Foiling Fun

We had a delivery of new foils this week. Since Jones Tones discontinued their foils, I have been searching forever without a great deal of success - mostly because people would not answer my emails. But then out of the blue I finally got a reply from a firm who manufacture all sorts of colours - about 100. It was hard to choose especially when you are only looking at a paper chart but in the end I chose 10 new colours and 10 top ups. I love that most of these are quite earthy so was pretty keen to have a play.

 These are the colours I chose - olive green - apple green - lemongrass - burnt sienna - sunset gold - burgundy - plum - all pretty earthy. I decided to use a stencil or two and brushed foil glue through. I have worked onto one of my stencil and spray backgrounds on khadi paper so it isn't in your face because nature isn't either. I like the subtle look and you could layer up.

 This is a second one quite less defined.

 On another worked page I foiled a ponga stencil I have made. I haven't used the iron, just worked onto the tacky surface. Sometimes I have trouble with this method but I didn't want it well defined.

 Another chevron stencil

Then I found some fabric previously stencilled and with a wash using Sun Dye fabric paints over the top - I applied foil glue to my fern stamp and pressed it down. I liked the fact that I missed parts of it.

 On the same piece of fabric, a very subtle leaf stencil

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If you are layering, you can pop a paper napkin grid (obviously made with a napkin which fits the theme) over the top.

 

I also made a thermofax screen and applied glue through it onto both khadi paper and fabric. The khadi paper is textured of course and the results were  not so clear but I was playing

 On the fabric you can possibly see some of the words - definitely forest at the top. Ready for stitching which would emphasise your work.

And a final little piece - the background is something new I am playing with and the good people in Adelaide will be able to explore this idea in January at my Summer School class.

A few pointers, when you use foil glue, make sure you wash your stencils and screens soon after use and thoroughly. Wait until the surface is tacky and either iron over baking parchment or press the foil, colour side up, over the surface. this does not always work for me. Permission to play as always.

You can see our  foils - stencils - paints and sprays here and of course our khadi books