Foiling Attempt FOILED -- Sharing the Love

Foil is all the rage.  Gold, silver, all colors of the rainbow... It's everywhere!  And as we all know, once something becomes trendy, the how-to techniques/products begin... and once they begin, so do the hacks / "knock-off" tips and tricks.  And of course, I have to try them.

Not wanting to invest in another expensive crafting machine, I opted for the inexpensive laminator method.  After doing lots of online research, I asked for and received the Amazon Basics laminator for Christmas. For my first test, I used the Heidi Swapp Minc foil and ready-to-foil tags.  Test successful!  Not perfect, but successful enough for me and my budget.  :-)

Of course, after several ready-to-foil projects, I had to push the envelope and try to develop my own technique of sorts.  I wanted to be able to foil stamped images and projects I created myself.  So I stamped a couple panels using the the Share the Love stamp set (now retired) and scanned it into my computer.  I printed the image back out on cardstock using a laser printer - as the foil is supposed to react with the toner from a laser printer.  Then it was time for another foiling test.  Unfortunately, this time -- not successful.  :-(

As you can see (barely) in the picture below, some of the foil attached, but some didn't.  It was pretty close to half / half -- but spread throughout the entire image.  While not a full coverage, it had an almost sparkle/shimmer-like finish.  

I decided to use the "hello" panel to finish that card because it looked kinda cool, but I scrapped the "smile" panel and used the original stamped version instead.

While it's back to the drawing board for how to foil stamped images, I haven't given up.  I've seen some other suggestions / tutorials on how to do this and I am determined to find a way!  I'll be sure to share when I do.  ♥

Supplies used:

*La Vie En Rose paper packet
*12" x 12" Black cardstock
*12" x 12" Fern cardstock
*12" x 12" Peacock cardstock
*5 1/2" X 4 1/4" white cards & envelopes, value pack
*Share the Love stamp set
*Black Memento ink pad
*Gold shimmer trim
*Bling gems gold assortment
*Red enamel hearts

*Heidi Swapp Minc reactive foil - teal

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Until next time, design with {heart}!

February Close to My Heart Specials

February Constant Campaign

Share the love this February by purchasing the exclusive My Acrylix® Share the Love D-size stamp set (CC1060). Filled with adorable icons and loveable sentiments, this stamp set will be a beautiful addition to your collection—but there is more to this stamp set than meets the eye! Not only will you be getting a high-quality, swoon-worthy stamp set by taking part in this promotion, but Close To My Heart will also donate $7 USD of the proceeds from this stamp set to Operation Smile™, an amazing organization that provides surgeries to repair cleft lips and palates for children all over the world!* Check out our social media channels all month long to see this stamp set in action, and remember to post your own artwork using the hashtag #ctmhsharethelove to help bring attention to a wonderful and worthy cause.

* * * * *

February Stamp of the Month

Only $5 with a $50 purchase

To order these or any of the other fabulous CTMH products, please visit my online store at jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Until next time, remember to design with {heart}!

Jackson Week -- Day #5 -- Oh My Happy

The 2014 - 2015 Annual Inspirations and 2015 Seasonal Expressions 2 Idea Books are only available for a few more weeks.  All the paper collections and many other items in these catalogs will be retiring on August 31st to make way for a beautiful new line-up -- which will be released on September 1st.

One of my favorite collections over this past year has been the Jackson collection.  This masculine-feeling collection is perfect for male projects as well as summer / outdoors / camping projects.  This week on my blog, I will be featuring a variety of projects made with the Jackson collection.  Be sure to stop by every day to see my latest projects.

Jackson Workshop on the Go

Another one of my favorite items from the past year has been the Operation Smile stamp set called Happy Everything.  This stamp set has been so much fun and will definitely stay in my collection for a while to come.  I simply love the versatility of the happy sentiments.  What do you think?

D1653 Happy Everything Operation Smile stamp set

Available through 8.31.2015

D1653 Happy Everything Operation Smile stamp set

Available through 8.31.2015

D1653 Happy Everything Operation Smile stamp set

Available through 8.31.2015

Supplies used:
*Jackson Workshop on the Go
*Jackson Complements
*5 1/2" X 4 1/4" Colonial White Cards & Envelopes, Value Pack
*Happy Everything (Operation Smile) stamp set (RETIRING August 31st!)
*Juniper Exclusive Inks stamp pad

*Cocoa Exclusive Inks stamp pad

*Barn Red Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Glacier Exclusive Inks stamp pad
*Oceanside sequins assortment
*Glacier extra thick baker's twine
*VersaMark ink pad
*Craft Heater

*Powder & Aqua (mixed) Zing! embossing powder (American Crafts)

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post featuring one last card made with my leftover Jackson WOTG contents.

Until next time, happy crafting!

Happy Everything Blog Hop

 Welcome to the Happy Everything Blog Hop!

If you came from visiting Terrie Shortsleeve, then you are in the right place.  If you just happened upon my little corner of the blog world, simply start here and continue hopping until you return here -- our fun hop is one big loop for your viewing pleasure. 

This hop's featured stamp set is the Operation Smile set for the Seasonal Expressions 2 catalog called Happy Everything (pictured below).  This set is only available until August 31st.

When I saw this stamp set in the Seasonal Expressions 2 catalog, I knew I had to have it!  It is my favorite from this idea book and BONUS -- it is the Operation Smile set, too.  This set is simply wonderful and so versatile for both cardmaking and scrapbooking!

For today's hop, I decided to share BOTH a layout AND a card.  You get two-for-one with me today!  Like I said this set is my SE2 fav and I couldn't resist creating multiple projects.

ENJOY!

First up, the scrapbook layout...

And now for the card...

Supplies used:

*Happy Everything (Operation Smile) stamp set

*Blossom paper packet

*Blossom compliments

*Glacier cardstock

*Lagoon cardstock

*Pear cardstock

*Sunset cardstock

*White Daisy cardstock

*Sunset Exclusive Inks stamp pad

*Oceanside sequins assortment

*Coral Reef sequins assortment

*Glacier extra thick baker's twine

To order these or any of our other fabulous Close to My Heart products, please visit http://jddesigns.ctmh.com.

Thank you for visiting me at JD Designs and for hopping with us on the Close to My Heart Happy Everything Blog Hop!  Next up on the hop is Brenda Lapp. I hope you'll hop on over to her blog for more inspiration.

Until next time, happy crafting!