tips & tricks...

**Edited to add:  Many of you have asked where I buy my chipboard and what thickness it is, so here are the details!  I use thin chipboard, not the heavy duty weight.  The thin weight cuts just wonderfully well using Papertrey Ink dies and my Sizzix Big Shot.  I haven't tried it in my Cuttlebug, but I have a feeling it would work just fine as well.  I don't buy my chipboard, I just save it from packaging, but you can purchase some thin chipboard HERE.  Please let me know if you have any other questions.  

Today I've got my first ever Papertrey Ink newsletter article to share with you and it's all about chipboard tips and tricks.  Chipboard has to be my absolute favorite medium to work with, my first love!  It's so fun to shabby up, make it grungy, elegant, whimsical, playful, clean, graphic, or leave it bare...you name it.  

These projects use several different techniques to transform chipboard including:D

• die-cutting
• stamping
• machine stitching
• painting
• distressing
• embossing
• applying glitter

To start with, I die-cut two tags from a sheet of chipboard using a couple of different Papertrey Ink dies including the Tag Sale #1 and #6 dies.  After they were die cut, I then embossed them using the Wrought Iron Impression plate.  Now comes the fun part!  

The next step is adding paint.  I love how it skips a few impressions here and there and fills in other areas creating a lovely, aged appearance.

Here you can see the very subtle embossing left from the Impression Plate.  Isn't it pretty?  

Now for the stamping.  I like to stamp directly on the chipboard before I sand the edges so that part of the stamping is also removed with the paint...gives is a bit more of an authentic look I think.  For this tag, I stamped the tag using the It's Official stamp set. The Framed Out #2 die cut is stamped using the Bitty Background Blocks set as well as the heart cut from the Heart Print die.  After stamping, simply distress the edges of your chipboard pieces using sandpaper and then apply ink.  I used Papertrey Ink's Chamomile ink. To finish it off, glitter is always welcome of course and that's what I added here.  I used Krylon Adhesive Spray and a light sprinkling of Doodlebug's Lily White Sugar Coating.

The same techniques were used on this tag. It's so fun to mix and match dies and create your own custom chipboard shapes.  I created a little, puffy, felt heart window by first die cutting chipboard using the Button Card die and then die cutting a heart from the center using the Heart Prints die.  I stitched Vintage Cream felt to the backside, creating a fun little window.

Why stop there, right?  Chipboard lovers...I tell you, once you try cutting chipboard using one die, you'll want to try them all?  It's a crazy addiction.  Below I created a tag for the top of my tag using chipboard and my Tiny Tag die.  

And then, because I love, love, love scallops and think there couldn't possibly be anything cuter than chipboard scallops, I added a row of them to the top of my gift bag using the Medium Scallops Border die.  This row of scallops was stamped using the Background Basics:  Gingham stamp and is topped with a row of felt cut using the Heart Border die.

Once again to recap:

• Die cut chipboard shape
• Emboss if desired
• Paint with acrylic paint
• Stamp
• Sand to distress
• And, don't forget to add glitter! 

So glad you stopped by.  Enjoy your weekend!

Melis

Sweet and Shabby Gift Tags Supplies:

 

InLinkz.com

Comments

[Becky Elliott]

Gorgeous tags!! I'm definitely going to try this! Thanks for the tips and tricks.

[Johanne L.]

Very beautiful tags. Love the techniques you used. Thanks for the tutorial.

[Suzanne Russell]

I'm so glad to get some step-by-step instructions for making your gorgeous, glittery, embellishments! Chipboard is just cardboard, right? I have long been confused about that and therefore didn't know what to do. Love the sample projects and now I can go forth and create with confidence! :)

[Renee VanEpps]

This was like crafty Heaven Melissa! Half way through I was still so excited to be getting step by steps from YOU, that I had to stop and start over so I understood every single word!! LOL!! No joke though, thanks so much for the tips I can not wait to try them out!!!

[Cindy]

Your tags are beautiful. A really cheap way to get chipboard is to save cereal boxes. They work great with PTI dies!

[Nancy]

love your step by step tutorial! I save all my cereal and oatmeal boxes for chipboard. I make alot of mini scrapbooks and find this the easiest to work with. I never thought to dry emboss chipboard - great idea! It also cuts well in the Cricut machine too. I make my own chipboard frames to use on cards.

[Debbie Olson]

So incredibly beautiful, Melis--love your article and hope to see many more from yoU!

Debbie

[Pendra]

Thanks for sharing some of your tips today... it is always so neat to see how you do, what you do! And I just adore what you do!!
Crafty Hugs,
Pendra

[Susan]

How brilliant a tutorial from you. I am hoping to create something as beautiful as your work. Thank you for sharing.