BEST IDEAS FOR CRAFTING WITH CHIPBOARD YOU NEED TO KNOW

Inside: how to use chipboard in your craft projects. Even use the negative leftovers!

If you're like me you probably have lots of different types of chipboard.

Are you really using them in your craft projects or are you just buying them and let them sit around collecting dust?

Have you ever tried to buy them online but weren't sure what you needed?

If those questions sound familiar then I'm here to help you be a master of chipboard!

WHAT IS CHIPBOARD?

Chipboard is a pressed paperboard (non-corrugated cardboard). It's made by gluing fragments and layers of recycled paper together. The adhesive is applied using pressure and heat and ends up being smooth and rigid. The thickness varies from very thick to very thin, but it is always heavier than cardstock. Chipboard is popular for scrapbooking, card making, rubber stamp projects and more. It can be painted, inked, distressed, cut and glued. You can also buy chipboard shapes that are pre-cut.

WHAT ABOUT THE THICKNESS?

Unlike many other paper stocks that are categorized on a weight basis, chipboard is unique in that it’s categorized on its thickness. The thickness is measured by a point system. Each point is 1/1,000 of an inch. Light chipboard is 20 points or 1/42 of an inch. XL thickness is 32 points or 1/32 of an inch. Extra heavy ranges from 50 to 52 points and is as thick as a penny. The thickest 2X is 85 points or 3/32 of one inch, similar to the thickness of two dimes. Sometimes you'll see the measurement in inches or caliber but it's basically all the same.

To summarize: 22 point = 0.022 caliper = 0.022’’ they are all the same thickness just said in different ways.

THE RIGHT TYPE FOR YOUR PROJECT

Now that you know what thickness the chipboard is, how do you know what thickness you want? Here are a few thicknesses to help you get an idea of what you want for your craft project:

• LIGHT: 20 - 22 points or 0.022’’ thick – This is the thickness of a standard cereal box. It is thin and flimsy but cuts like butter with any cutting tool. It's great for embellishments and letters but without a lot of volume or height.
• XL: 32 points or 0.032’’ thick – This is about the thickness of a credit card. It has more rigidness to it than a cereal box but still is fairly bendable and will cut easily. Can be used to add texture to a scrapbook page or mixed media canvas and is easily cut with a knife or a die cut machine.
• EXTRA HEAVY: 50 points or 0.05’’ thick – This is about the thickness of a penny. It is thicker chipboard and a popular thickness for mini album pages and covers. It is fairly stiff though still bendable. It will require multiple passes to cut with a knife and a thick die to cut with a machine.
• 2X: 68 points or 0.068’’ thick – This is about the thickness of a nickel. It is great for boxes, covers, bases of mixed media projects or 3D projects. If you want to use this thickness be prepared to do several passes and stick to simple shapes.

TYPES OF CHIPBOARD

All types are great for craft projects:

• KRAFT: most chipboard is brown with some speckles running through it.
• GREY: chipboard made out of newspaper.
• CLAY COATED: chipboard which is chipboard but with a thin white coating of clay over it.

Sometimes embellishments or letters made from thin wood are also referred to as chipboard however they are not made of paper.

CHIPBOARD FOR CRAFTS

It is so popular that today you can get almost any type of chipboard you need for your craft project. There is basically two styles you can choose: plain that can be painted or covered and pre decorated. Both styles come in all of these options:

• SHEETS: typically square shaped pieces that can be cut into shapes, used as scrapbook pages and album covers, cut into frames, made into boxes, and more.
• LETTERS: come in many different sizes and every letter of the alphabet, so you can use them for many of your scrapbooking or home decor projects. They come pre decorated, as stickers, or plain to decorate yourself.
• SHAPES: almost any shape and size imaginable can be found in chipboard. Choose from laser cut 3D shapes, tags, flowers, and more.
• ALBUMS: lightweight and durable scrapbooking album covers.
• STICKERS: shapes with an adhesive backing.

