Let’s Talk Shingles

©2025 Teri Hanson / The Covered Chipboard

I love to sit down with my favorite beverage and work on shingles for a project. It’s something you don’t have to think about to much and can be very relaxing. My favorite type of shingles are the ones I make from cardstock in strips as they are so easy to work with! You simply glue add glue or double sided tape to the strip portion of the shingle and attach to the roof. Do the same with the next strip and attach it just above the previous strip. At times you will need to slide the strip left or right to keep the pattern random but that is the only time you truly have to think about it.

With cardstock shingles you can paint them once they are applied in random colors as seen above or in one solid color if you wish. Start with a base color of shingles that closely matches your desired end roof color. Mix up the same shade of paint as the cardstock and create several shades from dark to light. Use a small brush and randomly paint a shingle at a time. Once you are done, you can either dry-brush a lighter color on top, add a dark wash, or do both, to age the shingles. Before the paint dries, use tweezers or a pick tool to pry up a shingle here and there for further aging.

Trim the excess shingles off as needed either as you work or after you are done with the entire roof. Just make sure you can get to all areas as needed for trimming.

Over the years I’ve created several styles of these cardstock shingles in various scales. I will have some of these with me at the Chicago Spring Showcase of Miniatures and in my online blog shop. I hope you will give them a try and have some fun!

Here is a look at just a few styles I currently have ready for the show . . .

Wonkly Shingles

Acorn Shingles

Watch for more shingle styles coming soon . ..

Teri