What’s Cartonnage?
Art of box making using chipboard, fabric (or paper) and glue – with no-sewing required. Originated in France around 1880 and spread around the World nowadays as a wonderful form of art/craft.
"Cartonnage is the art of crafting unique, memorable gifts that enhance relationships, connect us to our family roots, and leave a lasting legacy."
Start your Cartonnage Journey
Easy to learn, quick to make, and always impressive.
1It’s an easy-to-learn hobby that helps you unwind, forget the stress of the day, and enjoy the beauty of creating something with your own hands. Unlike quilting or embroidery, cartonnage projects can often be completed in just a few hours—so you get that satisfying “I made this!” feeling without the long time commitment. Whether you're making a gift or keeping your creation for yourself, the experience is always fun, fulfilling, and full of delightful surprises. The best part? The beautiful results that come with every project—made with love, made by you.
2With cartonnage, you’re not just making a craft—you’re making something special. Each project is both pretty and useful, and it looks so neat and finished, it’s hard to believe you made it yourself! It’s exciting to see it come together, and the moment you take off the tape and see the clean edges is the best part. Create functional items for any age, that can be used daily—such as journal or notebook covers, pencil boxes, treasure or jewelry boxes, craft notions organizers, remote-control holders and on. These handmade gifts serve as a daily reminder that they are cherished, seen, and valued.
3Every project becomes a canvas for your personal touch—whether you’re choosing fabrics you love, adding embellishments, or designing something truly one-of-a-kind. With endless fabric combinations, no two pieces are ever the same. It’s the perfect way to turn your fabric stash into meaningful, handmade treasures. And whether you're gifting or keeping them, each creation reflects your style, your story, and the joy of making something from the heart.
Claudia has been designing cartonnage projects from over a decade, and at a certain time she felt the need of knowing and been more connected to her clients, students in a deep way, where they could inspire and be inspired, learn from others, share stories and be part of a group of fellow crafters that care, that cherish each other and keep making incredible gifts using cartonnage technique. With that in mind, the Club was created in 2020, right before the pandemic – and served as a wonderful way for fabric lovers stay engaged, positive and creative in their homes in such a challenging time for the world.
Since then, the club has been growing in connections, projects, events, and it’s now our pleasure to say that we have club members from 20 different countries, where JOY and fun is our priority. 60% of our first members are still part of the Club
which can speak by itself about the quality and engagement of our community.
When Claudia dreamed of expanding her Cartonnage teaching, she knew she needed a place where students could access all current and future project tutorials. She also wanted to connect ideas—so students could learn a concept and apply it to different projects. The best way to do that was by creating an online school that included courses, bonus content, and meeting recordings. It quickly became clear that selling individual courses wasn’t enough, since everything was so connected. That’s how the membership model was born—giving students unlimited access to a growing library of tutorials, projects, and community interactions, all for monthly or 6-month fee. The CLUB brings it all together: courses, projects, meetings, and creative friendships—in one place, for one price.
When Claudia had the idea of expanding her knowledge of Cartonnage with the Club, she knew that she would need a place where students could have access to all the project tutorials already available and many more that would come. And she also wanted the possibility of connecting projects, giving ideas and inspiration for her students learn a concept and apply to a different project, and so the only way of doing that was creating an online school with all those courses, and that also includes recording of meetings, extra bonus, etc. It quickly became apparent that selling standalone courses wouldn't suffice, as everything was intricately connected. Thus, the 'membership' model emerged as the ideal solution, providing students with unlimited access to the entire library of courses, projects, tutorials, and community interactions for a monthly or 6 months fee, where the member can stay for as long as wish. The CLUB represents the ultimate connection of courses, projects, meetings, and crafting friendships, all accessible in one place for one price."
Enjoy the fun of gluing fabric while following over 90 unique project tutorials, organized into detailed online courses. Each project typically includes video tutorials, and many are complemented by comprehensive PDF guides. As the Club is ever-evolving, new projects are added regularly. (If sold separately, each project tutorial might cost between $18 to over $100 depending of the complexity and tutorial style, but all are included in the Club without extra cost)
Utilize exclusive spreadsheets that calculate the required dimensions to customize some of the projects to any size, ensuring they perfectly fit your needs. (These tools are exclusive to members and are not sold separately.)
Participate in monthly virtual meetings with Claudia and other members, featuring occasional special guests. Recordings are available in the member area for those unable to join live.
