FAQ's: a lay person's guide to corrugated packaging materials & Corrugated Mosaic.
This important question does not get asked very often, but bears explaining:
What is the difference between CARDBOARD and CORRUGATED?
Cardboard is rather like particle board, tiny fibers pressed together: it is not very strong. It is the paper used in most cereal boxes. It's thickish gray paper printed with colorful pictures and text. This goes into the mixed paper bin at the recycle station.
Corrugated is more like plywood in that it is made up of multiple layers which increases its strength and durability. It is the combination of one or more fluted (corrugated) layer(s) sandwiched between liners of flat paper. This material is usually brown but may be printed on the outside of the carton to advertise the company or contents. People in the packaging business just call it corrugated.
This goes into the corrugated or 'cardboard' recycling bin.
Where does triplewall corrugated come from?
Ordinary boxes are commonly made from singlewall or doublewall corrugated. Triplewall is a little more unusual. The next time you're in a grocery store, look for the giant corrugated paper bins that hold melons, pumpkins or bags of vegetables. The first one I got held bags of carrots so I generally refer to them as carrot corrals although they are really called triplewall bins or totes.
Where do I get my corrugated materials?
99% is post-consumer packaging from recycle bins, dumpsters, alleys, stores, and anywhere I spot a nice looking, orphaned box.
In recent years, more elaborate and colorful packaging materials have evolved. I sometimes find dyed colors and even different flutes - like wave flute and other variations.
How do I get all those colors?
"Shopping" for corrugated is an exciting treasure hunt, I never know what I may find.
Above are some of the natural colors I've found inside corrugated boxes. The outer layer of most cartons is brown. I look under the top layer to see what color may be hiding under the surface. Most are plain brown inside but now and then, I find something unusual and exciting. The "zebra" stripes (on the tops of some of the corrugations) are from a dark glue that was used to adhere the layers of paper. Most glues are transparent.
In the detail above, the red corrugated was painted before being cut into pieces.
In the detail above, the green corrugated was found abandoned after an indoor art festival. The black corrugated was from a shoe box found in a recycle bin. I didn't need to paint these.
How do I peel the top layer off?
It took me awhile to figure this out, so I consider it a "trade secret" but if you think about it, you can probably figure it out too. Over the years I experimented with a variety of techniques, with many levels of success.
When selecting box material to peel, I look under the top layer of paper. I consider the size of the flutes, the color of the corrugated paper, the cleanliness and general condition of the box and the color of the glue used. Most of the glues are clear, but sometimes I find tinted glue which will leave a residue line of color along the flutes.
This is the shelf in my studio where I organize my peeled corrugated according to color and size of the flutes.
What if someone wants a custom or personalized gift for a special occasion?
I love creating something unique, something that someone will treasure and they will know they are cherished. Clocks, lamps, baskets and boxes are very adaptable and can be personalized to relate to a special interest, hobby, profession or theme. Another of the great things about Corrugated Mosaic is that it is so lightweight and easy to ship.
The easy way to start this process is to send a message via email; you'll find my email at the bottom of each page. Try to give me some information about the occasion and the person(s) interests and preferences. The more information I have the more creative I can be when I respond to your inquiry with ideas for a personalized gift that you will love to give. Also, try to give me an idea of the timeframe. I can often fit a rush order in, but need as much notice as possible. Even if I'm out of town, I check my email regularly and will get back to you.
How do I make a purchase, I don't see a shopping cart?
To keep it simple, I have an Etsy shop.
Click this image to go directly to CORRUGATEDmosaic @ Etsy.
