Randi's Review	Sarah's Review	Rachel's Review	Cathy's Review	Kathleen's Review

Review by Randi

Let me be honest, when the Metallic Rub-Ons arrived I was thinking, "Well, those are neat, but what in the world would I ever use them for?" I was also a little intimidated by such an "artistic" looking product and they actually sat on my desk for a month before I got up the nerve to try them. HOW SILLY! These are WONDERFUL and have become one of my favorite products. These are so much fun to "play" with and give instant and stunning results!

I purchased some wedding ring die-cuts to use in my daughter's wedding album. I got white and they were DULL and lifeless. Just a few seconds with the GOLD Metallic and the White Sparkle Luster added a whole new dimension to these otherwise plain die-cuts.

These tags were just plain beige cardstock. I stipple brushed orange ink, matted them in brown, added eyelets then outlined and rubbed the gold Rub-Ons all over the tags. It gave them a weathered but shimmery look. Sticky Sentiment Stickers (It Takes Two) and fibers completed them.

Don't stop at paper. I dressed up this tag by rubbing Walnut and Rosewood Metallics on the fabric. The whole tag was then liven up with Copper Rub-On all over the outside of the tag.

You can use the Metallics to colorize faux wax seals that you make from glue sticks also. In this example, I used a star stamp and glittery silver glue to make my seal. I wasn't happy with how the plain silver turned out, but when I added a tiny bit of gold metallic to the actual stamped area and the outside edges, it popped!

Use your Rub-Ons with stencils also. For this card I used the squares from the CTMH Calendar Template to make a border on the left side. I added torn vellum over them and some pink jewels. A couple wire butterflies and a Westrim Crafts Timeless Element Rub-On word plus fibers and I had a quick card. To give a shimmery shine to the edges of the card I added some of the newest from Craf-T, the Classic Glimmer Decorating Chalks on the edges. It adds a beautiful touch.

For an easy way to dress up plain punched cardstock letters try rubbing Metallics on them. It is super fast and adds so much! I used the Craf-T Metallic Rub-Ons to make the EK Success letter punches silver/metallic looking. I also rubbed it on the edges of the journaling block to give a shimmery silver look to the edges.

Products used: Star paper, unknown
dark blue cardstock DMD
Virtual Metal, Magic Scraps
Blue Magic Mesh
Ribbon
Charmed Frame Square Scroll, Making Memories
Alphabet Brads, Star Brads, Mini Brads, JoAnn Scrap Essentials
Silver Star Charm, JoAnn Scrap Essentials
Silver Tinsel, Magic Scraps
S clips, Making Memories
24 guage silver wire
Metallic Rub-Ons, Craf-T
Star Die Cut, Cut-It-Up
Pop Dots, Stamp Craft
Poetry Dog Tags, Chronicle Books
ABC paper punches, EK Success
Zig Millennium Marker

My last project was a journal. I used the metallics to cover the black spine on this friendship collage journal. Note that you DO need to use a fixative in this instance, so the metallics don't rub off.

Products used: Friend Paper (Die Cuts With a View)
Rose Paper (Die Cuts With a View)
Cardstock: pink, maroon (inside cover)
Leaf stickers (Mrs. Grossman's Vellum Collection)
Daisy Stamp inside faux wax seal (Source unknown)
Walnut Ink (Tim Holtz Distress Inks by Ranger)
Alpha Brads (JoAnn Scrap Essentials)
Metal Bookplate (JoAnn Scrap Essentials)
Silver Mini Brads (JoAnn Scrap Essentials)
Larger Silver Heart (JoAnn Scrap Essentials)
Kilt pin (Watch Us)
Love charms on pin (Crafts Etc)
Jump rings (Crafts, Etc)
Dragonfly Brads (prongs removed)
Heart and Rose charm (Watch Us)
Dog Tags (Chronicle Books)
Chain (Chronicle Books)
Ribbon Roses (Crafts Etc.)
Circle Clip (Making Memories)
Rub-On (Making Memories --inside the flip-up)
Love Jelly Label (Making Memories)
Gold Hinge colored silver with Krylon Leafing Pen
Pink Glue for Faux Wax Seal
Glossy Accents around dragonfly brads (Ranger)
Organza Ribbon (Horizon)
Scrapper's Block roughed up the rose paper (Puzzle Mates)
Metallic Rub-Ons to cover black spine (Craf-T)
Fixative Spray (Kryon)

In conclusion, this would have been a scrapbooking product that I would not have been likely to purchase. However, after using them, I wonder how I did without them. They are handy for so many things and give just the right finishing touch. I highly recommend you try Craf-T's Metallic Rub-Ons, but I'll warn you. They are addicting!

