Let’s talk foil! I had a chance to review a mini foil kit from Creative Imaginations. The kit I reviewed is Ocean Sparkle. Retailing for $4.50, this kit is very inexpensive.
The manufacturer’s website has the following description:
Ocean Sparkle Foil Mini Kit
Details: NEW value pack size! Rich, vibrant jewel-toned and metallic colored foil sheets. Tweleve 5×8 inch sheets of six colors. Includes a FREE 5x6inch Sticky2sheet with instructions how to create amazing foil effect easily!
The kit includes twelve foil sheets in six different colors. You get two 5×8 inch sheets of each color. The kit also includes the Sticky2sheet and embellishing impress-on tool. I started with the Sticky2sheet.
I decided to add the embellishment to a little party favor box that is made of paper card stock. First I cut out the embellishment I wanted to add. The directions state to trim around the embellishment. I cut it close but not on the image itself.
You then peel off the backing and use your Impress-On tool to make sure you have it adhered to your surface. NOTE: Do not TOUCH the image with your fingers when you are trying to turn the image over onto your surface. I apparently found this difficult as I touched everyone I attempted in some form or fashion. I think maybe “trimming” the image further away from the design would leave a little more room for your fingers when placing the image.
You then remove the paper and press on your foil with your fingers. Then lift off to reveal the magic.
I did not get a “perfect” image using this method. I do think the images were satisfactory. Again, my fingers would generally remove a small portion of the adhesive.
All of the instructions seemed to be for paper crafting. But this is Craft Test Dummies. I had to do a little experimenting. I wondering how the images would perform on a very smooth, hard surface. So I got a candle and tried one of the images on it.
Definitely a craft fail. I would say that slick hard surfaces are not good with the detailed images on the Sticky2sheet. The image actually came right off with my fingers after this picture was taken. It was worth a try.
What if you don’t like the images on the Sticky2sheet or just want to do something different with the foil? Let’s try different adhesives recommended on the back of the CI foil package. Let’s start with double sided adhesive sheets from Aleene’s. I cut the sheet into a heart.
Then using the same method as above I made a second party favor box. The sheets worked wonderfully. Just remove the backing, put on your surface, remove the facing, and apply your foil. You could use this in a variety of ways. With paper punches or other craft cutter, any shape is possible with the sticky sheets.
I was very pleased with my little favor boxes. Perfect for a party or even a wedding.
I then broke out yet another adhesive and surface. I tried a chipboard box as it would be slightly similar to the card stock. This time I used the Aleene’s double stick tape.
I made one set of lines in green then came back with another set of lines in purple. The adhesive/foil method worked great on the chip board. However, the surface still felt tacky even after the application of the foil.
I tried one more experiment. Instead of covering only a portion of an object with the foil sheet, what if I wanted to cover the entire thing? I took a tag cut into the shape of a mason jar.
I then applied a double sided sticky sheet to the entire surface and trimmed the sheet to the tag shape. Applied the foil as directed and it worked wonderfully! An aqua mason jar tag in a few seconds.
The CI Foils mini kit definitely worked as advertised. I would alter the directions for trimming the Sticky2sheet. Leave as much room as possible around the edge for your fingers to grip as you are placing your image. The product works best on paper surfaces. The product works great with the other adhesives that are listed on the directions and packaging. All in all this kit is a great value and will add that sparkly foil touch to your next project.
The foil kit from Creative Imaginations was given to me to review. All projects and opinions are my own.
If our are considering purchasing foils, please support CTD by using our affiliate links:
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Juliann says
I love the colors but the designs on the Sticky2Sheet leave something to be desired — plus you’d need a whole lot more of them if you’re going to use them as the primary adhesive. THey do seem to give the best images but you’d never use up even a quarter of the foil if you just used that. Have you tried them with a glue pen on paper?