Recycle cardboard boxes for material to make your cutout.
Cardboard cutouts can be simple or elaborate projects. From the traditional paper doll, to objects such as footballs, you can create cardboard cutouts and fashion simple stands to enable the cutout to stand upright on a flat surface. Many online websites offer free templates for paper dolls that can be used as is or modified to fit your particular needs. Use recycled boxes or purchase new cardboard from craft stores.
Instructions
Cardboard Cutout from Tracing
1. Trace around the template/item you wish to make a cutout from. Many paper doll templates are offered online. Make a life-size cutout by tracing a person.
2. Color the image traced to the cardboard.
Color the traced image with markers, crayons or paint. If painting, allow the cardboard to dry.
3. Cut the item from the cardboard. According to Fiskars, scissors with large handles "feature larger finger and thumb loops to fit larger hands." Scissors should be able to withstand the thickness of cardboard.
Cardboard Cutout Using a Paper Image
4. Select the image to attach to your cardboard. Photographs, magazine images and printed images all work well. If you’re making a life-size cutout, enlarge your image according to your photo software instructions or take the image to a printing facility.
5. White school glue adheres well to paper and cardboard.
Glue the paper image to cardboard with school glue. Allow glue to dry.
6. Cut around the image and through the cardboard.
Making a Stand for the Cutout
7. Measure the length of your cutout with a ruler (for a life-size cut out, use a yardstick or a measuring tape). Divide this measurement by two for the length of the stand needed.
8. Measure to determine the size of the stand needed to balance the cutout.
Measure the width of your cutout at the narrowest point. Divide this measurement by two for the width of the stand needed.
9. Measure and cut a rectangle from cardboard according to the measurements in Steps 1 and 2 of Section 3.
10. Turn your cardboard cutout over so the wrong side is facing you. Measure down from the top of the cutout according to the measurement from this section. This will be the half-way point on your cutout. Make a mark with a pen.
11. Packing tape adheres well to cardboard.
Tape the top (one of the shorter ends) of the cardboard rectangle over the mark in the center of the cutout. Fold the rectangle upward and tape over the crease where the rectangle meets the back of the cutout.
12. Stand up the cardboard cutout and place on a flat surface. Adjust the width of the stand attached to the cutout until the stand balances the cardboard cutout and it remains standing on its own.
13. Measure the distances from the stand to the back of the cardboard cutout. Add two inches to this measurement.
14. Use scissors intended for cutting cardboard.
Cut out a rectangle the width of the measurement from Step 2 and the length from Step 6. This is the stand brace.
15. Measure and fold one inch from each end of the rectangle from Step 7. Place one folded section of the stand brace against the inside "triangle" of the cutout stand. Tape it in place. Put the other folded section of the stand brace against the back of the cardboard cutout. Tape it in place.
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