Chipboard: what is it and how to do the work yourself

If you just started to get involved in scrapbooking technology or have not yet studied the names of all the materials and tools, then most likely you do not understand the meaning of the word "chipboard". What is it, how it is used, you can learn further. Postcards, albums and other souvenirs will be much more effective if they are decorated with such elements. You can buy or make them yourself. Despite the fact that the range of store options is large, you will make an exclusive thing yourself.

Chipboard: what is it

This name is understood as a special cardboard used for performing decorative relief workpieces for scrapbooking, and these details themselves. They can be made in the form of text, pattern, hearts, colors, complex compositions. The thickness of such a blank is also different. In fact, it is a carved silhouette of some object of simple or complex shape. The following illustration shows the purchased chipboard. What is it, you already understood, but most likely wondered about how to make such a piece yourself, because you can not always buy such a detail as you need. Especially because the exclusive decor looks much more impressive than the factory one, stamped according to one template.

In fact, you can make a stencil in the form of letters or any other object at home. Nothing complicated. The main thing is to understand the technology and be patient.

Tools and materials for work

To make a chipboard with your own hands, you will need the following:

• A sheet of paper for printing a drawing;
• Tracing paper, in order to translate the template onto the cardboard;
• A sheet of cardboard of the thickness you need;
• A simple pencil;
• Scotch tape (painting or usual);
• Sharp knife;
• A solid substrate on which you will cut (special tablet, board);
• Sandpaper (skins) for processing irregularities along the edges of the workpiece.

As you can see, nothing special or expensive is needed. All, most likely, is already at hand.

Chipboard for scrapbooking with your own hands

To make an element in the form of text, ornament, or other object, work like this:

1. Find a suitable version of the outline image or create it in the image editor.
2. Print the picture on the sheet.
3. Now the image needs to be transferred to the cardboard. Depending on the complexity of the object, choose the method of further work. If the contour is simple and you make one object, cut out the pattern and circle on the cardboard.
4. If you have printed words in which you need to keep the distance between the letters, a complex ornament, then use the tracing paper. Place the sheet on the template and circle it with a simple pencil. To avoid accidental tracing, it is better to fix it on the basis of an adhesive tape.
5. When the repainting is complete, remove the tracing paper from the stencil and circle the drawing on the back of the tracing paper.
6. Put the tracing paper on the cardboard. Reinstall it again.
7. Circle the drawing again. Graphite on the back side is printed on cardboard.
8. If the contours are visible very poorly, circle the pattern on the cardboard once more sharply, so that later you do not have to strain your eyesight.
9. Begin to cut the parts along the contour with a sharp knife. The usual mock office clerical version will do. If the tool is sharp, it will be difficult to cut and the edges will come out with jagged edges. Since the cardboard consists of several layers, it is possible to cut the elements several times with less effort. So it will turn out more accurately.
10. When all the elements are cut, treat the edges of the workpieces and the side parts with sandpaper if necessary.

How to decorate a chipboard

In some ornaments that are performed using scrapbooking technology, chipboards are used unprocessed, but are often used as a basis. Cut out a pattern or letters can be painted in one color with several smooth transitions, create the effect of peeling paint particles by applying paraffin to these areas and then re-staining, making craquelure, creating a relief surface, applying sequins, a microbiisor.

So, you met a new concept for yourself - chipboard. What is it and how to use it - you know. Now it's time to start practicing: to buy suitable blanks or to make them yourself and actively use them to decorate works in the scrapbooking technique.