Foil Play end of year sale - 15% off everything!

The Foil Play sale is now on with 15% off EVERYTHING (whilst stocks last) – why not bag a few bargains and stock up for 2009!

To receive the discount, just enter and apply the code SALE1 when checking out.

The web site will remain open for business over the festive period, however, no orders will be posted between 20 December 2008 - 1 January 2009. The next despatch date after Christmas will be Friday 2 January 2009, any queries or questions over the festive period will be answered by 2 January.

Thank you very much indeed for your custom during 2008 - wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2009!

Web site changes - links

The Foil Play webmaster has been busy making some exciting changes to the website (more of which in a couple of days!).

Due to the new features, the category links in the main window of the site are currently not working. Please use the links over on the left hand menu in the meantime. This also means that links contained in this blog will not work at present either.

Apologies for the inconvenience - the links will be fixed asap (with the site being the first priority), and I will update this post as progress is made.

Update: Links have been fixed on the website now, I will post again when I have fixed links on the blog.

Update: All links on the blog now fixed.

La Pashe Flippin' Men and step by step transport sheets

New from La Pashe is a great series of decoupage sheets for men - Flippin' Men.

Each A4 sheet of La Pashe Flippin' Men step by step decoupage is printed on 130gsm silk paper and features a front and back image of a character - which can be made up either side of an acetate sheet, or suspended in an aperture card.

Flippin Men Decoupage is a fun, quirky new series of 3-D decoupage for card making & scrapbooking which features men doing their favourite things - always with a pint in hand!

From golf to DIY, football to sitting on the toilet - the Flippin Men images are funny and original. And the really unique element is that Flippin Men decoupage actually flips around so you get front & back images. Use them with the specially-designed aperture cards for a fantastic flippin' card that all men will love to receive
There are 20 characters to choose from:

• Flippin' Bathtime
• Flippin' BBQ
• Flippin' Bike
• Flippin' Bookies
• Flippin' Bowls
  
• Flippin' Boxing
  
• Flippin' Cheers
• Flippin' Cricket
• Flippin' Darts
• Flippin' Decorating
• Flippin' DIY
• Flippin' Fishing
• Flippin' Football
• Flippin' Gardening
• Flippin' Golf
• Flippin' Housework
• Flippin' Peace
• Flippin' Rugby
• Flippin' Snooker
• Flippin' Walkies
  

La Pashe has also produced a selection of step by step transport decoupage sheets, also ideal for male cards, including:

• Motorcycles
• Aircraft
• Cars
• Trains
• Trucks
• Vintage Lagonda
• Fire engines
  

Foil Play DT challenge: a glittered medallion card by Little Jan

Little Jan of the CraftTelly forum has produced this gorgeous, intricate, glittered medallion card for the Foil Play Design Team challenge.

The card was made by folding A4 gold pearl card and cutting out an aperture, the corners were then embossed and stitched and gems added. Jan used a medallion stamp to stamp out and decoupage two medallions, and glued them back to back. She then glittered both sides and hung the finished medallion in the aperture. The background of the card is decorated with snowflake peel offs

Thank you, Jan for this beautiful project!

Foil Play DT challenge: foiled and glittered projects by Caramel Bunny

CaramelBunny of the CraftTelly forum has produced this delightfully delicious selection of foiled and glittered projects for the Foil Play Design Team Challenge.

Elephant card (pictured above) - CaramelBunny highlighted some of the detailing on the elephant decoupage with the Quickie Glue Pen then foiled with old gold foil. The swirly bits are adhesive rub-ons with the same gold foil applied over them.

Dragonfly box (pictured above and below) - This is a peel off sticker stuck on to a double sided sticky sheet & then mounted on acetate. The wings were then foiled using a sheet from the pearl foil kit and the body foiled with turquoise foil. The eyes are bronze glitter dabbed on with a brush. The whole lot was then mounted on a box (made by CaramelBunny) with silicone glue, so that it stands up on its bent legs a bit.
Dragon bag (pictured above) - This is a stamped & embossed image which Caramel Bunny then filled in using the Quickie Glue Pen and copper, cinnamon and bronze glitter. It took a lot of brushing over after applying each glitter to make sure the original embossing still came out!
Butterfly card (pictured below) - these are peel off stickers coloured with permanent markers then stuck to a double sided adhesive sheet & mounted onto vellum. The wings are then foiled with three different foils from the pearl foiling kit. The bodies are the bronze glitter again, applied with a brush.
Thank you, CaramelBunny for these beautiful projects!

Here come the Girls! New Kanban topper sheets and co-ordinating cardstock

Lots of gorgeous new Kanban topper sheets are in store this weekend at Foil Play, along with beautiful co-ordinating cardstock.

