Hero Arts | Sparkle and Shine: Mastering Metallic Shimmer Sprays in Your Cardmaking

Hey there, crafty friends! Karen here and today, we’re diving into the magical world of metallic shimmer sprays and how you can incorporate them into your cardmaking and papercrafting projects. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just starting out, these shimmer sprays are sure to add a touch of fun and sparkle to your creations.

Today I am sharing several colorful cards. It was a play day for me as I experimented with ink sprays and a fresh new background stamp called Abstract Feather Bold Print.

Rainbow Color Shimmer Cards

My Process:

• I added 6 colors of Metallic Spray to the wells of my paint palette. I’ve listed the colors used below.  Add more water for a softer more water-color look.
• Metallic Sprays Used: Fuchsia + Gold, Orange + Shimmer, Bright Yellow + Copper, Green + Shimmer, Blue + Shimmer, Royal Purple + Gold
• I put my Abstract Feather Bold Print background stamp in my stamp positioner with a piece of Luxe White Watercolor Paper.
• With my Flat Water Brush, I brushed paint onto my stamp and then stamped on my watercolor paper. For the “Smile” card I wanted a softer watercolor look so I brushed water on the stamp and then brushed on 6 colors of pigmented spray.
• I let my panels dry and then trimmed with my Rounded Rectangles Infinity Dies.
• I finished by adding my sentiments and embellishments, which I detail below.
• All of my die cut sentiments were cut 3 times, stacked and glued together.

As I stated above, I wanted to try a softer watercolor look for my “Smile” card and in person, this card seems to have the most shimmer and shine. After trimming my card, I lightly ink blended the edges with Amethyst Core Ink and added my sentiment, which was die cut from Amethyst cardstock. I added Translucent Pink Enamel Dots for a little added interest.

Card #2 was made the same way as Card 1, except I did NOT brush water on my stamp before painting my stamp. You can really see how the amount of water used can change your project.

I finished my card with a Nautical sentiment die cut with the Smile Friend Stamp and Cut XL set plus a few Clear Hues Enamel Dots.

Minimalist Mixed Media Thank You Card

I wanted to play a bit more with my final card. I added some rub-ons from Collage Backgrounds Part 2 Hero Transfers set and then, with my Palette Knife, I added Gold Hero Paste in spots through the Leaves and Abstract Shapes Stencil. You can see a stencil process photo below. Remember to soak or wash your stencil and palette knife before the Hero Paste sets.

I stamped and die cut a sentiment from the I Appreciate You Stamp and Die Bundle set. Finally, I added a few black Neutrals Hero Hues Enamel Dots.

PRO TIP: Protect your work surface with a piece of deli paper when working with messy media. It makes for a quick and easy cleanup.

What are Metallic Shimmer Sprays?

Metallic shimmer sprays are versatile crafting tools that contain finely milled metallic pigments suspended in a liquid base. They come in a variety of metallic shades and below, you can see the six I used on my cards today. When sprayed or brushed onto paper, these shimmer sprays impart a beautiful shine and metallic sheen, adding depth and dimension to your projects.

Don’t you just love this shimmery rainbow of metallic sprays? I can’t decide which is my favorite!

• Two Tone Fuchsia + Gold
• Tone on Tone Orange + Shimmer
• Two Tone Bright Yellow +Copper
• Tone on Tone Green + Shimmer
• Tone on Tone Blue + Shimmer
• Two Tone Royal Purple + Gold.

Final Thoughts

Stamping with metallic shimmer sprays is a fun and easy way to elevate your cardmaking projects and add a touch of shine to your designs. Whether you’re crafting for a special occasion or just because, these metallic sprays are sure to make your creations shine bright. So, grab your stamps and start sparkling!

I hope you found this tutorial helpful and inspiring. Happy crafting!