Technique of the Week: Foiling with the Minc Toner Pen

Some time ago, we had a playday to explore techniques with foiling. Some of the most effective techniques require a laminator or a Minc machine. Don't let that turn you off of this technique though, because a laminator can be purchased relatively inexpensively.

When we played with foiling before, we were die-cutting sheets of toner covered paper, and putting those through the laminator or Minc machine with pieces of foil (pretty side up) on top on the die cut. The heat from the laminator would melt the toner, and the foil would fuse to it. This works beautifully well, and is a lot of fun.

Recently, Minc has come out with pens that put toner ink onto your paper. Using these, you can foil something that you write or draw or color. The pens come in two different sizes: 2mm and 4mm. I used the 4mm for this technique, since our distributor backordered the 2mm pens. I found the 4mm was especially good for putting toner ink onto a stamp, and I could also color with it.

The toner pen's nib starts out white, and you must press the tip down onto a piece of paper multiple times to get the ink to come down into the nib. This took longer than I expected, but it eventually did start to flow.

1. For this project, I stamped a Magenta Doodle Feather stamp (37.289.K) onto a piece of Neenah Solar White 80# cardstock.

2. I colored parts of the Doodle Feather with the toner pen.

3. After placing a piece of foil (Decco Rainbow foil) over the stamped and colored image, with the pretty side up, I put the card and the foil into a carrier and inserted it into the Minc machine. I used the #4 setting. I have also used a laminator before with foil and toner, and it works quite well. You do NOT have to have a Minc machine for this to work.

4. I was quite surprised and pleased to see the results after coloring the feather and feeding it through. All of the areas that I had colored came out beautifully foiled.

5. I cut the image out using Memory Box Stitched Oval Layers (30069 - in stock at Art 'n Soul) with the 2nd and 4th largest ovals.

6. The sentiment stamp, Magenta 07.876.F You are Awesome, was stamped onto a stamp positioner plastic sheet with Versafine ink, and I then inked the word "Awesome" with the toner pen. Using the stamp positioner, I quickly stamped the word "Awesome" onto the oval, under the feather, in toner ink.

7. I put a piece of the rainbow foil over the word, and ran it through the Minc machine. The word came out beautifully foiled.

8. I cleaned the stamp, taped over the word "Awesome" and inked the rest of the stamp with Versafine ink. The tape was removed, and again using the stamp positioner, I stamped the rest of the sentiment onto the oval.

9. To construct the card, I chose a matting square of So Silk Glamour Green cardstock. I adhered the larger oval (frame) to the matting layer.

10. A piece of white fun foam was die cut using the next smaller oval die to the center oval piece (5th largest). The fun foam was adhered to the back of the center oval, and the oval was adhered in the center of the framed oval, making sure to match the stamped and foiled feather.

11. Last some sequins were adhered using Ranger Multi Medium Matte adhesive. I found this card easy and fun to make, and I will definitely use the Minc toner pen for multiple cards.

To see step by step photos of this technique, please visit my Backporch blog here.

Terry Medaris will be here next weekend!!

Beginning Friday, August 12, Terry Medaris will be here to teach his fabulous Prismacolor workshops. Terry had to open two sessions of his beginner workshop, but if  you have ever taken a class with Terry, you do not need the beginner class to take his other classes. 

Come in and see the samples for the Make it and Take it class, which include a tile, a domino and a shrink plastic image. 

The second Make it and Take it class is for making the most beautiful pendants. You really have to see the samples in person to get an idea of how gorgeous these are (and they would make amazing Christmas or Birthday presents). Terry's jewelry class has been reworked this year, so if you have taken it in the past, you should really take it again. 

Terry's classes are such a bargain - if you take more than one class, they are only $30 each! All of the items are made using Terry's unique and stunning stamps. Terry will also be bringing a trunk show of his stamps and other things with him. You do not have to take a class to come in and participate in the trunk show.

Beginner Prismacolor Blending with Terry Medaris

August 12, 2016

Two Class times available: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. and 5:30-8:30 p.m.

In this class you will learn my blending techniques, then color one of my designs using your Prismacolor pencils. This class is a prerequisite to take my other classes. If you have taken this class in the past, you have satisfied the requirement. Bring Basic Kit and a set of Prismacolor pencils (prefer at least set of 48).

Make and Take It with Terry Medaris
Saturday August 13, 2016
10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Using the techniques you learned in the beginning class, you will stamp on, then color a ceramic tile, a domino, and a piece of heat-shrink plastic. Bring Basic Kit and a set of Prismacolor pencils (prefer at least set of 48).

Saturday, August 13^th, 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. "JEWELRY CLASS MAKE AND TAKE IT" – Terry Medaris $35 (If more than one class is taken, each class is $30)

Using the techniques you learned in the beginning class, you will stamp a piece of pre-punched art board; then color and mount your art into three different shaped metal jewelry pendants to create your own beautiful personalized jewelry pieces. Bring Basic Kit and a set of Prismacolor pencils (prefer at least set of 48).