DIY Cardboard Cutouts

Have you ever wanted your very own little cardboard cutout or cardboard sign? Well, follow along to learn how to make one!

1. Cardboard
2. Paper Picture(s)
3. Glue
4. Popsicle Sticks
5. Paint & paintbrush or solid-colored paper(optional)
6. Scissors
7. Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks

Find the picture(s) you want to use and print them out to the size you want and cut them out. Find some cardboard that will fit the size of your picture(s). For glue you can use a squeeze bottle or a glue stick. I will be using a squeeze bottle of glitter glue because it's all that I have right now.

Glue your cutout picture(s) onto the cardboard. If your cardboard has printing on it you can glue the picture to either side, we will deal with that later if you glue the picture to the side without printing. Once the glue is dry, cut out the cardboard staying as close to the picture as you can. Now you have to decide if you want the cutout to stand on its own or if you want it as a sign on a stick.

If you want it to stand on its own, you will need a piece of cardboard with two straight edges. You will then put one side up against the back of the cutout and measure out a decent triangle that extends up towards the top of the cutout and away from the cutout so that the triangle can sit flat, then cut that out. For some larger ones you will need two of these triangles. Now you will use the hot glue to glue the triangle(s) to the back of the cutout. If you are going to cover the back with paper, please do this before attaching supports, you can see how in step 5.

You will need one popsicle stick for each sign. Decide how much of the popsicle stick you will need for the handle and mark that on the stick. Now you will flip the cutout over and use the hot glue to attach the popsicle stick to the back, making sure you leave enough room on the part of the popsicle stick that extends off so that you can hold it. If you are going to cover the back with paper, please do this before attaching the popsicle stick, you can see how in step 5.

At this point if the cardboard showing on the back of your cutout has some sort of printing on it you can paint it. I personally use black paint, but you can use any color you want, just do enough coats to make sure you cannot see any of the printing. If you do not have paint, you could also glue a solid-colored paper onto the back, trace your picture onto the paper then cut it out and glue it on, trim the edges if needed. I find it easier to glue the paper on before attaching the popsicle stick or supports.

Congrats! You now have your own cardboard cutout(s) and/or sign(s)!