How to Make Chipboard Covers
Chipboard provides a versatile palette for crafters' creativity, especially for scrapbook, photo album or journal covers. Covered or painted, using chipboard means you have the chance to indulge your personal style when designing your book's covers.
Things You'll Need
- Chipboard sheets or pre-cut shapes
- Graphite transfer paper or wax transfer paper
- Craft knife
- Acrylic varnish
- Acrylic paints
- Paintbrushes
- Embellishments
- Awl
- Scrapbook paper
- Bone folder
- Glue stick
- Clear contact paper (optional)
Instructions
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Painted Cover
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1
Trace the shape you want for your cover onto the blank chipboard sheet with transfer paper. Cut out the shapes with a craft knife.
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2
Apply varnish on both sides of the cover with a paintbrush. This will keep the paint from soaking into the cover too quickly.
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3
Paint the cover on both sides with the background color for your design. Allow it to dry and then apply a second coat, if needed. A 1 inch flat brush or a sponge brush may be the easiest for this step, but use a brush that is comfortable to you.
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4
Transfer your design onto the painted cover. If you aren't comfortable with drawing your own picture, use commercial tole-painting patterns, embroidery designs, coloring book pictures or even greeting cards designs, as well as clipart you find online.
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5
Paint the design with acrylic paints. The brushes you need will depend on the intricacy of your design's details. Allow the paint to dry and add a second coat if it is needed.
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6
Apply a coat of varnish over the painted cover to protect it.
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7
Embellish the design as you wish, using rubber stamps, stickers, beads, brads, other chipboard shapes or any other materials you like.
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8
Punch evenly spaced holes along one edge to add the covers to the pages in your book. Use binder rings, ribbons, leather thongs, lacing cord or other fibers to tie the sections together.
Papered Cover
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9
Cut the chipboard into the desired shapes with the craft knife.
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10
Cut the paper for the outside cover so that it is 1 inch larger on all sides than the chipboard. Fold the extra paper to the wrong side and crease it with the bone folder.
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11
Slip the chipboard under the flaps so that the extra paper wraps to the back of the cover.
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12
Glue the paper to the cover, taking care to avoid wrinkles or bubbles.
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13
Cut the paper for the inside cover to match the size of the chipboard.
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14
Glue the inside cover paper to the chipboard, covering the lapped front paper.
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15
Punch assembling holes evenly along one edge with the awl.
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16
Embellish your cover with whatever materials you like.
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17
Protect your covers by affixing clear contact paper to both sides.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Substitute double-sided scrapbook tape or glue dots to hold the paper in place.
Use the same steps to cover your chipboard with fabric. Embellish with paint, beads, rickrack and other trims, buttons, or any materials you prefer.
