CartonnOz – An Australian Version of ‘Cartonnage’
CartonnOz is my ‘take’ on the more formal French method of making boxes and covering them with paper or fabric called ‘Cartonnage’ .
History of Cartonnage
Basic List of Tools You Will Need
Making Book Cloth
A Very Brief History of Cartonnage
The art of making decorative boxes from cardboard was started around 1844 in Valréas in the Vaucluse region of France by a hairdresser named Ferdinand Revoul. He came up with the idea of making cardboard boxes to store silk worm eggs for use by the silk worm industry. His boxes were such a success that he decided to make boxes for other uses, including a ventilated box for silk worms, and in 1863 he was presented with a medal for his innovations at the Nimes exhibition. Perfumiers, jewellers and chemists started to use his boxes to enhance the presentation of their products. There is a museum of cartonnage in Valréas and there is a training section for “Cartonniers” at the local technical school. There are also lots of wonderful books published using traditional cartonnage methods.
I loved the concept of creating these decorative boxes, and wanted to include fabric and embroidery. But I wanted to make it a little easier to achieve. After some study of traditional cartonnage methods, and after taking some classes in traditional book-binding methods of box-making I have come up with ‘CartonnOz’ – Australian-style fabric-covered boxes!
Basic tool Kit Components
As with every form of craft you need a basic ‘toolkit’ … here are my suggestions to help you gather together your ‘CartonnOz Tool Kit’
1. CUTTING BOARD
A self-healing cutting board is an essential part of the tool kit. These are readily available from art and craft shops. They come in lots of sizes, but I would suggest you buy the biggest you can comfortably accommodate on your craft table.
2. CRAFT KNIFE
You will need at least one (and preferably two) heavy duty craft knives in your toolkit. The best kind, in my opinion, are the screw clamp knives with replaceable blades. These allow you to apply a fair amount of force on the blade when cutting thick cardboard without fear of the blade retracting back into the knife handle. These knives are available at hardware shops. I snap off a blade segment each time I start a new project to ensure I have nice clean, accurate cuts at all times.
3. STAINLESS STEEL RULER
A stainless steel ruler is important because that’s what you are going to use to supply the edge against which to guide your craft knife when cutting cardboard or card. I use a ‘Lufkin’ 300mm/12″ ruler most of the time, but also have longer ones on hand for bigger projects. You can normally find these at hardware or art shops. All the projects on this website are measured in centimetres or millimetres, so it would be a good idea to ensure that your steel ruler has those marked.
4. A SET SQUARE OR PLASTIC TRIANGLE KIT
I must admit to finding a set square a bit frustrating, so I use a ‘triangle kit’. This kit comprises several clear plastic right angle (90°) triangles which are marked with centimetres and millimetres. These are invaluable aids when measuring and drawing up the fabric wraps for the boxes.
5. BONE FOLDER
This is an bookbinding tool, which is also often used in scrapbooking to score, crease and fold paper and card. Originally they were made from the leg bone of animals like cows and deer, hence the name. These days they are made of plastic and I use mine to push fabric into tight corners and to smooth out fabric which has been glued to to cardboard. You can find them in scrapbooking shops and in craft supply shops.
6. SCISSORS
You will need 2 pairs of sharp scissors – one for cutting fabric and one for cutting bookcloth.
7. PAINT BRUSHES
You will need a couple of these, and it’s personal preference as to what kind you use. I like using a flat synthetic stiff bristle brush most of the time. Whatever you choose just remember – if you forget to wash the glue out of it after a project you’ll have to throw it away … so don’t buy expensive brushes!
8. GLUE
You will need a white, clear-drying, fast drying glue which is suitable for both fabric and cardboard. There are lots of glues on the market these days, but a white wood-working glue which washes out in water will work well. This kind of glue is readily available from craft and hardware shops. Buy it in a container which you can easily open and pour into a wide necked jar with a lid for easy access.
9. PENCILS and PENCIL SHARPENER
A very sharp HB pencil for marking up cardboard and a very sharp 2B pencil for marking up bookcloth. The sharper the pencil, the more accurate your measurements and cutting will be.
10. MASKING TAPE
A roll of 2.5cm (25mm) wide masking tape. This is thin paper tape with an adhesive backing which I use to join my box corners together.
11. EXTRA STUFF
3 Jam Jars – 1 with a lid for keeping the glue in, 1 to put water in and 1 to hold your brush upright during a project
2 Wipe Cloths – 1 dry to wipe any excess glue from a project and 1 damp to wipe fingers free of glue
Fine Grade Sandpaper and Sanding Block – for smoothing edges of boxes
12. SCRAP PAPER
Start saving your scrap paper (not newspaper as the ink will transfer onto your project). You will need lots of this to lay under your projects when gluing. Old magazines, flyers, and general office scrap paper are all suitable. I have a tub in my studio where I throw all my household scrap paper so that I always have plenty on hand.
How To Make Bookcloth from 100% Cotton Fabrics
Gather Together The Following:
100% cotton quilters fabric (this works best) to size required, ironed flat
Heat ‘n’ Bond® Lite iron on adhesive to size required
Piece of white acid free tissue paper, ironed flat to remove fold marks if necessary
Iron and ironing board
Method:
1. Following the directions on the back of the packet of Heat ‘n’ Bond Lite®, apply the adhesive to the wrong side of the fabric, using an iron with the steam feature turned off and the temperature set to low.
2. Allow to cool and peel off the paper liner from the adhesive.
3. Place the piece of acid free tissue paper on top of the adhesive, ensuring that it covers all of the adhesive. If it doesn’t the adhesive will melt onto your iron – yukko!
4. Iron over the tissue paper as you did when applying the adhesive.
5. Once done, flip over the fabric and iron again.
6. Once cool, trim any tissue paper that is hanging over the edge of the fabric.
7. Et voilà! Bookcloth good to go!
