26 Chipboard Techniques for Scrapbook Pages

Want to add punch to plain old chipboard? Try these 26 ways to dress up your standard pieces.

Designs by Sarah Milne

Paint and Sand

Paint the letter orange and let dry. Sand the edges. Apply a glossy paint coat with a tip, carefully pushing the product to the edges to form a dome over the letter. Let dry. Add three jewels.

Cover with Patterned Paper

Run polka-dot paper through a Xyron machine. Apply the paper piece on top of the chipboard letter and rub firmly to adhere. Use a craft knife to trim off excess. Ink the edges with black.

Cover and Add a Jewel

Run teal paper through a Xyron machine. Apply the paper piece on top of the chipboard letter and rub firmly to adhere. Use a craft knife to trim off excess. Sand the edges to reveal the white paper core. Adhere a jewel to a small paper flower and adhere it to the letter.

Add Paper Cutouts

Paint the letter green and let dry. Trim stars from patterned paper and adhere to the chipboard. When it's dry, trace a fine black line around the inside edge of each star.

Cover and Ink

Run polka-dot paper through a Xyron machine. Apply the piece on top of the chipboard letter and rub firmly to adhere. Use a craft knife to trim off excess. Ink the edges of the chipboard black.

Add Metallic Paint

Apply metallic paint to the chipboard letter by pushing it to the edges with the tip of the bottle. Let dry completely.

Paint Stripes

Paint the entire letter white and let dry. Paint orange stripes on top and let dry. Using a fine black pen, draw a straight line between each pair of stripes. Coat the chipboard letter with glossy paint; let dry.

Get a Crackle Finish

Paint the chipboard letter blue and let dry. Apply crackle paint. The crackling will appear as it dries.

Substitute a Jewel

Paint the chipboard letter black and let dry. Sand the edges. Replace the dot of the "i" with an orange star jewel.

Cover and Sand

Run green paper through a Xyron machine. Apply the paper piece on top of the chipboard letter and rub firmly to adhere. Use a craft knife to trim off excess. Sand the outer and inner edges.

Mask and Paint

Apply thin tape as a mask to make stripes. Paint the letter green and let dry. Pull off the tape.

Add Jewels

Paint the chipboard letter blue and let dry. Add a line of jewels to the front.

Make Circles

Paint the chipboard letter white and let dry. Apply hole reinforcers as masks around the letter. Sponge around the holes with orange paint. Allow to dry completely and then peel off the reinforcers.

Add Contrasting Jewels

Paint the chipboard letter green and let dry. Adhere blue jewels to the front.

Add Transparent Stickers

Apply transparent definition stickers to the front of the letter and trim off excess with a craft knife. Adhere a blue star jewel on top.

Include Paper Flowers

Paint the chipboard letter orange and let dry. Sand the edges. Add small white paper flowers randomly over the top. Apply a thick coat of clear paint over the top.

Outline the Letter

Go around the edge of the letter with a fine black pen.

Add Glitter

Paint the chipboard letter blue and let dry. Apply glitter glue on top by brushing it on with a paintbrush. Add additional layers of glitter glue as you like.

Place a Sticker on Top

Lay a sticker on top of the chipboard letter. Trim off excess with a craft knife. Sand the edges and ink with a black pad.

Layer on Paper

Run striped paper through a Xyron machine. Apply the paper piece on top of the chipboard letter and rub firmly to adhere. Use a craft knife to trim off excess. Sand the edges.

Trim with Decorative-Edge Scissors

Paint the negative piece of the chipboard letter green and let dry. Paint the chipboard letter black and let dry. Coat the letter with clear paint. Trim the top of the green piece with pinking shears. Sand the edges. Place the letter inside the negative space.

Add on Paper

Run striped paper through a Xyron machine. Apply the paper piece on top of the chipboard letter and rub firmly to adhere. Use a craft knife to trim off excess. Sand the edges. Apply a clear coat of paint over the top.

Add Sticker Strips

Adhere sticker strips to the letter horizontally. Trim off excess with a craft knife and sand the edges. Ink the edges with a black pad.

Paint and Outline

Paint the chipboard letter green and allow to dry. Outline the letter with a fine black pen. Adhere an orange jewel to a white paper flower and adhere it to the letter.

Paint and Sand

Paint the chipboard letter orange and let dry. Sand the edges.

Paint and Add Jewels

Paint the chipboard letter black and let dry. Add jewels along the letter edges.

SOURCES Patterned paper, chipboard: Scenic Route Paper Co. Acrylic paint: Ranger. Jewels: Heidi Swapp. Paper flowers: Prima. Stickers: Making Memories.