Hot foil stamping on acetate can take some trial and error, but Julie is here to share the secrets of her success with hot foiling on Essentials by Ellen Crystal Clear Plastic!
Hello there—it’s Julie! I was on the hunt for some heat-resistant acetate when a quick conversation with fellow stamper Carissa Wiley revealed that it is indeed possible to hot foil stamp on Essentials by Ellen Crystal Clear Plastic—and lucky me, I have that in my crafty stash! But, it took a lot of trial and error (and more foil wasted than I care to admit, from all the experimenting) before I was actually successful. I also share a tip for what to do when you accidentally foil your hot foil stamp, instead of the surface you intended . . .
I use the Gemini FoilPress in conjunction with the Gemini Jr. Die Cutting Machine because they are specifically designed to use together. Keep in mind that what worked on my machine may differ on your machine, but hopefully, my formula will give you a starting point and help you get beautifully foiled results from the beginning—or at least close to the beginning, LOL!
I wish I could capture in photo just how beautiful this foiled irridescent rainbow effect (umm, mouthful much?) is–you really have to angle your camera lens quite a bit, but I think if you watched the video, you get a much better idea of how dazzling it is in real life . . .
Have you ever made a rainbow holiday card? It’s fun because it’s so unexpected!
TIPS:
- Julie used Gemini FoilPress Foils exclusively for hot foiling onto Essentials by Ellen Crystal Clear Plastic; results with other brands of foil and/or other brands of (heat-resistant) acetate will more than likely vary.
- Pre-heat FoilPress Platform on the highest setting.
- Set timer for 20 seconds.
- You can use low-tack Purple Tape or wash tape to anchor your hot foil stamp in place AND act as a hinge on your plastic.
- Always place pretty side of foil against hot foil stamp (ugly side of foil against project surface).
- Experiment with the amount of pressure necessary to transfer the foil; Julie discovered taping a #110 + an 80# piece of card stock to the top plate made the best shim.
- To remove foil from hot foil stamp (hey, accidents happen . . . ), let the stamp cool, then use a cotton pad or ball and nail polish remover (acetone) to clean it off. Works magically!
- You can also use a cotton swab/Q-tip dipped in nail polish remover to carefully clean away any “over-foiling” on the plastic!
