3D Metallic Holiday Sign for $10
6 Materials
$10-18
3 Hours
Medium
I know it is a bit early to be starting in on Christmas bliss, but who can help themselves? This is a fun and cheap way to add some metallic glitz to your mantle, or to hang on your door. To make this 3D metallic holiday piece all you need to do is save some cardboard boxes, grab some gold leaf and a box cutter, and get to molding. You could use the same technique to make any word of your choice!
Obviously this piece has a Christmas theme, but you could make someone's name or another word if you so choose!
SUPPLIES:
STEP 1: Trace and cut out the word
STEP 2: Cut cardboard strips
STEP 3: Glue the thick strips to your work
Once you are done, your word should look something like this. It will be able to stand on the strips you glued to the word cutout and will have a 3D effect.
STEP 4: Spray paint it
STEP 5: Cover it in gold leaf
tThen take your gold leaf and apply pieces over your adhesive.
If you only cover the seams it will still look pretty great and just has a more matte appearance with some fun glitz around the edge.
I decided to cover the front facing word cutout, so that it had a more metallic finish.
Part of me wants to make an entire quote this way and stream it across a wall in my apartment, but that would be quite a project!
Comments
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2 of 84 comments
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Pretty neat. I would add a paper coating to the front before adding the gold. The lines from the cardboard would not be so noticeable. Or cut the front out of a smooth piece like a cereal box or tablet backing.
It is really pretty though.
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You can also find single sided cardboard which bends very easily saving the step of scoring leftover cardboard. (halcyonyarn.com/weaving/62702400)
Frequently asked questions
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This is absolutely beautiful. It looks like something out of a high-priced home decorating store. The gold leaf is expensive, so you could use ModPodge and stick tissue paper over the seams. That spray paint that gives a rough textured finish would also work. GREAT idea! Where did you get your cardboard?
Yes, I would try this project, but I would use the smooth,
construction cardboard, which comes in many colors,
including gold (skips the painting part) so that all parts
are smooth and this cardboard is single layer and would
bend easily around the shape of your word. Is the back of
your word open, or did you cover the back of the word with
another cut out word?
From where did you get the word to print out?