Forum > Papercrafting > Topic

Chipboard?

Topic Closed

Feb '08 DittoBabyGirl

Does anyone here make their own chipboard letters rather than buying them? I had read that you can use the back of like a legal pad as that would be the right thickness. So I collected a bunch of legal pad backs and set out to make some cool chipboard letters. Problem is neither my Sizzix or Cuttlebug are able to cut the chipboard. Other than hand cutting them out does anyone have any suggestions? Aside from buying them of course lol
Feb '08 Nancy Keslin

RE: DittoBabyGirl: Does anyone here make their own chipboard letters rather than buying them? I had read that you can use the back of like a legal pad as that would be the right thickness. So I collected a bunch of legal pad backs and set out to make some cool chipboard letters. Problem is neither my Sizzix or Cuttlebug are able to cut the chipboard. Other than hand cutting them out does anyone have any suggestions?...

I use my regular sizzix dies. Or handcut. Don't have an electronic cutter that will take that thickness
Feb '08 Siameseplease

RE: Nancy Keslin: I use my regular sizzix dies. Or handcut. Don't have an electronic cutter that will take that thickness

I have not had any trouble cutting chipboard in my Sizzix. I have the old style red one and I just have to push the handle up and down a few extra times. Maybe you need to make a shim for the Sizzix? I have not had to try this, but others have said it works for them when they have cutting problems.
Feb '08 Vivian Loves BLING

RE: Siameseplease: I have not had any trouble cutting chipboard in my Sizzix. I have the old style red one and I just have to push the handle up and down a few extra times. Maybe you need to make a shim for the Sizzix? I have not had to try this, but others have said it works for them when they have cutting problems.

The thick dies for Sizzix will handle chipboard but not all chipboard are acid free. In fact if anything is recycled paper, chances are it is acidic.

Frankly, I don't like working with chipboard. To get the thickness of chipboard, I'll cut out several of the same shape/letter and adhere them together to get the thickness of chipboard. This works great with cardstock and plain papers. I can cut with my Wishblade or thin Sizzix dies or Cuttlebug dies.
Feb '08 BlingQueenRia

RE: Siameseplease: I have not had any trouble cutting chipboard in my Sizzix. I have the old style red one and I just have to push the handle up and down a few extra times. Maybe you need to make a shim for the Sizzix? I have not had to try this, but others have said it works for them when they have cutting problems.

I haven't cut chipboard LETTERS because I cannot find a Sizzix Originalz alphabet I like enough to spend so much money on. I like the Bigz, but I DON'T like having to buy each letter individually for $20/each letter. But I have cut chipboard shapes: tags, pumpkins, Christmas stockings.

You can use the Cuttlebug, but you have to use Sizzix Originalz or Bigz, or Ellison Thick Cuts dies with it. (Or any other thick die.) You don't need the white spacer, just the die and the cutting mats. I hope that helps!
Feb '08 Scrappin...mom

RE: BlingQueenRia: I haven't cut chipboard LETTERS because I cannot find a Sizzix Originalz alphabet I like enough to spend so much money on. I like the Bigz, but I DON'T like having to buy each letter individually for $20/each letter. But I have cut chipboard shapes: tags, pumpkins, Christmas stockings. You can use the Cuttlebug, but you have to use Sizzix Originalz or Bigz, or Ellison Thick Cuts dies with it. ...

I bought 100 sheets of 4x6 chipboard off ebay. It is .028 weight and was 3.95 plus 4 dollar shipping. (I guess I should specify, this chipboard is acid free.) This weight is maybe the size of 2 credit cards put together? I have been cutting this chipboard just fine on my cuttle bug with the cuttlebug dies. I also trace shapes and stuff and cut it out by hand. Maybe the chipboard you are using is too thick of mushy?
Feb '08 Scrappin...mom

RE: BlingQueenRia: I haven't cut chipboard LETTERS because I cannot find a Sizzix Originalz alphabet I like enough to spend so much money on. I like the Bigz, but I DON'T like having to buy each letter individually for $20/each letter. But I have cut chipboard shapes: tags, pumpkins, Christmas stockings. You can use the Cuttlebug, but you have to use Sizzix Originalz or Bigz, or Ellison Thick Cuts dies with it. ...