There are flitter glittered topper and pyramage sheets, like the Rosie pyramage sheet pictured above.
There is also a selection of pink and black rose and cherry and pink and blue vintage poppy co-ordinating cardstock (black cherry pictured above).
There is a selection of eight foiled and diecut vintage elegant ladies topper sheets (Lakeside Lovers is pictured above), many of which also include lovely verses for your craft projects.
Also new this month are elegant lady aperture decoupage kits (Mary on black is pictured above) and beautiful black and white enamel glazed card sheets (Paisley - negative is pictured below).

New G18 die cut DuoTwist and Large Format Pyramage designs

G18 have just released 10 delicious new die cut designs which are now in store at Foil Play.

There are 5 new DuoTwists sheets:

• Anniversary Roses (pictured above);
• 60s Cars 2, featuring the Mini and Morris Minor;
• A Boy's Best Friend in monochrome;
• The High Life, an elegant monochrome couple;
• Down the Hatch, with wine and beer

Each A4 die cut DuoTwists sheet contains two inspirational and unique twisted decoupage designs and co-ordinating background panels. Pop out the numbered images from the sheet and stack them on top of each other using foam pads at a slightly twisted angle, to produce a really unusual style of decoupage.

For step by step details of how to make up the DuoTwists, check out the instructions on the G18 website. Check out the gallery on the site too, for inspiration!
There are also 5 new pyramage sheets:

• Smile - a cute frog on a lily pad (pictured above);
• Commitment - beach wedding;
• Barrel of Laughs - cute puppies;
• Elegant Couple 1 - monochrome;
• Elegant Couple 2 - monochrome

Pop out the numbered images from the sheet, then layer them on top of each other with foam pads, starting with the largest at the base and the smallest at the top, to create a 3D pyramid effect.

DuoTwists and the Large Format Pyramage sheets are both produced on luxurious 170 gsm silk paper to add a touch of class to any project - and die cut, so no scissors are needed!

Delicious new die cut decoupage designs from Dufex

Lots of great new Dufex goodies are now in store at Foil Play.

Firstly, a selection of die cut decoupage kits. Each kit contains 2 A4 sheets, a die cut decoupage sheet and a non die cut card making design elements (including borders, corners and background panels) sheet which can be easily cut out using a craft knife or scissors. Each sheet perfectly complements the other and when combined will give all your card designs a stunning result.

There are six kits so far in the range:

• Anniversary;
• Easter;
• Floral occasions;
  
• Good luck and congratulations;
• New baby (pictured above); and
• Wedding
  

There are four new everyday die cut decoupage designs:

• Pigs (pictured above);
• Oriental;
• Motomania; and
• Victorian Beach
  

Six popular existing step by step designs are now also available as die cut sheets, these are:

• Easter;
  
• Wedding;
• Teen Male (pictured above);
• Cricket, Football & Rugby;
• Cheers; and
• Chocolate
  

There is a gorgeous new mandala hearts step by step sheet too, pictured above.
Last but not least, there is a new selection of individual Dufex picture prints too. Very inexpensive, but versatile, the prints could be used as the centrepiece for a special card either as an individual topper, or decoupaging several sheets of the same design to add extra dimension. With many of the prints, including the vintage cars print pictured above, you can cut out and use individual elements on more than one card. Of course these prints are so beautiful, you can also use them as pictures too!

Studio Light traditional decoupage sheets - Disney, animals, male themed decoupage and more

Lots of great new decoupage sheets from Studio Light are in store now at Foil Play. There is a great range to choose from, including new pyramid and twisted pyramid decoupage sheets.

The pyramid sheets include Christmas designs, Flower Fairies, flowers, oriental lady and wedding.
There are plenty of traditional step by step 3D decoupage sheets too, with lots of male themed designs like the one above, also cars, motorbikes, aeroplanes and sport.

These are traditional decoupage sheets, so scissors are needed! Cut out the step by step elements and layer them up with foam pads or silicone adhesive to create toppers for your card and craft projects.

New Disney sheets include Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Peter Pan, animals and princesses.

Other new sheets feature Strawberry Shortcake, Some bunny to love, cowboys and indians.

There are lots of gorgeous animals too, including cats, dogs, birds, ponies and wild animals.

Foil Play DT challenge: foiled snowflake card by Wellington

Wellington of the Craft Telly forum has produced the beautiful, delicate snowflake card pictured above and detailed below.

Wellington used stamps from the Snow Is Falling Elusive Images themeplate - stamped directly onto a pre-scored tall slim card using Colorbox pigment ink. She then used a Sakura Quickie Glue Pen to apply a holographic silver foil to highlight elements of the largest snowflake. She also used Paper Mania self adhesive stars to embellish the centres of the smaller snowflakes.
Thank you, Wellington, for sharing your gorgeous card!

