I've had several people ask me about how to cover or "dress" plain chipboard. Here are a few techniques to try.

Using Paint:

1. Get your favorite acrylic paint and use some newspaper to cover your work surface.
2. Using a foam brush, apply a thin coat of paint to the front of the chipboard. You may also want to paint the edges to cover it completely.
3. Sand the edges of the chipboard to make it look distressed or leave it as is.
   

Using an Xacto Knife or Blade: 

1. Put adhesive on the front of the chipboard.
   
2. Turn your patterned paper over so the white is facing you.
3. Put the sticky side of the chipboard down.
4. Use an Xacto knife to cut it out.
5. then you can either sand or ink the edges.

Using Sand Paper:

1. Put adhesive on the front of the chipboard.
2. Set the paper on it (not necessarily cut out in the same shape as the chipboard)
   
3. Then use sand paper and sand the edges of the chipboard. Note: The paper will get thinner and eventually "cut" off.

*This makes it look a little more natural than cutting out the shape and then gluing it on.

Usually, if the the chipboard is "undressed," meaning it's just plain brown, you can dress it up with paint, glitter, chalk, markers, paper, rub-ons, etc. Your imagination is the limit on covering it.

Good luck and Happy Scrapping!