Foiling With Stencils

Foiling with stencils is a fun and creative way to add metallic shine and dimension to your projects like cards, journals, or mixed media art. There are a few methods to foil with stencils, depending on the tools and products you have.

You can use foil with stencils to create shiny, metallic designs on surfaces like paper, fabric, wood, or canvas. This is often done using heat transfer foil or adhesive foil.

A laminator can be used to adhere some foils to the project. A laminator is a machine that uses heat and pressure to seal documents between two layers of plastic film. It’s commonly used to protect papers like ID cards, signs, or teaching materials—but it's also a great tool for crafting, especially for applying heat transfer foil

Before You Get Started-A Few Things To Know

Ensure the foil medium—whether it's gel, size, or adhesive—is applied as evenly and thinly as possible. A flat tool like a palette knife, old gift card, or plastic scraper helps avoid clumping and ensures good foil adhesion.

Let the adhesive dry completely before adding foil. Many mediums require waiting until they hit a "tacky" state before you begin foiling—for instance, you should feel a “pop” when you press and release with your knuckle.

Once you're ready, place the foil (shiny side up) over the adhesive. Use firm, even pressure with a soft cloth, foam brush, or scrub brush to transfer the metallic finish smoothly.\ For larger surfaces, try crumpling the foil and dabbing it through the stencil for a mottled effect.

What A Laminator Does

Heats up the foil and activates the transfer gel or toner beneath it.
Presses the foil firmly onto the adhesive design.
Fuses the foil to the sticky areas, creating a shiny, permanent effect.

Using Foils With Stencils

This technique uses a laminator or Minc machine to heat up the foil for a technique that is guaranteed to create amazing results.

Supplies

A stencil
Deco Foil transfer gel
Cardstock
A spatula, knife or old credit card
Washi tape
Heat foil
Craft mat or parchment paper

Cover your work area with a craft mat or parchment paper.
Cut your cardstock to the size that you need for your card background.
Lay the stencil on top of the cardstock.
Spread the transfer gel onto the stencil. Make sure to get transfer gel into all if the holes of the stencil evenly.
Replace any leftover transfer gel back into the jar and close the jar.
Clean the stencil and the spatula right away with mild soap and warm water.
Set aside the stencil to air dry. You will know that it is dry when the gel appears to be clear.
Place some foil on top of the cardstock.
Use either a Minc Foiling Machine or a laminator. Place the cardstock in a transfer sheet and run it through the machine as per the manufacturer's directions.

Stencil Shadowing With Heat Foils

Stencil shadowing gives you a bolder look.

Supplies

Stencil of your choice
Cardstock
Ink
Blending tool
Deco Foil transfer gel
Palette knife
Foil Transfer sheets
Laminator or Minc Machine
Parchment paper
Ink sprays (optional)

Apply Stencil to the cardstock as normal with ink.
Offset the stencil slightly.
Apply transfer gel to any part of the stencil as desired.
Remove the stencil.
Make sure to wash the stencil and the palette knife in warm soapy water right away.
Allow the transfer gel to dry to clear.
Place the stenciled cardstock in a parchment paper sandwich with the foil on top.
Following the manufacturer's directions, run the parchment paper packet through the laminator or Minc machine.

Using Heat-Activated Foil + Laminator

Supplies

Stencil
Laser printer paper or pre-printed toner designs
Deco Foil Transfer Gel (Blanco or Duo)
Laminator
Heat-activated foil

Apply gel through the stencil using a palette knife
Let it dry completely.
Place foil on top and sandwich in parchment paper or a carrier sheet.
Run through a heated laminator.
Peel to reveal your foiled stencil pattern.

Using Adhesive Sheets or Tack-It Over & Over

This gives a distressed foil look depending on the tackiness.

Supplies

Stencil
Double-sided adhesive sheets or Tack-It Over & Over (Aleene’s)
Foil sheets

Apply adhesive over stencil.
Use Tack It Over & Over with a sponge dauber through the stencil or use double sided adhesive sheet behind your stencil design and cut the shape.
Let it get tacky (for Tack-It).
Place foil over it and burnish (rub) with a bone folder or your fingers.
Peel off the foil.

Adhesive Pen + Laminator Method

Place your stencil on cardstock and secure it.
Use an adhesive pen (like Therm O Web's Deco Foil Adhesive Pen) to fill in the stencil design.
Let the adhesive dry until tacky (about 30 seconds).
Lay foil over the design, cover with parchment paper, and run through a laminator.
Peel back the foil to reveal your design

Clean your stencil immediately after use to prevent gel buildup.
Try different colors of foil for special effects (holographic, matte gold, etc.).
Use smooth cardstock or mixed media paper.
If using pressure only (no laminator), try running it through a die-cutting machine
Make sure your stencil has clean, defined edges for sharp foil results.
Always test your materials on a scrap piece first.
Apply only thin layers of adhesive.
Remove the stencil carefully after application—not before the adhesive is tacky or dry
Weigh or secure the stencil edges lightly to prevent shifting. People often use weights like nuts or bolts for stability.