Tamlyn Art Designs and gorgeous vellums from The Crafthouse Press

The Crafthouse Press has recently announced the name of a new artist who will be creating exclusive designs for the company - Tamlyn Chalk. Tamlyn is a talented British artist who brings a fresh new look to 3D decoupage. Her modern, fun designs are the perfect basis to produce cards for teens and 20-somethings and while they are full of life and detail they are also easy to use and quick to cut out. So if you are looking for something contemporary and chic, the Tamlyn Art Designs range is the perfect solution.
Also new in store at Foil Play is a range of gorgeous vellums from the Crafthouse Press, including a selection of Christmas and everyday designs printed in white, silver and gold.

Foil Play DT challenge: foiled and glittered cards by Little Jan

These three stunning cards were made by Little Jan of the CraftTelly.com forum.

The card above was made by matting a decoupaged image onto holographic and mirri card. Little Jan then used the Sakura Quickie glue pen and green foil to embellish and highlight the dragon's scales.
The second card is made from a printed image which was matted and highlighted with holographic foils.
The final card was made also using a printed image. Little Jan used various foils to highlight the baubles and star on the tree, and glitter for the tinsel and snow.

Thank you, Little Jan for these gorgeous cards!

Foil Play DT challenge: foiled and glittered FLAP by Wellington

Wellington produced this gorgeous FLAP (fat little art page) for a monthly swap on the Craft Telly forum.

Some of the papers and vellums are printed from the Artylicious Filigree Fusion CD with a couple of other bits from Wellington's scrapbox. Then she used a Sakura Quickie Glue Pen to write the words Autumn Leaves and glittered the word Autumn with coral ultra fine glitter from the selection of 5 pastel glitters. To finish the project, Wellington foiled the word Leaves, using a deep coppery red foil from the metallic foils starter kit.

Thank you, Wellington, for sharing your beautiful work of art!

New Christmas sheets: Golden Oldies, TIpsy Adults, Picture Pyramage

Lots of new sheets from Paper Fun and Paper Laughs are now in store at Foil Play, including monochrome Christmas and fairy picture pyramage sheets.
There are Christmas and everyday Tipsy Adults sheets, featuring fun lovers throughout various stages of the evening. Designs include:

• Tequila Grandad
• Glamour Puss
• Beer Monster
• The It Girl
• The Amateur
• Little Minx
• Sozzled Santa
• Festive Fairy
• Pie Eyed Pixie
• The Glamourous Gift
• The Christmas Kiss (pictured above)
• Christmas Karaoke Queen
  

Christmas sheets for the popular Golden Oldies range are also available too, in the following designs:

• Merry Knitmas!
• Angel's Voices
• Cosy Christmas (pictured above)
• Grand-Father Christmas
• O Christmas Tree
• Snowballing Seniors
  

All of the numbered step by step decoupage projects are printed on high quality A4 silk-art 130gsm acid and lignin free paper.
There are six new Christmas picture pyramage sheets available in a mixture of full colour and sepia designs. These high quality sheets are printed onto 250gsm silk-art card stock. You cut out all the different sized shapes of the image, then layer them on top of each other with foam pads, starting with the largest at the base and the smallest at the top. Self adhesive foam pads are recommended rather than silicone adhesive for this particular type of decoupage, as they provide more even spacing between layers.

Christmas and new everyday goodies from Kanban

Lots of great new everyday Kanban goodies are now in store at Foil Play. I've also stocked (again!) on the very popular Christmas designs, including pyramage and topper sheets, concept cards and co-ordinating foiled and mirri card.
There is a great new selection of concept card kits. The new kits each include:

• a die cut A4 sheet, some of which are foiled or flitter glittered;
  
• a co-ordinating sheet of 300gsm card;
• two white envelopes.

Each pack makes at least two gorgeous and co-ordinated finished cards.

Other goodies include new monochrome and vintage ladies pyramage sheets, pop up cards, die cut topper sheets and a selection of topper sheets and co-ordinating backing papers.

FGS Christmas Stack-its are back!

As you may be aware, it hasn't been possible to get hold of the Christmas Stack-Its sheets for the past couple of months.

However, these very popular sheets are now available again. The slightly re-designed sheets feature a delightful variety of Christmas designs, including:

• Victorian church and village scenes;
  
• traditional Santa Claus;
• Star of the East scenes;
• robins, owl, geese, pheasants;
• winter scenes;
  
• Scottish bagpiper;
• cute teddy, snowmen and penguins.

Stack-Its decoupage sheets produce toppers with a 3D pyramid effect for your card and craft projects. You cut out all the different sized shapes of the image, then layer them on top of each other with foam pads, starting with the largest at the base and the smallest at the top. Self adhesive foam pads are recommended rather than silicone adhesive for this particular type of decoupage, as they provide more even spacing between layers.

