Finding directions to make epoxy bubble stickers can significantly cut your scrapbooking expenses. Thrifty crafters know that the pre-made dimensional embellishments found on many layouts are simply not cost-effective. However, making homemade epoxy bubble stickers is a fairly simple process.
What Are Epoxy Stickers?
If you're relatively new to the world of scrapbooking, you may be wondering how to tell the difference between epoxy bubble stickers and regular scrapbooking stickers. While ordinary stickers are flat, epoxy bubble stickers have a shiny and dimensional appearance. The image on an epoxy sticker looks like it has been covered with a smooth plastic bubble and may appear to be slightly magnified.
Epoxy stickers are a popular scrapbooking embellishment because they add texture to your layout without creating an unnecessarily bulky album. However, epoxy bubble stickers can cost two to three times as much as traditional scrapbooking stickers. This price difference has led scrapbookers with tight budgets to seek homemade alternatives.
Directions to Make Epoxy Bubble Stickers
Supplies for making epoxy bubble stickers can be found at any craft or scrapbooking store. You'll need:
- Decorative paper punches
- Patterned scrapbook paper
- Diamond Glaze or a similar clear drying dimensional adhesive
- Xyron adhesive machine
- Craft knife or sharp scissors
- Cardboard covered with wax paper
The directions to make epoxy bubble stickers are fairly straightforward, but you'll want to choose a work area that won't be easily disturbed by children or pets. Since Diamond Glaze takes a long time to dry, it's important to keep your project in a safe location.
To make your own epoxy bubble stickers, follow these simple steps:
- Use the paper punches to cut out designs from your patterned paper. If you don't have patterned paper that matches the theme of your layout, you can use free scrapbook clip art, rubber stamped images, or simple flat stickers instead. You can even create epoxy bubble stickers from your child's artwork to design fun accents for a school scrapbook album.
- Run the cut out images through the Xyron adhesive machine to turn them into homemade stickers. If you don't have easy access to a Xyron, however, you may simply skip this step and attach your epoxy images to the finished layout using a glue stick or glue dots.
- Remove the clear top from the Xyron sheet and place the images on the cardboard covered with wax paper. This will provide additional stability for the project and prevent unnecessary spills in your work area.
- Carefully apply a thin coat of Diamond Glaze to the image. If you accidentally create an air bubble, use a sewing needle to redistribute the adhesive.
- Let the image dry for at least 24 hours. When your homemade sticker is dry, the adhesive will be clear and hard.
- Use a craft knife or sharp scissors to remove any excess Diamond Glaze from the image.
- If you wish to create an aged effect for your sticker, bend the image slightly to create tiny cracks.
Ideas for Using Epoxy Stickers
Once you've finished the directions to make epoxy bubble stickers, you'll need to add them to your layout. If you've never used these fun embellishments, consider trying one of the following great ideas:
- Group an assortment of epoxy stickers together on a metal-rimmed tag.
- Punch a hole in your sticker and add ribbon for a unique charm.
- Turn die cut letters into homemade epoxy stickers for a creative title treatment.
- Make your own epoxy words to accent journaling blocks.
- Design your own epoxy stickers to use as photo corners.
- Use foam adhesive to layer several epoxy stickers for a multidimensional collage effect.
- Use an epoxy circle sticker in the center of a silk flower.
- Make epoxy water bubbles for a beach or bathtime layout.
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