Want to make some fun art that stands up by itself and will always call attention to itself? Paint on a milk carton! If you've been hanging out here for a while, then you certainly know that I've had fun painting milk cartons in the past, here and here, and that I'm always keen on repeating a successful project when the need arises. "Need" in this case being that I'm spending the month painting flowers of all kinds, and slathering the left over paint on a milk carton is a great way to make a canvas that isn't precious! And that lovely green box hanging out with the milk carton, well that would be a tea box landscape, painted using only one color plus white! Around my house the craft project like to socialize with one another, so the painted apples came to play as well. And that friends is the fun of always having a creative project to display on your sideboard, and especially during the festive Jewish month of Adar, when we want to be smiling, as we get ready for Purim! Okay, back to that milk carton idea, keep on reading for a few tips, I would say I'm approaching expert status?
You'll Need:
- a milk carton
- sand paper (optional)
- gesso (optional)
- acrylic paint (not optional, this is the only kind that will stick to a milk carton!)
- a pink, orange and white paint pen (optional)
How To:
- Wash out that milk carton well and set aside to dry with the cap off (if there is a cap)
- If you are concerned about the longevity of your art, then you may want to either sand the milk carton a bit, or paint it with a coat of gesso. If have done neither and all was well once I started using student grade acrylic paint. Craft paint like those folk art little bottles can be used, but you must sand or gesso the carton first.
- If you are like me, prepare an abstract ground with all the left over colors from other projects, and then make a floral painting on top of that, finishing it with some paint pen mark making.
- Now, start hoarding milk cartons so that you can do this with the whole neighborhood, or for paint night?
Interested in more milk carton crafts? Take a look at all my past projects right here. Enjoy!
