If you have just started to get involved in scrapbooking technology or have not yet studied the names of all materials and tools, then most likely you do not understand the meaning of the word “chipboard”. What is it, how is it used, you can find out further. Postcards, albums and other souvenirs will become much more spectacular if they are decorated with such elements. You can buy them or make them yourself. Despite the fact that the range of store options is large, you yourself make an exclusive thing.
Chipboard: what is it
This name refers to special cardboard used to make decorative embossed blanks for scrapbooking, and these details themselves. They can be made in the form of text, pattern, hearts, flowers, complex compositions. The thickness of such a blank is also different. In fact, it is a carved silhouette of an object of simple or complex shape. The following illustration shows a purchased chipboard. You already understood what it is, but most likely you asked yourself how to make such a blank yourself, because you can’t always buy exactly such a part as you need. Moreover, the exclusive decor looks much more spectacular than the factory, stamped according to one pattern.
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 DIY chipboard, you will need the following:
- a sheet of paper for printing a picture;
- tracing paper in order to transfer the template to cardboard;
- a sheet of cardboard of the thickness you need;
- a simple pencil;
- scotch tape (painting or regular);
- sharp knife;
- a solid substrate on which you will cut (special tablet, board);
- sandpaper (sandpaper) for processing bumps along the edges of the workpiece.
As you can see, nothing special and expensive is needed. All, most likely, is already at hand.
DIY scrapbooking chipboards
To make an element in the form of text, ornament or other object, work like this:
- Find a suitable version of the contour image or create it in a graphical editor.
- Print the picture on a sheet.
- Now the image needs to be transferred to cardboard. Depending on the complexity of the object, choose a method for further work. If the outline is simple and you make one object, cut out the pattern and circle on cardboard.
- If you have printed words in which you need to observe the distance between the letters, a complex ornament, then use tracing paper. Fill the sheet on the template and draw around the outline with a simple pencil. So that the tracing paper does not accidentally move, it is better to fix it on the basis of tape.
- When the redraw is complete, remove the tracing paper from the stencil and circle the drawing on the back of the tracing paper.
- Put tracing paper on the cardboard. Fasten again.
- Circle the pattern again. Graphite on the back is printed on cardboard.
- If the contours are very poorly visible, circle the pattern on the cardboard again brighter, so that then you do not have to strain your eyes.
- Start cutting parts along the contour with a sharp knife. The usual mock-up clerical option will do.If the tool is not sharp, it will be difficult to cut and the edges will turn out with notches. Since cardboard consists of several layers, you can cut through the elements several times with less effort. It will turn out more accurately.
- 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 scrapbooking jewelery, chipboards are used raw, but are most often used as the basis. The cut out pattern or letters can be painted in the same color with several smooth transitions, create the effect of peeling paint particles by applying paraffin to these areas and then re-staining, make craquelure, create a relief surface, apply sparkles, microbeads.
So, you met with a new concept for yourself - a chipboard. What is it and how to use it - you know. Now it’s time to start practicing: buy suitable blanks or make them yourself and actively use them for decorating works in scrapbooking technique.