Members receive exclusive products and special benefits at ColorWay Arts shop. For those on the "awesome" plan, enjoy a 10% discount, double loyalty points for additional discounts, and bulk purchase options for selected DIY kits.
Occasionally partake in special events such as local retreats, online courses, and webinars. Members receive preference and special discounts when these are sold separately.
For those that join in the “awesome plan” every membership fee and purchase in the shop gives double points in the rewards points which can be converted into additional shop discounts.
Engage with fellow cartonnage enthusiasts in our private community and through virtual meetings.
Find endless inspiration to craft special and memorable gifts for loved ones, creating and strengthening bonds of love, stories, roots, and legacy—an invaluable experience!
.
2. Project
Design Course:
Access a special online course dedicated to designing your own cartonnage projects, tailored to your individual requirements.
(This course is not available separately, but could be valued over $180).
Claudia's journey has been transformative—facing early signs of depression, making significant life changes by leaving her career as a food engineer and professor, and relocating abroad with her family without prior knowledge of the language or culture.
Through this program, that is in preparation and will be launched in 2025, Claudia will share her story, enriched by the challenges and triumphs she experienced along the way, including overcoming breast cancer and supporting her parents through their health challenges. Her healing journey was profoundly supported by crafting, which played a key role in her life as a daughter, spouse, and mother.
Although this program is not a traditional craft course, it will include special projects designed to help participants integrate these concepts into their lives and families, and they were designed specially with grandmas and moms in mind.
In this program, you'll meet more than Claudia the craft teacher; you’ll connect with Claudia the human being—one who has discovered inner peace and is eager to share her insights through videos, texts, audios, meditations, meetings, and more.
As this will be a brand new program by Claudia - at first Club members will get a very special discount to join.
Let's be inspired together and make life vibrant with the colors we choose to paint!
Because it's handmade from the heart!
With just fabric, chipboard, and glue, you can create something truly one-of-a-kind.
Cartonnage gives you the freedom to personalize every detail—size, shape, fabric, and even functionality—
so your gift is not only beautiful, but also
meaningful and practical.
You can make a keepsake box, a notepad cover, or a desk organizer, and much more - your gift will always carry that special handmade touch that store-bought items just can’t match.
REGULAR
Club Basic Monthly
Entire library of Club courses with tutorial/dimensions.
Exclusive events/products
Virtual monthly meetings.
$23/month + tax
MORE FLEXIBLE
Club AWESOME Monthly
Entire library of Club courses with tutorial/dimensions.
Exclusive events/products
Virtual montly meetings
10% OFF in the shop
Loyalty Program with double points (shop & club fee) to be exchange by discounts
Loyalty Program with special rewards options members (including Free shipping and Free product)
Buy more, save more with exclusive discounts for members
Exclusive discounts for courses/events
$31/month + tax
BEST CHOICE - SAVE MONEY
Club awesome - 6 months
Entire library of Club courses with tutorial/dimensions.
Exclusive events/products
Virtual montly meetings
10% OFF in the shop
Loyalty Program with double points (shop & club fee) to be exchange by discounts
Loyalty Program with special rewards options members (including Free shipping and Free product)
Buy more, save more with exclusive discounts for members
Exclusive discounts for courses/events
$155/ 6 month + tax
Full content access with tutorial/dimensions
Exclusive events/products
Virtual bi-monthly meetings
Full content access with tutorials/dimensions
Exclusive events/products
Virtual bi-montly meetings
10% OFF in the shop
Loyalty Program with double points (shop & club fee) to be exchange by discounts
Loyalty Program with special rewards options members (including Free shipping and Free product)
Buy more, save more with exclusive discounts for members
Exclusive discounts for courses/events
1
Select your plan and the monthly or annual option and become a member.
2
Follow step by step instructions and choose your favorite projects and start making them with your favorite fabrics with no sewing.
3
Receive special discounts and gifts using your rewards. You can make projects from scratch, but if you want to buy DIY kits, tools and supplies you will get discounts with the Loyalty program.
4
Get inspired and share what you make. Keep improving with each project. Make friends and get support from our cartonnage private community.
5
Give the most beautiful gifts! Make personalized gifts for family & friends, feeling joy and happiness, and make them feel special. Make a box - smile - Repeat!
"Made a drawer box for a friend's 70th. I was able to match with my medium supreme hinded lid box. So beautifully coordinated!"
Grace B.
"This weekend I spent my free time making both sizes of the supreme hinged lid box. Again, I'm very pleased with the results and so appreciate the DIY kits. Claudiia Squio your designs are genius."
