My local scrapbook supply shop has a huge “Dads and Grads” display in the front of the store. The table includes a massive array of graduation and Father’s Day-themed albums, embellishments and paper. In addition, the owner of the shop created the most incredible selection of chipboard scrapbooks. One spells out “Daddy,” another “Graduate,” and another “Congratulations.”
For as long as I have been creating memory albums, I have yet to master the art of crafting chipboard scrapbooks. I’m not sure what intimidates me so much about these unique albums, though I have a feeling it has to do with their non-traditional appearance. Unlike most scrapbooks, which are square or rectangle shaped, chipboard albums are made of different shaped pieces of thick cardboard. In many cases, the chipboard is cut so that each page of the album (including the cover) spells out a letter in a word, such as “LOVE,” “MOTHER,” “SISTER,” “TRAVEL,” “SUMMER,” “FRIEND,” or “BABY.”
For those of you who have never worked with chipboard, the thick, pressed fiber paper is typically made from recycled materials. While it can be made into albums, it is more commonly found as a scrapbooking embellishment. For example, you could cut a large piece of chipboard into a monogram letter to feature on a layout or use scraps to make a chipboard tag. Another option is to cut chipboard into a frame or use a Cricut machine and create individual chipboard letters to spice up a journaling block. I’ve also seen chipboard used to create flowers and other shapes, such as hearts and circles. Depending on how large you cut the chipboard, you could place a bunch of the pieces together on a single layout to create an eye-popping border.
Finally, jazzing up plain chipboard is a breeze. You could add a touch of shimmer by covering your chipboard pieces with glitter or sequins. Other decorative options include acrylic paint and ink. If you are short on time and money, consider covering chipboard with leftover scrapbooking paper, and then sealing it with a coat of decoupage glue. Rubber stamps, rub-on letters, or stickers can also be used to add interest to chipboard embellishments.
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