Technique - Enhance Your Art with Glitter Lace Paper

Guest Author - Kim M. Bayne

Make beautiful glittery paper from left-over stickers or mailing labels. Imagine the possibilities!

In a recent collage swap, someone included a scrap of ecru-colored fabric lace. I was happy for this trade because I had wanted to play around with a masking technique using lace, sticker paper and glitter. I've seen this demonstrated at several crafts shows and in classes. I'll illustrate it for you here now. ~ by Kim M. Bayne

Materials & Tools List

Scrap Piece of Fabric Lace

Fine Glitter in Ruby (Red) and Silver, like Art Accentz Microfine Sparklerz Glitter, by Provo Craft

Sticky-Back Paper, like Mailing Labels or Unwanted Bumper Stickers

Paper Trimmer, like Fiskars 12" Portable Paper Trimmer Item #95987097

Sizzix Personal Die-Cutter Machine

Tag Die, like the Sizzix Die for Tags #38-0236

Gather materials for making glitter paper

Some of the Supplies You'll Need

The Steps
(Click to enlarge each image. Another browser window will open.)

1. Cut your sticker paper to the desired size, depending on your project.

2. Pick a surface in an area where you can contain the glitter. A small box is helpful. I often use the top of a file folder box because it's the perfect size. I slip in a letter-sized sheet to catch glitter as needed.

3. Peel the backing off your sticker paper. Now place the scrap of lace directly on the sticky side. Push down around the lace to make sure it sticks firmly -- you don't want any glitter to creep underneath the lace and spoil your design.

4. Sprinkle ruby red glitter on top of the lace. The exposed areas of the label will pick up the micro fine glitter while protecting the covered areas.

5. Brush away the excess glitter. You're almost halfway there!

6. Slowly peel the lace from the sticker paper.

7. Sprinkle silver glitter on top of the sticker paper.

8. Brush away the excess silver glitter and take a look. You have a beautiful piece of glittery, lace-like paper.

9. Using a tag die, like the Sizzix Die for Tags, cut the glitter lace paper into a tag shape. Now you can add your beautiful tag to gift packages, greeting cards, altered books or collage creations. Cutting tags is but one idea! Send me an email and tell me what you've done with your glitter lace paper.

Project Tips

After each glittering step, use your fingers to press down on the glitter to make sure it sticks to the paper.

Use a small spoon to sprinkle just a spot of glitter in an exact place on your sticker paper.

Experiment with different colors of glitter to see what you like best. Avoid combinations of dark colors -- like dark purple and blue -- you won't be able to see the lace-like pattern.

Try using pieces of sticker paper as a border around a rubber stamped, embossed or photocopied image. After the sticker paper is in place, add the glitter around your image.