Have you seen the sizzlets letters called round- a-bout? also, the red tag sale by cuttle bug is cute. Both of these are nice and wide- good for big chipboard letters.
Feb '08 BlingQueenRia

RE: Scrappin...mom: Have you seen the sizzlets letters called round- a-bout? also, the red tag sale by cuttle bug is cute. Both of these are nice and wide- good for big chipboard letters.

Yes, those are really cute but the blades aren't deep enough to cut through chipboard. Sizzix and Cuttlebug don't recommend using the thin dies to cut chipboard. I do just fine with the Sizzix Originalz. Now I just want to find an Originalz (or Thick Cuts) alpha that I like well enough to shell out for.
Feb '08 Scrappin...mom

RE: BlingQueenRia: Yes, those are really cute but the blades aren't deep enough to cut through chipboard. Sizzix and Cuttlebug don't recommend using the thin dies to cut chipboard. I do just fine with the Sizzix Originalz. Now I just want to find an Originalz (or Thick Cuts) alpha that I like well enough to shell out for.

Hmmm... I haven't actually used the sizzlets round-a-bout on chipboard only cardstock. I wonder if it would work on really thin chipboard, like a cereal box. I think I need to go conduct a little experiment... I have used my cuttle bug dies on the .028 chipboard. Cereal box chipboard is .022. (I read this somewhere...)
Feb '08 BlingQueenRia

RE: Scrappin...mom: Hmmm... I haven't actually used the sizzlets round-a-bout on chipboard only cardstock. I wonder if it would work on really thin chipboard, like a cereal box. I think I need to go conduct a little experiment... I have used my cuttle bug dies on the .028 chipboard. Cereal box chipboard is .022. (I read this somewhere...)

I don't know. The alphas cost too much to replace for me to conduct experiments that might not work or might ruin the alphas. I'm too much of a chicken with high-dollar stuff like that.
Feb '08 Vivian Loves BLING

RE: BlingQueenRia: I don't know. The alphas cost too much to replace for me to conduct experiments that might not work or might ruin the alphas. I'm too much of a chicken with high-dollar stuff like that.

Remember cereal boxes are usually made with some percentage of recycled paper. So they'll usually be acidic. Just a word of caution.
Feb '08 BlingQueenRia

RE: Vivian Loves BLING: Remember cereal boxes are usually made with some percentage of recycled paper. So they'll usually be acidic. Just a word of caution.

That's why I've never used cereal boxes for anything scrappy. I'm too afraid of what might be in it. I get my chipboard from the LSS and also from calenders. (Those are just a hair larger than 12x12 and nicely thick.) The LSS' chipboard is acid free (should be) and the other I don't use near pictures unless I put a protective layer of acid-free cs between the chipboard and the pic.
Feb '08 DittoBabyGirl

RE: BlingQueenRia: That's why I've never used cereal boxes for anything scrappy. I'm too afraid of what might be in it. I get my chipboard from the LSS and also from calenders. (Those are just a hair larger than 12x12 and nicely thick.) The LSS' chipboard is acid free (should be) and the other I don't use near pictures unless I put a protective layer of acid-free cs between the chipboard and the pic.

