Cardboard Craft Rooms

I've always been interested in creating models and dioramas out of used cardboard or scratch materials. This time I decided I'd create a room where I could just "relax" and just enjoy.

In this Instructables, I have two options for you; a living room with symbolism towards the cruelty of humanity or a Christmas themed couch room.

It is as simple as it looks.

(My apologies for the lack of pictures, I got caught up with creating the piece)

Supplies

Materials:

• Cardboard (Cereal or Packaging)
• Paint (preferred colours)
• MDF (for the wall, but optional)
• Pens or Pencils
• Thin fabric
• Strings
• Toothpicks

Tools:

• Craft Knife
• Scissor
• Super Glue/Hot Glue (I prefer super glue as it does not leave big gaps between pieces)
• Paint Brush
• San

Step 1: The Room (Walls and Floor)

When making a modelled room you can choose your preferred size but in my case, the walls were 15x15 and 10x15.

• The first wall is cut from MDF using a jigsaw, 15cm wide and 15cm tall.
• The second wall was cut from cereal cardboard. 10cm wide and 15cm tall.
• Windows were cut in precise measurement, 7cmx4cm.
• The extension cardboard was placed outside to create the extending window.

Tip: When cutting the window you would want to use a sharp craft knife

Materials:

• Cardboard
• MDF
• Super Glue

Step 2: Paint Job

Picking/Mixing out the colours is not always an easy step. You might contemplate about if the colour is a good choice or not, the next day your mind might differ or you just can't get the right pigment.

The colour I have chosen is a dark grey shade because the theme is a gloomy room because my mind is dark but there is always light that shines and opens up new opportunities.

Tip:

• Brush in one direction, some paint may be too thick and when dry, the strokes might appear.
• Use Scotch tape in areas you wouldn't want the colour.

Materials:

• Paint (White+Black
• Plastic Sheet
• Paint Brush

Step 3: Window

Often, my window would just be a cutout from the cardboard but this time I made it fancy. There are frames inside and outside, the windows move up and down.

Window

• The frames are as simple as they are, they are merely a wider cutout about 0.5cm wider than the original cutout.
• To make the working window, you will need one working and the other still. Measure out the width between both windows and in this case the windows are 0.2cm wide but together it is 0.4cm.

Air Conditioner

• Bellow the window is what I'd like to think is the air conditioner vent.
• Cut out a length of 5cm cardboard pieces by 2cm in width. and fold around a circular surface to create the curve, I used the craft knife because it has a nice roundness to it.

Step 4: Furniture (Couch)

Usually, when I would make a couch it would be the classic square box couch. But this time I wanted to do something different, something that would challenge me.

• Measure out how much space to keep for the cushions
• Cut out the preferred length of toothpicks
• Cut out cardboard to the length of the backboard
• Take 2 pieces of MDF, cut to the same size
• Take the thick cotton thread and wrap neatly around MDF pieces
• Glue The Toothpick and Cardboard together
• Paint before placing the cushions

Optional: you can use sandpaper to sand out any exposing cardboard pieces or if the toothpick is not at your preferred size.

Voila! you have a wooden couch

Materials:

• Toothpick
• Cardboard
• MDF
• Paint
• Cotton Thread (Thick)
• Paintbrush
• Sandpaper

Step 5: Coffee Table

This is a simple coffee table requiring only cardboard, toothpicks and paint.

• Start off with drawing an oval or rectangle
• Make sure the table isn't too small or too big, we want it to look neutral within the couch.
• Cut off an equal length of the toothpick, mine was 1.5cm
• Sand off the sides of the cardboard and the toothpick so that when its glued to the table look casual.
• I added medium gel to varnish the pieces but that optional
• Finally, paint out the table with your preferred colour.

Materials:

• Cardboard
• Toothpick
• Sandpaper
• Medium Gel/Mod Podge (Optional)

Step 6: The Painting

The painting is a key feature of this project. It is a painting of a Chrysanthemum, a flower with the representation of death.

It depicts the future of the person living in the room, knowing their fate would not continue.

This is a crucial piece, so it will take a while to get it right.

• First cut out a nice MDF square
• Sand the sides to smoothen it out, preferably i sanded a slope on the sides
• Next, I printed out and cut out the holes for the Chrysanthemum
• Placed it In the center of the black painted MDF, and i just painted through the paper
• I added thick paint over the painted piece to give it a gritty texture
• After drying, I varnished it with medium gel

And voila, a lovely painting.

Materials:

• MDF
• Paint
• Printed Cutout

Step 7: Flower Pot

This flower pot wasn't as difficult as I thought, I tried using clay but I couldn't fit in the pebbles.

• The cardboard pot is a nice close to open cutout. Dry-painting with a variety of blue shades.
• I placed tiny pebbles inside the pot
• Placed plastic flowers inside and on top of the pot
• Glued the bottom and structural support with pebbles at the bottom.
• Finally, when the flower is still, place pebbles over the top till filled.

The flower in the corner represents the decaying of the left alone soul.

Materials:

• Pebbles
• Plastic Flower
• Cardboard
• Paint

Step 8: Carpet

The carpet was the most boring part if I'm being honest.

It is simply a rectangle cut out from a sock.

But you wouldn't want it to be too big or too small for the coffee table.

Materials:

• White/Coloured Sock
• Scissor

Step 9: Take a Picture (Optional)

You finally reached the last step.

Take A Picture!

• You can use your mobile phone to take a simple photo
• But I'd like to make it look fancy.

Tips:

• Pick out the right angle
• Have a good lighting

I Hope You Enjoyed!