It's Not Wasting If You're Trying

Hi friends! There's a new Product Focus over on Splitcoaststampers today and this time I had the great pleasure of reviewing the Gemini Jr. and Gemini FoilPress. You can read the whole product focus and find some instructional videos here... https://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/products/gemini_foilpress.

I actually had no idea what the FoilPress was when it arrived at my doorstep. I had heard of it, but assumed it was just another version of the Minc. Since I love my Minc, I didn't feel the need to investigate further.

But guess what? It's a completely different system that you can use with special foiling dies OR with the dies you already have in your collection! Beautiful foiled accents and no need to print designs out before hand? Yes, please!

Since I was learning both the Gemini Jr. and the FoilPress at the same time, I think it took me a bit longer than it should have to get things working. I sure am glad I persisted though, because I'm totally hooked now. There are some great tutorials on using the FoilPress, and I highly suggest using them. While I was watching a YouTube tutorial, Trevor came in and I told him I was learning how to use my new machine. Later he came back in at a point where I was getting really discouraged with a deadline looming and asked if I'd figured it out.  I told him, "I'm starting to, but I've wasted a lot of foil and paper." To which he replied, "Mama, it's not wasting if you're trying... it's LEARNING!" I mean seriously, he's only seven and he's coming up with this golden advice? Love that boy so much!

Anyhow, he was right! I was learning the whole time and ended up having so much fun I made 7 cards! And I just used it again on some cards for later this month!

I used several different foil techniques on this card. The background is a foil stamp background plate. Love me some shiny polka dot and here I used electric blue foil on light gray cardstock.  I then used one of the stamp & cut foil dies that came with the FoilPress for the frame. These dies foil and cut the image out at the same time and wowy! is the reveal impressive when you pull off the foil carrier! I used this on the frame, laying a little vellum behind it for a subtle background for the sentiment.  The sentiment is from a die set that comes with the Gemini Jr.  I cut it from cardstock three times and glued together for thickness. I then sent the diecut through the FoilPress to foil over the top of it and it came out beautifully. This might be my new favorite thing! I recently got a Spectrum Noir Aquamarine sparkle glitter brush and it matched the electric blue perfectly, allowing me to color in some of the sides of the die cut that didn't get foiled completely.

I finished off with a prima butterly. It originally had gold accents, but I decided to add a little glue to those parts and then rub some of the electric blue foil onto it. Love the effect and now everything's matchy matchy!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope your day shines!

Compensated affiliate links are used where possible. When you place an order after clicking one of my links, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks so much for using my links and supporting this blog. 💙