Ok...all the alpha I've been trying have been the thin ones. I have the thick Shadow Box Sizzix dies...I'll have to try that. Thanks for all the tips! Maybe I'll break down and buy some chipboard to work with too :-) I didn't even think about it not being acidic. And I just promised myself I wouldn't buy any more scrappin stuff after all the ink I just bought. Shhhh...you won't tell, will you? Thanks guys!
Feb '08 Chrissymp74

RE: DittoBabyGirl: Ok...all the alpha I've been trying have been the thin ones. I have the thick Shadow Box Sizzix dies...I'll have to try that. Thanks for all the tips! Maybe I'll break down and buy some chipboard to work with too :-) I didn't even think about it not being acidic. And I just promised myself I wouldn't buy any more scrappin stuff after all the ink I just bought. Shhhh...you won't tell, will you? Tha...

Yes i do.I use cearl boxes or cracker boxes anything like that.I use my sizzix machine.They come out great i think.
Feb '08 BlingQueenRia

RE: DittoBabyGirl: Ok...all the alpha I've been trying have been the thin ones. I have the thick Shadow Box Sizzix dies...I'll have to try that. Thanks for all the tips! Maybe I'll break down and buy some chipboard to work with too :-) I didn't even think about it not being acidic. And I just promised myself I wouldn't buy any more scrappin stuff after all the ink I just bought. Shhhh...you won't tell, will you? Tha...
DittoBabyGirl Said:
Ok...all the alpha I've been trying have been the thin ones. I have the thick Shadow Box Sizzix dies...I'll have to try that. Thanks for all the tips! Maybe I'll break down and buy some chipboard to work with too :-) I didn't even think about it not being acidic. And I just promised myself I wouldn't buy any more scrappin stuff after all the ink I just bought. Shhhh...you won't tell, will you? Thanks guys!

Won't tell what?
Feb '08 DittoBabyGirl

RE: BlingQueenRia: DittoBabyGirl Said: Ok...all the alpha I've been trying have been the thin ones. I have the thick Shadow Box Sizzix dies...I'll have to try that. Thanks for all the tips! Maybe I'll break down and buy some chipboard to work with too :-) I didn't even think about it not being acidic. And I just promised myself I wouldn't buy any more scrappin stuff after all the ink I just bought. Shhhh...you won'...

LOL
Feb '08 Kim222

RE: DittoBabyGirl: LOL

If you're worried about the acid, you can always spray your questionable chip with sprays specifically made for that. I'm not exactly sure what they are - I've never used them myself.

In addition to the thicker dies being able to cut chip, so can the Alpha Bars. They (as a set) are a little cheaper than the original alpha sets.
Feb '08 Gemini Twins

RE: DittoBabyGirl: Does anyone here make their own chipboard letters rather than buying them? I had read that you can use the back of like a legal pad as that would be the right thickness. So I collected a bunch of legal pad backs and set out to make some cool chipboard letters. Problem is neither my Sizzix or Cuttlebug are able to cut the chipboard. Other than hand cutting them out does anyone have any suggestions?...

I found out that not chipboard is alike. Some is thinner than others and does work in my Big Shot. If I want to use the thicker ones then I go to my LLS.
Feb '08 Kim222

RE: Gemini Twins: I found out that not chipboard is alike. Some is thinner than others and does work in my Big Shot. If I want to use the thicker ones then I go to my LLS.

One other thing I thought to mention---if you're going to be cutting out your own letters and shapes from chipboard, the scissors are going to be key.
I love my Tonic scissors for that. They make cutting it sooo much easier.
You can then sand the edges to make them smooth and ink or paint the edges to give them a finished look.
Feb '08 BlingQueenRia

RE: Kim222: If you're worried about the acid, you can always spray your questionable chip with sprays specifically made for that. I'm not exactly sure what they are - I've never used them myself. In addition to the thicker dies being able to cut chip, so can the Alpha Bars. They (as a set) are a little cheaper than the original alpha sets.
KimScraps Said:
If you're worried about the acid, you can always spray your questionable chip with sprays specifically made for that. I'm not exactly sure what they are - I've never used them myself.

The spray, though, is so expensive for how few times it would actually be used. It's cheaper to just put a layer of acid-free cs between the chipboard and photo. (Cutting out around the letter, of course.)