This is a very interesting idea and one I have contended for years, is a viable, less expensive and equally as reasonable way to do things.  I WILL say this however, that you MUST have a consummate artist who is capable of turning cardboard into these props, set pieces and so forth - one who is visionary, creative and who thinks out of the box.

Definitely worth a longer, closer look. I'm going to have to try some of these. 

To TonyDi: May 28.08

Thanks for your comments! My focus with this website is to encourage the use of corrugated as an alternative to luan as a flat covering material, and as an alternative to potroleum based products.

As I state on the website, Corrugated is made of a high percentage of recycled content and requires less use of power tools, thus eclectricity. Think coal fired power plants contributing to global warming which is the biggest problem facing the world today. Working with plastics has it's own negative environmental problems.

I believe using corrugated can be effective without the user being a great craftsman or master scenic artist. Although the “Cardboard King” website projects are good ways to simulate real wood architectural and decorative elements, there is a simpler alternative or STYLE that can be created using corrugated, that has as much or more justification and validity as a totally realistic creation.

A quote from your post: “ ...to put something together from nothing and then finish it off well so it looks like whatever it's supposed to look like.” I have a question, does it have to look like something else? Why can't it look like corrugated cardboard as a representation of this or that?

In any case, my Guide attempts to give directions on working with corrugated that have been a problem all along. I cover fireproofing: SAFETY first, always!...and how to manage warping in the production process, and notes on storage.

Thanks again for your interest. I'd like to get an email: and talk more. georpett@gmail.com

George Pettit May 28.08

George YOU SIR ARE RIGHT.  The comment I made about making something from nothing then finishing it to look like other than cardboard rather than - as YOU state it - "Why can't it look like corrugated cardboard as a representation of this or that"?  - is much better than MY statement.  Maybe I meant that it's cool to take a cardboard BOX or FLAT SHEET and make a PROP out of it or a piece of furniture or WHATEVER.  I mean I just like the idea of someone looking at something made from cardboard and not being able to tell it's cardboard.  I mean not that I'm against cardboard - I've used it for years as well.  BUT - and here's the SADDEST part - a LOT of people look at sets and props and if it LOOKS like cardboard or if they can TELL it's cardboard, they automatically consider it "cheap" and a "poor representation" of whatever it's supposed to look like.  And yes, I've heard those comments made.  Yet, I've also seen and/or made use of cardboard, finished to look like what I was trying to make it look like and people HARDLY believing me that it WAS cardboard.  SO to me, it was a TOOL that while "cheap" to some, to me was FRUGAL, INEXPENSIVE, environmentally conscientious (can you say recycle) and just plain easy and fun to work with - especially if I could come up with a finish that made it look "other" than cardboard, well that was the fun part.  I never balk at what someone thinks if they recognize the cardboard I've used on a set.  Frankly I don't care what they think.  It was a TOOL used to build or add to the set without breaking the bank.  AND since it was there ONLY to enhance what the ACTORS were doing - then if someone didn't like the cardboard sets and spent more time criticizing that instead of "seeing the show" as a whole, suspending their disbelief (which some people often have no clue how to do) then that's their problem.  Doesn't change what good things I think about cardboard.  And I will and have continued to use it to the fullest and best whenever needed and compatible with what I was doing.

I just recently designed a show that had a set made entirely of cardboard!

Edited by bmiller025 - 3/08/10 at 2:34am