LoveAll Crafts: Foiling with Stencils - Tutorial, Hints and Tips

We've been looking for ways to get more out of stencils and came across this amazing technique to bring extra sparkle to your art work.

What you'll need:

DecoFoil Transfer Gel (about £8 - available widely in the UK)
A stencil of your choice - we're going to use the Tallulah Vintage Car Layering Stencil Set. There is a YouTube Video available on how to use this layering stencil set.
Hot Foils and a Laminator or Foiling Machine - We're using the Tattered Lace Foil collection and a Tattered Lace Foiling Machine
Inks, paints or pens - a way to colour the rest of the image. We'll be using Distress Oxides and Inks,
Cardstock - whatever colour you'd like. We suggest you use something thicker than copier paper as thinner paper may buckle a bit when you apply the Transfer Gel

Let's get crafting!

1. Place down layer 1 - the body and ink normally. I'm using Tattered Rose Distress Oxide from Tim Holtz/Ranger Inks and some cheap cosmetic brushes from Ebay to apply the ink.

2. Place the second layering stencil down and apply the DecoFoil transfer gel like you would any medium gel with a spatula. Don't be stingy with the amounts and try to get the gel as even as possible across the stencil to ensure everything is covered. The foil will not take to areas with thin amounts of gel on, but will also bleed if you put too much on so it takes a bit of practise! Once on, leave to dry for at least an hour, or until all of the medium has turned transparent (it'll be opaque white when wet).

3. Choose your foil. I'm using the Rose Gold from the Tattered Lace Precious Metals set. Cut a piece that covers the whole area and lay over the top.

4. Place in the foil carrier and then into the Foiling Machine or Laminator. Each machine will act slightly differently so it's worth doing a few test runs before you make your card to make sure you get it spot on!

5. Let it cool down fully before removing the foil. You can see on mine that the foil didn't take fully as my gel was a bit thin. No matter, I like the distressed look.

6. Now I'm going for a double layer of foiling because I love sparkle but you could continue the layering stencil with a permanent ink like StayzOn or even emboss the rest... Place down layer 3 and repeat the foiling process!

7. Apply the DecoFoil Transfer Gel - being as smooth as possible. Let dry for at least an hour, or until all of the gel has turned transparent.

<<DRY

8. Choose your foil colour - I'm using the matt Pink from the Candyfloss set this time.

9. Place in the carrier sheet then into the laminator. Let it cool down completely before removing the foil.

10. Finish off the layering stencil by adding the tyres. I'm using Black Soot Distress Oxide.

11. I'm adding a quick, simple background to the car as I don't want to take the focus off the shiny loveliness so I'm using the car mask that comes with the set and the Ray Stencil from the LoveAll Crafts Background Stencil Set and colouring with Wilted Violet Distress Ink. I've also added a little "Thanks" sticker to the number plate.