Barbara G.
"This is a gift for a friend of mine for her birthday. Sure hope she likes pink!!"
Sandy B.
"So I thought I was done with the cigar box... well, I decided to make a mini cigar box to fit inside."
Kim Z.
"My hubby said, "Oh, you're making a Halloween box!" I said, "Nooooo, I'm making a cat lover's box!"
Gail L.
"OMG. I might just be hooked on these "cookbook" journals. I love them."
Lissa M.
I'm Claudia Squio, a Brazilian-American artist living in West Michigan and I help fabric lovers creating special memorable gifts using Cartonnage - the traditional art of making boxes covered with fabric or paper.
I design uniquely beautiful fabric boxes and cases, and teach this amazing technique at quilt stores, quilt guilds, and through my online cartonnage school. I authored the book “Cartonnage Basics & Beyond – The Complete Guide to Make Fabric Boxes”.
Besides creating my distinctive cartonnage pieces and teaching, I also develop DIY kits and tools that can be used by my students to have fun, feel the relaxing power of crafting, and to facilitate the process of fabric box/gift making.
Zoom Meetings
Link and Replays
Cartonnage Club Open House 2023 - Members Only
Let's make beautiful fabric boxes
Online Cartonnage Retreat 2022 (member's only)
Let's make the Double Fabric Tool Box
Designing Your Cartonnage Boxes
Have even more fun designing and making the box sizes you want!
Organizing with Cartonnage Boxes
Make unique cartonnage boxes to organize beauty!
National Cartonnage Day 2022 - Member's Only
Let's have fun making gift baskets and lidded boxes
Fabric Treasure Chest Plus
With hidden compartment
Making Fabric Traveler's Notebook (TN)
Learn how to make beautiful and functional fabric travelers notebooks
Fabric Cartonnage Workshop 2022 - Member's Only
Let's make the beautiful fabric cigar box with NO-SEWING using Cartonnage techniques
Online Cartonnage Retreat 2021 - Member's Only
Create a beautiful and funtional fabric cantilever organizer
Fabric Cartonnage Week 2020
Make beautiful fabric projects with NO-SEWING using Cartonnage techniques (Member's Only)
Making Cartonnage Fabric Boxes
Have fun making Fabric Boxes that are great gifts! (No sewing required)
Make It
Let's make unique cases, boards, fabric boxes - simple to make and great handmade gifts
Dream It - and Make It - The Cartonnage Design Challenge
Members designing a box collectively - Annual Challenge
Cartonnage Design Challenge 2022 - My Favorite Class
Round Cartonnage Suitcase
Create a beautiful and funtional fabric cartonnage box or suitcase
Mystery Glue Along
Make your unique cartonnage fabric box
Cork on Cartonnage Projects
How to make beautiful cartonnage projects covered with cork fabric
Cartonnage Fabric Folding Box
Have so much fun making unique surprise fabric boxes with no-sewing
Making a Fabric Treasure Box
Learn how to make a unique fabric box, a Treasure box, using cartonnage techniques. Great Gift!
Making a Reusable Fabric Journal
Learn how to make a unique reusable fabric journal cover
Making a Fabric Tray/Basket
Make a unique cartonnage fabric tray and basket using your favorite fabrics
Making Paper Covered Books
Learn how to make beautiful and funtional cartonnage paper covered boxes
Making Fabric Embellished Books
Make unique fabric cartonnage books
Your Art on Cartonnage Projects
Add your art (quilts, emroideries, paintings) to your projects
Carry All Purse/box
REGULAR
Club Basic Monthly
Access to new content and ENTIRE library of past projects, community and meetings. (No shop discounts and no special Loyalty Program)
This is a subscription product billed on a monthly basis until you cancel. Cancel anytime from the account management page.
$19.99/month + tax
BEST CHOICE
Club AWESOME Monthly
Access to new content and ENTIRE library of past projects, and all other benefits including 10% off in the shop and special Loyalty Program rewards with extra offers and discounts.
This is a subscription product billed on a monthly basis until you cancel. Cancel anytime from the account management page.
$27.99/month + tax
SAVE MONEY
Club awesome annual
Access to new content and ENTIRE library of past projects, and all other benefits including 10% off in the shop and special Loyalty Program rewards with extra offers and discounts.
This is a subscription product billed on a yearly basis until you cancel. Cancel anytime from the account management page - refunds are only given within 15 days of the payment.
$279/year + tax
