Jo's Crafty Place: Foiled Wreath Card Background

Foiled Wreath Card Background

For these cards I've been exploring using a repeat foil stamping technique to create large wreaths as my card background.

It's much quicker and easier than you'd think, as rather than moving the hot foil stamp, you turn the card and foil the hot foil stamp 4 times before moving it and foiling 4 times again, rotating the card each time. In part 1 of my video I show you how I create the foil wreaths on the top two cards, and part 2 shows how I created the bottom right card using a large hot foil stamp and a larger piece of card (the card base is 7"x7"). The bottom left card is created using a different hot foil stamp, but the foiling technique is the same.

You need to create your wreath on a square piece of card. I've used a 15cm Square, which is the same width as the GoPress & Foil hot plate - so it will fit through any die cutting machine that the hot plate will fit through. If you have a larger die cutting machine (A4 plate size) you can use a larger piece of card and allow it to stick out of the sides of the GoPress & Foil hot plate. See part 2 of my video for more details on using larger card and large hot foil stamps.

Before you start (preferably while your hot plate is still cold) mark the centre point on the front edge of the plastic frame that goes around the heated part. Once you've made the mark you can start the hot plate heating up ready to foil.

Cut your square of card to size. I like to start with my card a little larger than I need and trim it down after I've done all of the foiling. Draw guide lines on the back of the card (or paper) - the diagonal lines are just to find the centre; the lines that mark the mid point of each edge are the important ones. Number each of the mid point lines - this will help you keep track of which way the card needs to be rotated between each foiling.

Now you just need to position your hot foil stamp. I like to use a stamp press magnet wrapped in in masking tape - you can position the hot foil stamp on the card, put the magnet on the back and use it to transfer the the hot foil stamp onto the hot plate (see video).

Once you've heated the hot foil stamp, I recommend you do a test run (or two) using a scrap of your card/paper and a small piece of foil to check how many card shims give you good, reliable foiling results.

Now to foil the wreath, you just need to add your foil (pretty/coloured side down) and then put your card/paper on top with the guide lines facing up (visible).

Line up the mid point of side number 1 with the centre point mark you made earlier on the hot plate frame.

Use a small piece of low tack tape to tape the edge of the card to the plastic frame. Then add your shims, close the lid and roll through your die cutting machine.

When you lift the card off the hot plate be careful not to move the hot foil stamp.

Peel off masking tape off the card and peel off the foil.

Now you just need to add another piece of foil to the hot foil stamp, rotate the card and position so that the mid point numbered 2 is against the mark on the hot plate frame, add your shims, close the lid and roll.

Repeat for sides 3 and 4.

Now remove the hot foil stamp and let it cool so that you can work out the position it will need to be in for the rest of the foiling. I've used a different colour foil for the next 4 passes - in the finished wreath the colours will then alternate.

When you've got your hot foil stamp in position and its heated, foil as before rotating the card for each pass.

To finish off the cards, I've matted with contrasting card and added sentiments and some flowers.

Part 1 of my video covers the basic wreath building technique, and part 2 covers using a larger piece of card and a large hot foil stamp - where some extra consideration is needed with positioning the hot foil stamp.

Video part 1