Altering Chipboard with Paper

Decorating Chipboard Shapes Using Paper Scraps

Dec 16, 2007 Susan Kristoff

Create simple embellishments for scrapbooking projects by covering chipboard shapes with paper.

Chipboard shapes make great embellishments for scrapbook and paper crafting projects. A simple way to dress up a piece of chipboard is to cover it with a scrap piece of paper. Any paper type can be used from thick cardstock to solid and patterned papers, to thin mulberry papers. Here are four easy steps for covering chipboard with paper:

Step 1 - Coat the front of the chipboard shape with a thin layer of adhesive. A paste adhesive, such as a glue stick, works best for this application. Liquid adhesive tends to warp the paper, and a tape adhesive may not provide consistent coverage over the whole chipboard shape. A glue stick is easy to handle and applies smoothly to the chipboard.

Step 2 - Press the chipboard shape firmly onto the wrong side of a scrap piece of paper. If the paper has a print, orient the print onto the shape. Smooth the paper across the surface of the chipboard. Set the paper aside and let the adhesive dry.

Step 3 - Put the paper down onto a self-healing mat with the chipboard visible. Use a craft knife to cut carefully around the chipboard shape. This does not have to be an exact process. In fact, it is better to leave excess paper around the chipboard edge, rather than cutting too close. Any excess paper can be trimmed away after the shape has been removed from the main piece of paper.

Step 4 - Use a small sheet of sandpaper or an emery board to gently smooth the edge of the paper against the chipboard, using downward strokes. Upward strokes could peel the paper up off of the chipboard. For tight spaces where an emery board does not fit, a miniature file works well to remove small fragments of paper. A piece of sandpaper folded over in half is useful for thin or pointed spaces.

The completed chipboard shape can now be used in any scrapbooking or paper crafting project. Chipboard gives added dimension to projects, and when covered with paper, it can be coordinated with the rest of the project. To learn more about other methods for altering chipboard, check out this article: Chipboard 101.

For the examples shown in the photos, the chipboard was manufactured by Maya Road. The glue stick was manufactured by UHU. The cardstock was manufactured by Bazzill Basics Paper. The red ribbon was manufactured by Hot Off The Press. The brown ribbon was manufactured by Offray. The floral paper was manufactured by Hot Hues. The "wish" rub-on was manufactured by Making Memories. All other materials are from the author's scrapbook stash and the manufacturers are unknown.

The copyright of the article Altering Chipboard with Paper in Crafts is owned by Susan Kristoff. Permission to republish Altering Chipboard with Paper in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Choose chipboard shapes and paper to cover them.	Cut excess cardstock away from edge of cardstock.	Finished chipboard flower on greeting card.
Finished chipboard square on gift tag.