The new sheets also contain a selection of tags and greetings to help you achieve a co-ordinated and professional look for your Christmas cards.

Foil Play peel offs feature in Papercraft Essentials magazine

Check out issue 34 of Papercraft Essentials magazine for a feature (pages 68 - 70) using the peel offs pictured.

The article includes instructions for five gorgeous cards designed by Kim Fee, using swirly candle and bauble peel offs, which are available at Foil Play in gold, silver, white (gorgeous on vellum), black and copper.
Papercraft Essentials costs £3.99 and issue 34 comes with a Stamping Essentials ideas Christmas special magazine and Christmas designer paper pack, with papers, templates and card blanks.

Web site back!

The Foil Play website is now back online, I am very sorry indeed that it has taken so long to restore service.

A huge thank you to my webmaster for all his help in migrating and restoring the site!

To celebrate the site's return, I will send a free set of gold and silver rub on foils (and instructions) with every order over £10 placed between now and midnight on Sunday 19 October. If you spend over £20, you will of course receive a set of Dufex Christmas greetings stickers too!

Website outage

My apologies that the Foil Play website is currently unavailable - it is being migrated by the hosting company and unfortunately no advance notice of the interruption in service was received.

The site should be back by this evening - my sincere apologies for the inconvenience in the meantime.

My continued apologies that as of late morning Monday, the site is still down. The hosts claim to be doing all they can to restore service asp. I will post an update when the site is back up and running.

A further update - as of Monday evening, the hosting company now estimates that the outage may last for another 24-36 hours. I am very sorry for this continued and extended interruption in service.

As the Foil Play web site is down completely, I am unable to access emails until it is restored. I will of course answer them as soon as I can, once the service is restored. If you need to contact me in the meantime, please email me on sales@winspiration.co.uk.

Tuesday evening update - My apologies for the continued downtime of the Foil Play site.

It seems that the hosting company has finally identified what needs to be done to restore service. The detail, for anyone interested:

"We sincerely apologize for the continued downtime your server may be experiencing. We are in the process of changing data centers, and for many customers, the process is taking significantly longer than expected.

We have identified the issue and have a fix in place, but it will require another 24 hours or so to get it rolled out across all affected servers.

The main issue is that, in our previous data center, 32-bit VPS machines were using a particular version of the Windows Operating System. The new data center is using a slightly different version of Windows. This problem didn't impact our ability to restore containers, and to Virtuozzo, it seemed that the containers were working. However, it did impact the actual operation of several of the containers.

We are currently rolling out a new version of the OS to the affected 32-bit servers. We will then re-copy the containers and reinstall them.

Again, we hope to have all containers fully restored and operational in the next 24 hours. Many containers will come up before then (and many containers have been operational since late Sunday night). We are working around the clock and will have your containers up as soon as we can."

Wednesday evening update - still no sign of the site being restored by the host, easycgi.com. Foil Play is of course not the only site affected - there is a discussion here amongst others experiencing the same problem.

My webmaster and I are now working on migrating the site to other hosting. We aim to complete the move as quickly as possible, but inevitably it is likely to take some time.

I do apologise for the continuing downtime of the site - we are working as hard as we can to restore service as soon as possible.

If you need to contact me in the meantime, please email me on sales@winspiration.co.uk.

Thursday evening update - well I'm afraid we have given up hope of easycgi.com restoring the website, despite their latest status update. There have been lots of promises, and very little apparent action to remedy the situation.

I've purchased hosting elsewhere, and we are now in the process of migrating the site using a back up copy, so I should have more positive news to report soon.

Friday evening update - some good news to report at last! We are making very good progress in restoring the site from a back up copy onto new hosting, and the important parts of the website are now functional again, as is the email address.

However, we still have quite a lot of tweaking to do, particularly with images and how they display on the site, so it presently looks a little rough around the edges. We're working hard to iron out these issues as soon as we can.

Christmas and other goodies from Redhotbed and Michele Marsden

Lots of new Redhotbed / Michele Marsden sheets are now in store at Foil Play this weekend. These include new flitter glittered or foiled topper sheets like the one above.
Clutter - but with a difference! These Christmas sheets are die cut, and there are six designs available. Pop out the individual elements printed and layer up with 3D foam or silicone glue to produce the finished image. The sheet includes a plan which you can follow, if you wish - the plan can also be used as a topper.
Cute Christmas Waterfall designs - A4 die cut sheets designed to produce a waterfall effect for your Christmas cards, with foiled greetings and accents.

Each sheet is die cut, so no scissors are needed. A step by step instruction sheet with pictures will also be sent with all purchases of waterfall sheets.

Last but not least, a great selection of die cut foiled topper sheets, featuring a range of Christmas motifs.