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Review by Sarah

Metallic and Luster Rub-Ons are, hands down, my favorite Craf-T product. It’s eyeshadow for your page!

This fabulous stuff comes in a little tray that looks like watercolor paint. But the similarity ends there.

Metallic and Luster Rub-Ons are a sort of cross between acrylic paint and chalk. They “take the middle ground.” Like paint, they cover paper. Like chalk, they do not cover over writing! They spread easily like chalk, yet have a thick texture. It is very user-friendly stuff that you apply by rubbing your finger into the color and then rubbing the color onto your page or project. There is no drying time. There are no drips of paint, and there is no powdery chalk dust. For a self-proclaimed creative slob like me, this is an ideal product because it combines the benefits of two common coloring media and leaves out the problems!

Another wonderful aspect of Metallic and Luster Rub-Ons is the fact that it offers “instant gratification” for very little effort. There is no messing with enhancer liquids, paintbrushes, applicators, drop cloths (this is me we’re talking about here). The color just rubs on. Keep some baby wipes handy for wiping your fingers, but even I can manage this product without having to change my clothes.

Metallic and Luster Rub-Ons are beautiful applied to paper. They really get down into the fiber of the paper and shine. And they are fantastic applied to textures, such as paper painted with acrylics. The Rub-Ons get into the cracks of the brushstrokes, adding outstanding color, detail and dimension – while adding no bulk whatsoever to your pages.

Title: Page has been painted with acrylic paint and stamped


Title: Journal box is white


Title: The completed page finished with Metallic Rub-Ons

The downside to Metallic and Luster Rub-Ons is the fact that they stay the same texture on the paper as they were in the package, a sort of mostly-dry foundation makeup texture. If you use a little bit of the Rub-Ons, this isn’t a big deal. If you go crazy and blend all kinds of colors together, decorate entire backgrounds with it, and so forth, it tends to come off when you touch the page. This is by no means a unique problem since it tends to happen with chalks as well, but it’s an easy problem to deal with. Just apply a fixative sealant spray such as the new Krylon Preserve It! Matte spray. (Which is acid-free).

I do have a concern with how Metallic and Luster Rub-Ons are “virtually” acid-free. I’m not quite sure what this means, but under the consideration that “acid-free” frequently just means that there is such a minute level of acid that it doesn’t “count,” this “virtual” acid-free level probably isn’t a big concern. Frankly, I’m more worried about the acids from my skin possibly damaging the papers. For altered books and papercrafts, I used my fingers to apply the color. For “real” scrapbooks, I use an E-Z Chalk Applicator. It would also be an option to use an “acid-neutralizing” soap or wipe before applying Rub-Ons.

The “worst” thing about both Metallic Rub-Ons and the Luster Rub-Ons is that you really can’t tell what they are by the packaging in the store! They look like watercolors, but they aren’t. The name “Rub-Ons” is confusing since this term usually refers to words or pictures rubbed off a sheet of plastic with a Popsicle stick. However the watercolor type trays and the little plastic cases they come in are wonderful to use and store once you get home!

Metallic and Luster Rub-Ons are a low-cost scrapbooking supply, available from $2.50 at scrapbook stores to $3.99 online. There are four collections – three are “Metallic Rub Ons” and one is “Luster Rub-Ons.” The difference is that the Metallics are, well, metallic – shiny, sparkly and bright. Luster Rub-Ons are lighter, and really add just a little bit of sheen to the papers. My favorites are the Metallic Rub-Ons because they are so bright and shiny, but the Luster Rub-Ons have their place in more “pastel” type projects and also in filling in the “blanks” where the Metallic Rub-Ons do not have the exact same colors, such as yellow – there is a Luster yellow but not a Metallic yellow, and Midnight Sparkle – there is no Metallic black.

Title: Page painted with acrylic paints


Title: Page completed with Luster Rub-Ons around sunshine, clouds and sky; Metallic Rub-Ons on grass

Metallic Rub-Ons Color Kit #1 includes these colors: Blue, Purple, Copper, Silver, Ruby, Emerald, Gold. I recommend this kit as a “starter kit.” I used every single color in this collection, and kept coming back for more of my high-demand colors such as Silver, Copper and Gold.

Metallic Rub-Ons Earth Tones Kit #2 includes: Colonial, Nubian, Pewter, Olive, Deep Gold, Gunmetal, Brass. Colonial is a shade of Gold, Nubian is an extremely dark brown. Yes, there is a difference between Pewter and Gunmetal as compared with the Silver of Kit #1. These are all different shades with their own unique qualities, and they got plenty of use when plain old Silver or Gold just wasn’t the thing.

