Working with sheets of colored craft foil may be a bit intimidating when you first try it, but it becomes an addicting way to add a colored shine to an embellishment or stamped image. Craft foil is available from many sources and ScrapFriends has reviewed some of them. Check out the Crafta Frame and Creative Imaginations reviews for some great projects and ideas.

The supplies you are going to need:

• Foil sheets
• Foil Glue
• Patterned Adhesive
• Craft Stick or rub-on tool
• Rubber Stamps
• Paper

We'll work with the patterned adhesive first. Creative Imaginations sells this product in themed sets. The images are very similar to rub-ons, but are sticky on both sides. The shell shown below is one of them. Trim out the image that you want to use from the main sheet, just like you can do with rub-ons. Also trim a piece of foil from the main sheet a little larger than the size of your image.

Remove one of the release papers from the image.

Place the image sticky side down onto a piece of cardstock. Rub with a craft stick.

Peel back the top release paper/film to expose the adhesive on the top side.

Take a look at the piece of foil that you trimmed from the main sheet. One side should be very shiny and the other side should be dull. Place the foil over the image with the shiny side UP and rub with your finger so that the foil sticks to the image.

Peel back the foil to expose the covered image underneath.

You can now use this image on any project.

In case you don't have the patterned adhesive readily available, you can also use a rubber stamp to create an image to foil by using Creative Imaginations' Foil Glue. Begin by spreading out some glue on a non-stick surface.

Using the glue patch like a stamp pad, "ink" the stamp by tapping lightly into the glue.

Turn the stamp over to check for glue coverage on the image.

Stamp the image onto cardstock just like you would if you had inked with a traditional ink pad. Allow the glue to dry to a mostly clear state. The image should be very tacky when touched, but not wet.

Add the foil over the image with the shiny side UP and press the foil into the image. A gentle rubbing with the fingers will be sufficient. Peel the foil back to reveal the foiled image.

Here are some cards using both techniques shown in this how-to.

Title: Seaside Cards
Products used: Cardstock (Prism Prismatics: Papaya Puree Light, Papaya Puree Medium, Frosted Teal, Tawny Light and Vellum)
Patterned Paper (Flair Seaside: Seaside Stripe, Ocean Words and Sunset Sandals)
Stickers (Flair Seaside)
Stamps (Starving Artistamps)
Ink (Tsukineko Brilliance)
Foil Glue and Foil Sheets (Creative Imaginations)
Ribbon (Tie One On Ribbon Club)
Circular Die Cuts (Spellbinders Nestabilities)
Die Cut and Embossing Machine (Spellbinders Wizard)
Staples, Eyelet, Dolphin's Eyes (unknown)
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, Permanent Bond Glue Runner)

Foil is fun! Don't be afraid to experiment with it while adding elegance to any project.

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