How to Decoupage on Chipboard

You can decorate a chipboard journal and then decoupage it to seal it.

Decoupage is a medium used to seal projects, mostly paper or painted items. It makes them water resistant and comes in clear gloss, clear matte or tinted shades. Chipboard works well as a cover for handmade scrapbook albums. You can decorate the cover however you like, including with three-dimensional embellishments, such as buttons, ribbons or flowers. When you apply decoupage to the cover, you have a durable yet inexpensive cover for your album.

Things You'll Need

• Decorative ink, paint or paper
• Chipboard
• Decoupage medium
• Foam or paint brush

Instructions

1. Decorate the chipboard as desired. The easiest method is to paint or ink the chipboard a solid color.

2. Cover the chipboard with paper precut to the size of the chipboard, using a glue stick to adhere the paper if you do not want to paint or ink the chipboard. Smooth out any bubbles in the paper from the center, taking care not to rip the paper. Distress the edges of the chipboard with sandpaper, as desired, or paint or ink them instead if you wish.

3. Apply a thin coat of decoupage medium with the brush. Repeat for backside of chipboard as desired.

4. Allow to air dry completely.

5. Apply another coat of decoupage medium, if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also decoupage raw or undecorated chipboard.

• Allow paint or ink to dry thoroughly before applying decoupage medium.

• You can also use this technique to cover composition books and make personalized journals, calendars or recipe books.

• A thin coat of decoupage helps the item dry thoroughly. It's better to apply two thin coats than one thick coat.

• Smaller pieces that are odd-shaped present more of a challenge to work with. Painting or inking these is easier than covering them with paper.

• Larger pieces are easier to cover with paper but can be easily painted as well.

• If you decide to predecorate your chipboard with paper, you will need to adhere some items such as brads, flowers or fibers before you glue the paper to the chipboard. Other items such as stamps and stickers can be added after you put the paper on the chipboard.

• Carefully apply decoupage around any lumpy items.

References

• Creativity Prompt: Embellishing Raw Chipboard Shapes
• Art at Home Studio: Decoupage Ideas