Today's Tip!

Getting On Board with Chipboard
(compiled by Ann Jobes)

Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, chipboard is showing up as a standard embellishment on cards, mini albums, 3-D projects and especially on scrapbook pages.

Chipboard’s versatility is what makes it such a fun and favourable addition to your scrapbook pages and cards. It is kraft coloured, acid free, made of recycled paper and in the case of the chipboard available from Stampin’ Up!, die-cut ready to press out of 12 x 12 sheets (page 215; 95 elements/shapes for $14.95). Because chipboard is made out of cardboard, stamping directly on it will not leave a crisp clear stamped images. For smoother and crisper images stamp on cardstock or paper first and adhere that to your chipboard or ink or paint the element before stamping.

Here’s a list of things you can with your chipboard pieces to individualize each accent for your projects:

1. Stamps of course. Paint your shape and then choose word or image stamps stamp on the die cut. Black inked words on a heart painted red, for instance, can be quite dramatic. Or try inking on your alphabet stamps.
2. Get out your stamp pads and ink directly onto the chipboard. Pigment ink, such as our craft pads especially provide great coverage.(p200-203) Alternately, you can brayer your favourite ink colours on. Why not try the metallic ink? Heat set!
3. Acrylic paint – brush or spray on your favourite acrylic paints – try a metallic.
4. Use scraps of designer paper (p206-209) to create a collage look, or cover in one larger piece to co-ordinate with your page. To do this, place your letter on the wrong side of the patterned paper and trace with a pencil then cut out. This way you don't see the pencil lines. Cut out with a pair of fine tip scissors. To adhere, try the pop glue dots or dimensionals to make them stand out even more.
5. Adhere microbeads (p 232) to the painted chipboard die cut with Crystal Effects or Sticky Strip (p 226).
6. Use up your ribbon scraps by spraying adhesive on the chipboard and laying the ribbon scraps down on top. Trim off ends.
7. Try embossing on your chipboard. Stamp with VersaMark and sprinkle on the embossing powder. Use your heat tool to melt. Then use craft or classic ink directly on the die cut. Use a tissue to wipe off the embossed images.
8. Because the chipboard comes on a 12 x 12 sheet, you can use the chipboard 'template' that the letters and shapes come in to trace onto regular cardstock too!
9. Sand them. Apply ink, paint or designer papers and then take the sanding blocks (p222) to the edges.
10. Apply Pearl Ex (p 228) to create gorgeous sheen on your chipboard element. If brushed on with an AquaPainter filled with Future Floor Wax, or dabbed on after being mixed with Lumiere, no further sealing will be necessary. If rubbed on or stippled on over VersaMark, you’ll want to seal it with Crystal Effects or a matte spray.
11. Glassy Glaze creates a wonderful look. Cover a die cut with ink or paint. When dry, apply VersaMark and Glassy Glaze Enamel (p229) and use the heat tool to melt. Apply a second coat and while the enamel is still hot, press into it with an inked stamp. Let cool and remove the stamp for a cool look of tile.
12. Use up your Magic Mesh scraps (p 233) by placing on a painted or inked shape and trimming the edges.
13. Cover your chipboard with flowers. We have two fabulous flower punches (p 221); punch out a rainbow of colours, or go monochromatic.
14. Use Irridescent Ice embossing powder (p229) to achieve the look of glitter without the “shedding” that may accompany glitter. Drag your inked/painted chipboard element throught the VersaMark ink, sprinkle on the Irridescent Ice and use the heat tool to melt. Fun and fabulous look!
15. Use them like stamps, painting on the reverse side and pressing down onto cardstock to create a distressed image.
16. Adhere an assortment of different sized buttons (p 232) on the chipboard die cut using glue dots or liquid adhesive.
17. Apply spray adhesive to the shape and then wrap with fibers to add tons of texture to your page.
18. Coloured rub-ons are a no-muss way to dress up plain chipboard pieces. Go a step further by tracing around each rub-on with the Zig painty pen in gold/silver (p. 224)
19. Photos – Use a xyron machine or spray adhesive to adhere a photo to your chipboard die cut, turn upside down on a cutting mat and use a hobby knife (p 223) to trace the shape.
20. Use the Xyron, spray adhesive or VersaMark and Heat & Stick to adhere sand to the chipboard die cut, pressing down on the sand. Tap excess sand off. Accessorize with funky ribbon or rafia and use it along with a few small shells on your “fun in the sun” page.
21. Still have some extra, un-used alphabet stickers around. Place them collage style on your die-cut.
22. Apply metal leafing with a special metal leaf pen, available at craft stores.
23. To create a stucco look, apply Texture Magic, available at craft stores, with a palette knife.
24. Craft stores carry a line of spray paints that look like stone. Apply with a brush for a rougher texture.
25. Use spray adhesive to cover the die cut evenly and lay on a scrap of fabric to “dress up” a chipboard element. Trim around the edges.
26. Another way to apply ink: use craft reinkers. Pour a few drops onto a plastic lid or paint tray and then pick it up with a flat watercolour paintbrush. This way you could have co-ordinating colours on the same element.
27. Engrave it - with a sharp tool scrape designs into it and then use a paint brush to paint over and wipe off any excess paint that don't fall into the cracks. For a similar look, try this: Carefully cut lines in chip board after you have colored it; then carefully peel the top layer (or two) to create a grooved design.

For any of these ideas, to finish the look, don’t forget:

• Tie ribbon around the accent or punch holes and tie a ribbon through it.
• Add brads or hodgepodge too.
• Try layering smaller chipboard elements onto larger ones.
• The sky's the limit.