Learning how to use flocking powder is not difficult. Even though this supply gives your scrapbook layouts a lavish look, it's actually quite easy to work with.
Getting Started
Flocking powder is used to give an image a fuzzy, velvet-like appearance. It is sold in small jars and made by several different manufacturers, including Martha Stewart Crafts and Stampendous, Inc.
You can find flocking powder at most scrapbook specialty shops and Amazon, as well as general craft stores like Hobby Lobby and Michaels Crafts. At a craft store, however, flocking powder may be located with the rubber stamping or card making supplies instead of in the scrapbook section. Although flocking powder is very trendy in today's scrapbook layouts, stampers and card makers were the first to discover the possibilities of using this supply for their creative projects.
Flocking powder is available in many different colors. If you're just starting out, a cream, tan, or gray flocking powder is probably going to be the most versatile option. Once you have a few natural colored powders, feel free to branch out into other colors that you frequently use in your scrapbook projects. For example, mothers with little girls at home are sure to get lots of use out of pink and purple flocking powder.
How to Use Flocking Powder
Here is an outline of the steps for how to use flocking powder:
- Cover your work area with a sheet of scratch paper.
- Use a glue pen or a glue stamp pad to add adhesive to the design you want to flock. A stamp pad is used for flocking large areas, while a glue pen adds details. Remember that flocking powder should be added to the design last, however. If you have a stamped image that needs coloring or other details, add these things before starting the flocking process.
- Carefully sprinkle a layer of flocking powder over the glue. A little goes a long way, so be sure not to use too much of your powder.
- Let the first layer of glue dry completely, then add a second coat of flocking powder if you desire solid coverage on your design. You can use a heat tool on the underside of the paper to speed up the drying process if needed, but don't apply heat to the top of the design as this will simply blow your powder all over your work area.
- Roll your scratch paper up like a funnel, then pour excess flocking powder back in the jar for use during another project.
- Place another sheet of scratch paper over the top of your flocked design, then run over it with a brayer. The pressure of the brayer will make the powder stick more firmly.
Ideas for Using Flocking Powder
The easiest way to learn how to use flocking powder for scrapbooking is to simply stamp an entire shape in flocking powder. Basic designs like hearts, stars, and swirls are quick to create and can add a lot of impact to a page.
Once you've mastered stamping entire images with flocking powder, feel free to use your powder to highlight various areas of more detailed stamped images. You could make the fur on stamped dog look slightly fuzzy or give a stamped image of girl in a bikini some texture before adding it to a beached themed scrapbook layout.
Don't forget that flocking powder can also be used to add interest to items in your supply stash that may seem a bit dated in their original state. You can use a glue pen and flocking powder to add texture to the details in a sheet of patterned paper. Try covering paper flowers with flocking powder or changing the color of top of a brad so it perfectly matches your layout.