Metallic Rub-Ons Color Kit #3: Walnut, Sky Blue, Rosewood, Silver Blue, Iris, Cameo Pink, Golden White. This was my second most used color collection. There is a good variety of color.

Luster Rub-Ons Color Kit #4: Midnight Sparkle, Sunburst, Silvery Grey, White Sparkle, Apple Green, Amber, Russet. I didn’t like these as well as the Metallic Rub-Ons and thought that I didn’t use them as much, but I used five of the seven colors on my various projects. They are different and add their own special glimmer.

Below you will find several examples of what Metallic and Luster Rub-Ons can do! These are delightful colors to use.

In Summary: Metallic and Luster Rub-Ons combine the benefits of acrylic paints and chalks without being messy. They are easy to use, provide instant results and are inexpensive. It’s eyeshadow for your page!

Red and Blue Metallic Rub-Ons give this page depth and shine.

Products used: Architexture: Chic Sketch Alphabet Rub-On Letters
Apple Barrel Colors: Red Apple, Carolina Blue, Bright Blue
Delta Ceramcoat: Charcoal
Craf-T Metallic Rub-Ons: Ruby, blue
ZIG: Millennium 0.5

Luster Rub-Ons Midnight Sparkle applied over page painted with gray acrylic paint.

Products used: Craf-T Luster Rub-Ons: Midnight Sparkle
Apple Barrel Colors: White
Delta Ceramcoat: Charcoal
Jo-Ann Scrap Essentials: Tags
Paper Pizazz: Typewriter Alphabet
ZIG: Millennium 0.5
Fibers By the Yard: Beyond Black
Unknown: safety pins, office paper clips

Metallic Rub-Ons in Silver Blue and Silver rubbed on in swirls to portray a cold winter breeze.

Products used: Craf-T Metallic Rub-Ons: Silver Blue, Silver
Glossy Accents (crystal glaze)
Crayola: Slver Glitter Glue
Apple Barrel Colors: Carolina Blue, White
Krylon: Preserve It! Matte sealing spray
Unknown: Snowflake Punchies
Unknown: white photo corners

Cameo Pink Metallic Rub-Ons color the margins of the page.

Products used: Craf-T Metallic Rub-Ons (color): Cameo Pink
Delta Ceramcoat: Hunter Green
Jo-Ann Scrap Essentials: Green brads, 2 sizes
Mrs. Grossman: Vellum Alphabet Letters Lowercase Celery
Unknown: pig punchies
Unknown: green iridescent ribbon
Unknown: pink vellum
Unknown: green stripe patterned paper

Colonial and Copper colored Metallic Rub-Ons cover the entire painted and stamped page.

Products used: Craf-T Metallic Rub-Ons color: Colonial, Copper
Mrs. Grossman: Bronze frame sticker
Crafts Etc!: Script Alphabet
PSX: leaf stamp
Ancient Page: Dye Inkpad: Sandalwood, Mandarin
ZIG: Millennium 0.5
Apple Barrel Colors: Bright Yellow, White

Here I used Copper Metallic Rub-Ons to trim the tag and journal box to coordinate with the Lumiere paint.

Products used: Lumiere Paint: Met Olive Green
Craf-T Metallic Rub-Ons: Copper
Jo-Ann Scrap Essentials: Tag
Jo-Ann Scrap Essentials: Brads
Rub-On Sentiments: Vintage Alphabet
Unknown: metal plant tag
Unknown: varying shades of green craft ribbons: 1/4" picot, wire edged woven, clear edged satin
Unknown: varying shades of green fiber: boucle, eyelash, fuzzy
Unkown: thick green embroidery floss
Unknown: white vellum
ZIG: Millennium 0.5

A very similar page to above, I used less Lumiere paint, leaving more raw paper showing, which I rubbed Metallic Rub-Ons Deep Gold into.

Products used: Craf-T Metallic Rub-Ons (color): Deep Gold
Lumiere paint: Met Olive Green
CTMH: Playful Caps & Lowercase
Rubber Stampede: Dance of Joy (Snoopy)
Stampin' UP!: frame
Dauber Duos: Winter Green
Memories: Acid Free Dye Ink Pad Black
ZIG: Millennium 0.5
Krylon: Preserve It! Matte (sealing spray)

I coordinated blue, green and yellow Luster and Metallic Rub-Ons with the acrylic paint blocks on the page, flip-flopping the blue Rub-Ons onto the green block, yellow Rub-Ons to the blue block, and green Rub-Ons to the yellow block.

