transparencies

It’s A Pity by Hebe Ambler

Moody by Hebe Ambler

Materials

• Overlays: Hambly Studios • Tag:Making Memories • Rub-ons:American Crafts • Thread

“This layout has been created with transparencies as the basis, so the parts framing the photo are clear. I attached all the elements together using a sewing machine.”

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scrapbook magazine

Materials

• Patterned paper:Creative Imaginations, American Crafts, Paper Loft, Scribble Scrabble • Chipboard:Fancy Pants • Alphabet dies:Sizzix • Font:LD Pookie

“The journaling was typed in a word-processing program and measured to get it spaced correctly to fit inside the circle. Once printed, I moved it around until it was central and tucked it under the chipboard circle where the adhesive was hidden.” transparencies

Jack @ 3 3⁄4

Materials

• Patterned paper:Rusty Pickle • Chipboard letters:Heidi Swapp • Rub-ons:Scenic Route, Autumn Leaves, My Mind’s Eye, FoofaLa, American Crafts • Alphabet stamps:Fontwerks, Creative Imaginations • Ghost heart:Heidi Swapp • Silhouette word:Heidi Swapp • Transparency die-cut frame: My Mind’s Eye • Stickers:7gypsies • Die-cut felt flower:Queen & Co • Printable transparency:WHSmith • Ribbon:Fancy Pants • Chipboard heart:Making Memories • Pre-printed transparency:Hambly Studios • Binding:Bind-it-all

Transparency techniques

Printing onto a transparency

Print your own transparencies using digital scrapping elements for fantastic effects. If you’re printing in colour, increase the colour saturation in a photoediting program so it stands out when laid over patterned paper. Check you have printable sheets, and that ‘transparencies’ is selected as the medium to print onto in the properties box.

Acrylic paint:

Alcohol ink:

Alcohol ink dries quickly and gives a rich colour. Try stamping an image on the front of your transparency and filling it in on the reverse with alcohol inks.

Enclosed items:

Sew, staple or tape around the edges of two transparencies, trapping glitter, sequins or other items between the layers. You can also use transparencies to form the front of a shaker box: leave it clear or decorate to give another layer to it.

Handwriting:

Use a fine permanent or an OHP pen to hand-write onto your transparency. It’s easy to write straight by laying it over lined paper before writing. You’ll be surprised how your writing can improve with the smooth surface of a transparency, and if you go wrong you can wipe it off and start again.

Die-cut transparencies:

As well as 12x12” transparencies there are smaller sizes, die-cut to fit over a 6x4” photo or an even smaller image, to add as an embellishment to your layouts.

Stamping:

Stickers:

For a page where both sides are visible, place stickers of the same size and shape on either side of the transparency, so the back is hidden. You can do the same with die-cuts if you cut them out as a mirror images. They can then be glued either side of the transparency and no adhesive will show.

Layering:

Use transparencies to layer different elements.By attaching chipboard letters to the transparency with ‘3 3⁄4’ on the paper underneath, it gives greater depth.

Clear adhesive & tissue paper:

Add translucent colour to your transparency with a tissue paper motif adhered to the acetate using Mod Podge or a clear glaze. When punching tissue paper, lay it over a piece of scrap paper first in order to get a clean edge. Also try adding vellum shapes, attaching them with Invisi Dots or an eyelet.

Use acrylic paint to edge your transparency. You can also use acrylic paint on foam stamps to create images with impact, as well as paint on the back of a transparency to highlight words or images that you want to catch the eye. Start with a little paint on a dry brush and build up as necessary.

Use StããzOn ink to stamp onto a transparency. Be careful not to smudge the image when you’re removing the stamp, as the surface is slippery. If you do make a mistake use StããzOn cleaner to remove the image, clean the acetate and try again. It is possible to stamp an image using pigment ink and emboss it with clear embossing powder to fix it, but it can be tricky to do this without melting the transparency.

Rub-ons:

Rub-ons are such an easy way to create your own transparencies. They adhere instantly and effectively, and there is no end to the variety of images and text available.

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