Metallic Foil Technique Tutorial-Make Your Own Wrapping Paper

In a previous post, I discussed using metallic foiling as one of my grunge techniques. Last December, I participated in a Christmas exchange and used this technique to make my own wrapping paper. Here is how I made my wrap.

Supplies:

1 Paper Grocery Bag

Iron

1 tube of Jones Foil in gold, copper, or silver

WonderUnder or Bondalight

Craft paint: 2 dark, one light

Rubber stamps and/or Foam Stamps

Parchement or freezer paper

Two paint brushes large enough to create a wash

A foam brush or sponge

Water

Plastic plate, lid or whatever you use for a palette base

Paper towels

1. Take your grocery bag and cut it open until it is one large piece of paper.
2. Crumple up bag and I mean really crumple. I find I will crumple the bag up, smooth it out, and then crumple from another direction.
3. Smooth out paper bag blank side facing up. On a low heat, iron the bag flat. Be careful not to iron out the new texture of wrinkles.
4. Take a bottle of one dark craft paint and create a wash, diluting the paint with water. You will want to create a transparent effect making sure you can see the bag beneath. To create a more vintage look, leave large areas of the paper bag unpainted or lightly painted. To create a more altered look, cover bag with transparent wash. Once dry, repeat process with your second dark color.
5. Taking your light color of paint, apply to your stamps. Either using a foam brush or sponge and lightly dab the paint on the surface of the stamp to ensure even coverage. Press your loaded stamp on the paper with even pressure and remove.
6. When dry look at your painted paper and isolate the areas you would like to place your foil. Once done, tear or cut a piece of iron on adhesive (wonder under, etc) and place in that area. Follow the manufactures instructions. Once ironed, pull protective backing off of adhesive. Gently rub foil sheet on hot glue.
7. After you have affixed your foil through out, let paper cool for one hour. This will let the glue and foil to fix. Once your paper is nice and cool, you are good to go!

 

Tips:

1. Brown paper lunch bags are too thin for this project.
2. When selecting colors, you think about what colors will work together.
3. Make sure when selecting a light color consider how it will either pop or mute against the two darker colors.
4. If your stamping is uneven, never fear. The variation of an uneven stamping lends texture and interest to your over all piece.
5. When you use an iron on your paper make sure you are on an even and flat surface.
6. You can find Wonder Under and Bondalight at your local fabric stores. Please, please follow manufacture’s instructions.
7. If the adhesive cools before you have finish foiling, place a piece of bakers parchment or freezer paper on top of area and re-iron. The parchment/freezer paper will protect your iron from burning the adhesive and wrecking your iron head.
8. When applying your iron on adhesive, make sure you will not be accidentally ironing another area in the process, which has already been foiled. If so, iron from a different angle or cover previous foiled area with freezer paper.
9. When selecting your stamps choose ones, which lean on the side of bold vs. detailed. I use stamps with large graphics which are easier to paint as well as stand out on the paper. I have found some great foam stamps in the craft and children’s section at Michaels.
10. Once used, remember to wash your stamps immediately!
11. If your paper leans on the gloss side you may have some exposed adhesive, which has cooled and dry. Try one coat of a matte varnish to even the paper’s finish out. You may want to bypass the foil sections so you do not dim their shine.
12. Since the texture and weight of your paper has increased it might be a little difficult to fold when using as wrap. Take a bone folder, score desired lines and smooth with edge. If the paper is still too thick, wrap package in a complimentary solid color and then take pieces of your decorative paper, gluing them through out the wrap.

In a previous post, I discussed using metallic foiling as one of my grunge techniques. Last December, I participated in a Christmas exchange and used this technique to make my own wrapping paper. Here is how I made my wrap.

Supplies:

1 Paper Grocery Bag

Iron

1 tube of Jones Foil in gold, copper, or silver

WonderUnder or Bondalight

Craft paint: 2 dark, one light

Rubber stamps and/or Foam Stamps

Parchement or freezer paper

Two paint brushes large enough to create a wash

A foam brush or sponge

Water

Plastic plate, lid or whatever you use for a palette base

Paper towels

1. Take your grocery bag and cut it open until it is one large piece of paper.
2. Crumple up bag and I mean really crumple. I find I will crumple the bag up, smooth it out, and then crumple from another direction.
3. Smooth out paper bag blank side facing up. On a low heat, iron the bag flat. Be careful not to iron out the new texture of wrinkles.
4. Take a bottle of one dark craft paint and create a wash, diluting the paint with water. You will want to create a transparent effect making sure you can see the bag beneath. To create a more vintage look, leave large areas of the paper bag unpainted or lightly painted. To create a more altered look, cover bag with transparent wash. Once dry, repeat process with your second dark color.
5. Taking your light color of paint, apply to your stamps. Either using a foam brush or sponge and lightly dab the paint on the surface of the stamp to ensure even coverage. Press your loaded stamp on the paper with even pressure and remove.
6. When dry look at your painted paper and isolate the areas you would like to place your foil. Once done, tear or cut a piece of iron on adhesive (wonder under, etc) and place in that area. Follow the manufactures instructions. Once ironed, pull protective backing off of adhesive. Gently rub foil sheet on hot glue.
7. After you have affixed your foil through out, let paper cool for one hour. This will let the glue and foil to fix. Once your paper is nice and cool, you are good to go!

 

Tips:

1. Brown paper lunch bags are too thin for this project.
2. When selecting colors, you think about what colors will work together.
3. Make sure when selecting a light color consider how it will either pop or mute against the two darker colors.
4. If your stamping is uneven, never fear. The variation of an uneven stamping lends texture and interest to your over all piece.
5. When you use an iron on your paper make sure you are on an even and flat surface.
6. You can find Wonder Under and Bondalight at your local fabric stores. Please, please follow manufacture’s instructions.
7. If the adhesive cools before you have finish foiling, place a piece of bakers parchment or freezer paper on top of area and re-iron. The parchment/freezer paper will protect your iron from burning the adhesive and wrecking your iron head.
8. When applying your iron on adhesive, make sure you will not be accidentally ironing another area in the process, which has already been foiled. If so, iron from a different angle or cover previous foiled area with freezer paper.
9. When selecting your stamps choose ones, which lean on the side of bold vs. detailed. I use stamps with large graphics which are easier to paint as well as stand out on the paper. I have found some great foam stamps in the craft and children’s section at Michaels.
10. Once used, remember to wash your stamps immediately!
11. If your paper leans on the gloss side you may have some exposed adhesive, which has cooled and dry. Try one coat of a matte varnish to even the paper’s finish out. You may want to bypass the foil sections so you do not dim their shine.
12. Since the texture and weight of your paper has increased it might be a little difficult to fold when using as wrap. Take a bone folder, score desired lines and smooth with edge. If the paper is still too thick, wrap package in a complimentary solid color and then take pieces of your decorative paper, gluing them through out the wrap.

Comments

[michelle ward]

wow! wonder under and foil? who would have guessed? very cool pilar, thanks for the awesome tutorial. at first i couldn't see the photos but then i clicked on the white box and was dazzled by the pop-up. next time i'm at the grocery store i'm declaring Paper Please :)

[Nicole]

This is faaaab, thanks so muc....I am back again....see my blog...

Hugs
Nicole

[Tami Roth]

What a great tutorial, Pip!! Thanks so much!!
Hugs,
Tami R.

[Life Info Zone]

Excellent post!!Thanks for sharing.