardboard (80cm x 120cm, 2.5mm thick, for less than 5 euros!), jewellery caskets, sewing boxes, desk sets, trays, lamp bases, handbags, clocks, coffee tables, herbal-tea boxes, magazine racks, board-game cases, dolls' furniture, writing desks, (stop me if you can…) scissor cases, castles, photo stands, CD racks, lecterns, umbrella stands, bedside tables, cases for diaries, address books, chequebooks, credit cards, recipe books, for … for … for …!!!

See you on page 36,000 for the end of the list!

By now, I hope you have understood: CARTONNAGE is a handicraft with an infinite, endlessly renewed repertoire! Gift ideas for the whole family — young and old, men and women alike — nothing but happiness!

I have been practising cartonnage for almost 35 years and teaching it for over 25; to date I have written 13 books in under 10 years, and 2 DVDs also came out in 2009, with other projects tucked under my arm and under my craft knife!

There is so much to say and so much to have others make in this field! This experience fulfils me a little more each day, for it has taught me that the more I created with my hands, the more my mind opened to other knowledge and the more my heart grew richer too! "Mens sana in corpore sano" — the quotation is not mine; now it is your turn to make it your own, to bring out all that creative potential which is truly present in each of us and asks only to be sparked and expressed!!!

What do I need to get started with cartonnage?

Here, gathered before your eyes, are the basic tools for cartonnage in complete freedom; most of them are probably already in your drawers if you enjoy a spot of DIY, so hesitate no longer and dive in — you will soon discover the joy of creating with your own hands and being able to tell all your friends, with a big smile of satisfaction: "I made it myself!"