Try cutting a piece of chipboard into a shape and painting it! Crackle painting is one way to give depth and dimension to your piece. First, cut the chipboard into the shape you want. Then paint the piece with acrylic paint, using a color that you want to show a little bit under the main color. Then coat the entire piece of painted chipboard with crackle medium. After the crackle medium is completely dry, paint the piece with a different color acrylic paint. To achieve the best “crackly” effect, apply the top coat of paint fairly heavily. As the paint dries the crackle will occur. You can use this painted chipboard by itself or embellish it with alphabet rubons or stickers, or phrase or word stickers. You may also want to seal the piece with crystal effects or Modge Podge. Carmen Lovell has created these fun embellishments using the crackle technique. In the picture to the right!

   Another fun painting idea is to paint the shape with one color acrylic paint, let it dry, paint a second coat of a different color, let is dry and then lightly sand the piece to expose the first paint color underneath.

   Create a monogram letter by cutting a piece of chipboard into a large alphabet shape. Sometimes I use a sheet of alphabet die cuts as a template by removing the diecut letter I want and with an exacto knife, cut around the negative image of that letter. You can alter the chipboard letter by painting, inking or by cutting the same letter shape out of patterned paper, gluing it to the chipboard and coating the piece with a sealer to create a monogram letter.

Chipboard makes a great mini-album cover, frame or photo corner. I love the dimensional effect and sturdiness that you get from chipboard. Why not relax, experiment, have some fun and get your hands dirty this month playing with chipboard!