Products used: Craf-T Metallic Rub-Ons (color): Blue, Emerald
Craf-T Luster Rub-Ons (color): Sunburst
Apple Barrel Colors: Bright Blue, Bright Yellow, Victorian Green, White(green mixed)
Delta Ceramcoat: Charcoal
Loersch: slide mounts
Sizzix: Girls are Weird
ZIG: Millennium 0.5
Unknown: yellow cardstock

Luster and Metallic Rub-Ons add detail and color to the acrylic painted scene.

Products used: Craf-T Luster Rub-Ons (color): Sunburst, White Sparkle, Silver Grey, Russet
Craf-T Metallic Rub-Ons (color): Gold, Emerald
Apple Barrel Colors: Carolina Blue, Bright Yellow, White, Petunia Purple, Royal Violet, Apricot
Delta Ceramcoat: Charcoal
Jo-Ann Scrap Essentials: black brads
Architexture: All Boxed In rub-on alphabet
Unknown: mini tags
Unknown: white vellum

I used a Metallic Rub-Ons color that coordinated with the distress ink pad I used on the page. I applied the Rub-Ons to the orange painted journal block and blue pained block over the photo – places where it would be very difficult to apply a distress ink pad. It also allowed for much more control over the color and intensity of “distressing” achieved.

Products used: DCWV: The Stack III (striped paper)
Jo-Ann Scrap Essentials: orange and blue brads
Ranger: Distress Ink: Vintage Photo
Craf-T Rub-Ons: Walnut
Making Memories: Eyelet Letters
Poetry Dog Tags: dog tags
Apple Barrel Colors: Apricot, Carolina Blue
Memory Kits: Accessory Kit Sweethearts (heart tag)
Simply Stencils by Plaid: Upper Case Alphabet
ZIG: Millennium 0.5
Unknown: light blue vellum

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Review by Rachel

The Metallic Rub-Ons scared me. In fact, they sat on my scrapping table for a couple of weeks before I was even brave enough to start experimenting with them. That trepidation all vanished when I realized they can be used just like chalks! That is when the fun began. I started off just playing. I stamped and then colored with Rub-Ons. I tore paper and colored with Rub-Ons. I think I used Rub-ons on just about everything. Rub-Ons can be used just about anywhere that you use chalks. If you want to add a shine or glimmer to something, Rub-Ons are the perfect accessory. They are very creamy! You can attain a light coverage or heavy coverage depending on your project. You use your fingers and rub in a circular motion to bring out the metallic sheen. Don’t be afraid to get dirty because the Rub-Ons come right off with a baby wipe or a little soap and water. I had a lot of fun experimenting with these Rub-Ons. I know that now I will be reaching for these Metallic Rub-Ons on almost every layout I do. They are just that versatile. They can be used on everything from heavy cardstock to wood and even ceramics. They come in 28 colors and are available in 4 different packages of seven colors.

On this layout, I used the metallic rub-ons to just add some sheen to the torn edges of the paper. I also used it to add another dimension to the mat behind the picture.

Title: Heaven
Products used: Sky Blue and Silver Blue Metallic Rub-Ons: Craft-T
Blue/White Cardstock: Making Memories
Patterned Paper: Hobby Lobby
Vellum: Hobby Lobby
Poetry Dog Tags: Chronicle Books
Blue Mesh: Magic Mesh
Vellum tag: Making Memories
Buttons: Dress it up
Fibers: Unknown

I made an album for my sister-in-law to document my niece’s first year. Here are just a couple of pages of the album. I used the metallic rub-on’s on almost every page.

Title: Baby Album
Products used: Rose Metallic Rub-On: Craf-T
Paper: K & Company Isabella Collection
Silver Embossing Powder – Stamp N Stuff
Flowers: Jolee Boutique’s
Baby Pin: Making Memories
Vellum Envelope: Unknown

I used a Pixie E-Z Chalk Applicator to paint the flowers. Once the Rub-On’s were applied I then ran my finger over them in a circular pattern to bring out the shine. It worked very well. I also used a stipple brush to stipple on the cardstock with white sparkle and russet metallic rub-ons. Once I was done stippling, I then used my fingers in a circular motion again to bring out the shine. It worked perfectly!

Title: Three Flowers Card
Products used: Metallic Rub-Ons: Cameo Pink, Sunburst, Apple Green, White Sparkle, Russett: Craf-T
Patterned Paper: Daisy Flair -Crafts Etc.
Ribbon: Offray
Stamp: Denami Design
Versamark
Clear Embossing Powder: Stamp N Stuff

I did this card similar to the way I did the above card. I used the applicators and then my fingers to bring out the sheen.