DIY FAUX CHIPBOARD

If you want to use chipboard in a project but you don't have the right shape or it's too thick to cut you can make your own faux chipboard from what you have in your stash.

Do this:

1. Cut multiple shapes from cardstock. You can punch them, cut them with a die cutting machine or use scissors to cut the shapes. Pre cut shapes from cardstock will work great too as long as they are in the same size.
2. Glue them together to create a thick shape.
3. Paint or embellish.

HOW TO EMBELLISH PLAIN CHIPBOARD

The best chipboard to buy is plain because you can customize it to any project you want with various techniques. It might take a while longer but you won't get stuck with embellishments you don't use and always have the right embellishments for your project. Here are a few ideas how to embellish plain chipboard piece:

• PAINT

For most projects, you'll need to paint it prior to using. Inexpensive acrylic paint is available in a rainbow of colors at your local craft store and a few coats will transform your chipboard from plain to beautiful. You can also use metallic acrylic paints, oil paints and watercolors.

• DRY COLOR

Covering chipboard with dry paints like colored pencils or crayons will give the it a rusty and grungy look like it's not completely covered..

• BLING

Everything is better with bling! Use self-adhesive gems to add sparkle to any project. Use a few as an embellishment or cover the entire chipboard shape for added glitz.

• GLITTER/ FLOCKING

To cover chipboard with glitter or flocking, do not paint it prior to using. Cover it with adhesive, sprinkle glitter/flocking generously over the entire piece, then use your finger to rub glitter/flocking over the surface. Tap off excess glitter/flocking and you're done.

• OUTLINE

Once paint is thoroughly dry, use a pen to outline the shape of your chipboard. Specialty pens such as Posca or Signo work best - test your pen on a painted piece of scrap paper for best results.

• PAPER

Leftover scraps of patterned paper are perfect for adding a special touch to your chipboard. For best results do not paint it prior to using. Cover the top of your piece with adhesive, then place it upside down on the back of a piece of patterned paper. Using a craft knife, cut out around the chipboard, then use a piece of sandpaper to add a finishing touch to the edges. Another way is to trace the shape with a pencil and cut the paper with scissors.

• GLOSS

Bring a little shine to your projects by using Diamond Glaze. A liquid, dimensional adhesive that dries to a clear, glass-like finish, Diamond Glaze is easily applied and dries quickly to add a polished look to any project.

• RUB-ONS

Rub-ons come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors, and allow you to personalize your chipboard with patterns or words. Once paint is completely dry, trim selected rub-ons from backing and apply.

• SPRAY

Spraying is a great technique to add layers of color to the chipboard because the sprays are semi transparent and the different color layers can show through. Make sure to dry the layers in between spraying.

• INK

Use Distress ink to add a shabby chic look or a more vibrant ink for bold color. Apply the ink with a sponge, a lending tool or directly with the ink pad.

• EMBOSS

Cover the chipboard with embossing powders to add even more dimension to it. You can use painted or un-painted pieces depending if you want the color to show or not.

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CHIPBOARD

Most pre cut chipboards come in sheets with multiple shapes on the sheet. Using the different shapes on your projects is obvious but what do you do with the negative, the empty sheet that is left? Here are three ways you can use the negative chipboard:

1. Use the leftover sheet to add height.

Here's how:

• • Cut the leftover sheet to little pieces.
  • Attach them under embellishments instead of foam tape.
  • Layer a few pieces for extra height.

2. Add texture to a project.

Attach the negative chipboard to a canvas and then cover with gesso and paint.

3. Make a feature in the project

Use the entire negative chipboard sheet as an element on the project. See a full step by step tutorial HERE

Looking for more ideas to create with chipboard? Check out these tutorials:

• Halloween mini album (the binding technique is good for every album)
• How to use chipboard
• Chipboard box

Leave me a comment letting me know how you use your chipboards?

SAVE it for later - PIN IT!

Have fun creating!