Homemade chipboard ideas?

I was perusing the shelves in HL this morning and continue to be amazed at the price of chipboard. I was reading a post today about using cereal boxes to make your own chipboard and that got me to wondering about other possible ways to make your own. Does anybody do this and have any ideas you would share? When using cereal boxes, etc. do you just cut out the letters, shapes, etc. using stencils? Anybody cover chipboard letters with patterned paper ? Is this difficult? I love the way chipboard "pops" off the pages of layouts(!), I'm just brand new to using it. Thanks for any ideas you can share!!

you can cover chipboard pretty easily by modpodgeing the paper on to it. You can either draw out, trace, or stencil onto the cereal box, or just free hand cut if your that brave.

You can also paint it, stamp on it, emboss it, ink it, etc.
If you want it a little thicker, you can also layer it to the thickness you want before working with it.
If you do layer it, you might want to sand the edges so it makes smooth and even.
Have fun!

sadly i'm not on the chipboard wagon, hope you get some cool ideas

You can buy chipboard pretty cheap from Kelly Paper or another business paper supply place. They will even cut it to size for you and they carry several thicknesses. Sometimes they have a bargain bin where you can get 12 pieces for about $1.50.

I try to diecut chipboard using a Big Shot ro the diecutting machine at an LSS. I try to do the paper at the same time so I don't have to worry about getting out an exacto knife later.

If I have pre-cut chipboard I need to cover, those files from Basic Grey are pretty nice for getting into the corners to smooth them out. I rarely buy pre-cut chipboard any more though. And the stuff I do have, I have been painting or inking it instead of covering it with paper--the chalk inks come out really nice on chipboard. hth

Thanks for the tips!

I have about 15 pounds of "found" chipboard at home. I love it! I have the original Sizzix and those dies cut through chipboard without a hitch (sometimes I have to pull the handle down twice, but no big deal). Once I cut the chipboard I either cut the matching letter or shape in pp and use my Xyron 150 to glue them together. Or I paint the chipboard (with acryllic paint or if I'm feeling lazy just an ink pad).

I've also just hand drawn shapes like arrows on the chipboard and cut them out, paint them and sand the edges to clean them up a little. When you cut them, the best tool to use is a very sharp craft knife; scissors just don't work as well.

Also keep in mind that cereal boxes, tissue boxes etc. may not be acid free, but the chipboard you get to protect paper when you order it online is acid free. So if you're particular about being archival safe, just keep that in mind (I'm not so I don't care so much).

• Jennifer Priest Said:

I was wondering what diecutter would cut chipboard. My friend has a Quickuts and we were pretty sure it would not cut the chipboard we have

IMO, cereal boxes are really not chipboard. It's just too thin.

I have some thick chipboard (from the back of legal pads). It is HARD to cut!
I would love to be able to get some nice shapes out of it. Maybe I'll take some to the Craft Warehouse and see if their hefty diecutter will do it.

I make my own by layering multiple pieces of cardstock. It's a great way to use up unsuitable colors and I know it's acid free because I made it.

Making your own chipboard out of several layers of cardstock is a great way to use your die cut machines and make custom chipboards. I used this technique on a Halloween layout.

This price doesn't seem too bad for blank chipboard ... 20 Pcs of Chipboard.