Title: Life Hope Love Dreams Card
Products used: Metallic Rub-Ons: Sky blue, White Sparkle, Blue, Gold, Emerald: Craf-T
Patterned Paper: Garden Party by K & Company
Stamp: Great Impressions
Ribbon: Unknown

In conclusion, I was really impressed with these products. I enjoyed experimenting with them all and know that these items have now become staples in my scrapping supplies. I hope that this review will give you the courage to experiment. Most of all, I hope that you will have fun using these products to enhance your layouts and projects.

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Review by Cathy

CRAF-T METALLIC AND LUSTER RUB-ONS come in little boxes and resemble the creme eye shadows from the 70's. Each set has 7 colors and there are 4 sets to choose from. Craf-T Metallic Rub-Ons can be applied with an applicator or your finger. The first color I tried was metallic silver and pewter, these made simple white paper look just like metal. The Metallic Rub-Ons also give a metallic shine to paper. The color is vibrant and it is easy to add the Rub-On colors to tags, plastic slides, paper, ribbon or material.

The Halloween layout has a ripped paper edge that actually looks burned. Getting a burned look on paper is not easy and it looks fantastic with rustic, camping or heritage pages. To make the burnt edge finish first rub on the Black Midnight Luster Rub-Ons and then apply black Decorating Chalk. The title was highlighted with Decorating Chalk. The black spiders were created with Black Decorating Chalk and Gold Metallic Rub-On.

This Wedding layout is simply elegant. I used the Craf-T Metallic Rub-Ons to decorate the heart punch cuts. (They were originally white paper.) The red and gold is very rich together.

This is a fun-to-make, lovely fall friendship card. The fall leaves are hand stamped with black ink and then embossed with black embossing powder. Next, the copper Metallic Rub-Ons and the Russet Luster Rub-Ons were applied to the leaves. The leaves were mounted onto Loersch solid slide frames and tags that were accented with the gold Metallic Rub-Ons.

Craf-T Metallic and Luster Rub-Ons are fun to use and result in a beautiful metallic finish. I would recommend them for purchase.

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Review by Kathleen

For stronger color on your paper crafts, use Metallic Rub-Ons from Craf-T. Like Craf-T chalks, Rub-Ons are a great tool you can use to add color to your scrapbook pages, cards, and other paper crafts. Unlike chalks, which provide a softer look, Rub-ons provide a deeper, more intense look. Following are some samples of ways you can apply Rub-ons to your projects.

The following layout uses Metallic Rub-Ons to feature the floral pattern on the embossed paper. I applied the base Rub-On color, Cameo Pink, to the embossed paper with my finger. I then applied the highlight color, Gold, to the flowers using the E-Z Chalk Pixie Applicator. The leaves were colored with Emerald, also using the Pixie Applicator.

Title: Cherish
Products used: Craf -T – Metallic Rub-Ons kit # 1 and # 3
K & Co. – Wine colored embossed paper, embossed vellum
Making Memories – Simply Stated Rub-ons
Photographs – Jak Tanenbaum of Jak Tanenbaum Photography Associates

The Cameo Pink and Iris Rub-Ons were also used to color in the flowers of the bouquet in the picture.

The next layout uses Rub-Ons to add texture and add contrast to the layout. For the texture, I applied the Nubian Rub-Ons to crumpled Aloe Vera cardstock using a cotton ball. I then went over the face of the cardstock with the Colonial and Deep Gold Rub-Ons. I also used the Colonial and Deep Gold Rub-Ons to add contrast to the patterned paper and Fawn cardstock. Finally I created a mat for my focal photo using Aloe Vera cardstock and used the Colonial and Deep Gold Rub-Ons.

Title: In the Woods
Products used: Craf-T – Metallic Rub-Ons kit # 2
Karen Foster Designs – Natural Burlap
Bazzill Basics – Pinecone, Fawn, Aloe Vera cardstock
Color Box – Chestnut Roan, Burnt Sienna Chalk Inks
Lyndsay Riches – Engraved Stone Alphabet
Other – Double stick foam tape

The final project shows rub-ons used on a card. I first used Versamark watermarking ink to stamp my image. I then heat embossed clear embossing powder on the image. Using a cotton ball, I used Iris, Cameo Pink, Purple, and Ruby Craf-T Rub-Ons to create a watercolor effect over the image and background.

Title: Leaf
Products used: Craf-T – Metallic Rub-Ons kit # 1
Dream Impressions – Leaf rubber stamps
Bazzill Basics – Sienna, Copper Metallic
Other – Glossy white cardstock, Versamark, clear embossing powder, fiber

No matter how you choose to use them, Metallic Rub-Ons will add a little excitement to your projects. The key thing to remember when using this unique tool is to have fun and let your creativity flow.

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