Please help me fall in love with foiling!

[whizzy]

I was running back and forth from my craft room to my printer until I got the little mono printer. I didn't have room for it so got one of those little shelf things for the kitchen. Put it over other my SIL and set my laser on top of it. The SIL doesn't really get used so I wasn't worried about putting the laser on top of it. I bought some bamboo shelves at Walmart several years ago....tried to find some more but they no longer carry them. BUMMER....Really like them...you can collapse the legs and it is strong and sturdy.

Can't believe you're talking about your sister-in-law (SIL?) like that!
Go & sit on the naughty step right now . . .

[kim]

Oh, my brother has given me some doozies for SILs. Thank goodness they are both out of the family now!!! One was dumb and the other dumber. And the stories I could tell....you would think I was making it all up. The first one was the worst...brother was husband #5 and she was only about 22 when she married my brother! And he was the lucky one!!!! He wasn't stabbed or shot by her. The second one was bad...but she never shot or stabbed any of her husbands. So if I could've, I would have put both of them in the naughty chair.

[whizzy]

— not saying another word . . .

[Elizabeth]

That's great, Kim. I love the Container Store, especially with DD heading off to college in the fall.

[kim]

When I lived in Ft Worth, Texas, we had a Container Store there. I would/could spend a fortune in that store.

[Elizabeth]

Just wanted to let you all know that it was my printer that was the problem. I happened to be at Staples today to pick up something that my DD needed, and decided to look at printers while I was there. I found a Brother mono printer on sale and bought it knowing that if I didn't like it I could take it right back. I did a quick test, and I can't believe the difference! I was able to easily adjust the print quality, and the foiling was beautiful! I did a couple more tests, and will have to play around a bit to get just the right heat setting, but I am very happy with my results so far.

Thanks to everyone for the good advice!

(I knew from the beginning that a mono printer was recommended, but being me, I thought I could get away with using my color printer instead. Now I can stop tearing my hair out!)

[Gigi]

So glad Elizabeth! That is the main reason I bought a Brother mono printer. I was getting okay results with the HP color, but the mono gives so much more depth of the black for lack of a better way to put it. I just wish it took thicker cardstock. I have trouble if I use anything but very lightweight cardstock, but that's ok to get the great results. Have a lot of ideas now - just have to find time to use them!

[Suzan]

Whoo hoo love it when there is success

[PennyDuncan]

Wahoo girl. .....I think you can now say you can fall in love with your foilmaster

[Retta]

E loves her foiler oh yeah!!!

[kim]

Yahoo!!!! I am so thrilled that you got a printer that does the job!!!! Now you will find out why we just love to foil!

[Elizabeth]

Retta

Yup, I love it! Can't wait to play with it some more, now that I know how to get good results.

[Elizabeth]

Just want to thank everyone again for the tips and advice. I foiled my first "real" project last night, foiling the sentiments for the insides of my Mothers Day cards. I got perfect results! (no time to take a photo, though. I had to rush those puppies into the mail!)

I am so excited, now I will be foiling everything in site!

[PennyDuncan]

Oh that is AWESOME Elizabeth.....I bet it turned out beautiful!!!! I just love the look of foiled phrases....

[kim]

I use foiling alot for the phrases. I just love the look of it. Many times i will do a PNC....cut a label but have a think line inside (like an inverted shadow made into a line) and then the phrase inside. Have you tried the spectre foils? LOVE them. Darn....I forgot to use the red for Valentine. I really need to get on the ball. I have been planning on using that and then just plain forgot. Well....maybe for Xmas. That red spectre is just lucious.

[Gigi]

I agree Kim - love all of the spectres. And I am with Elizabeth. Now that I figured out what wasn't working, I can hardly wait to foil more!!

[Elizabeth]

I have the Silver Spectre, but that is the only one so far. It is very pretty! Now that I am getting results that I love, I can collect more foils! Yay!

I love your idea for doing a foil bordered fancy shape! I'm gonna try that right away.

[PennyDuncan]

Ok......So I've been contemplating whether I need to invest in a little mono laser printer.....I've been using my CM1415FW HP Laser Color Printer....and had been changing my settings to the following:

Printing Shortcuts: Color Options: Black & White / Paper Type: Extra Heave Glossy
Paper/Quality: Print Quality: 600 dpi
Advanced: Printer Features: Print all text in black: Enabled

Then I set my Foil Master: 199°

I printed on cardstock 110# GP and then laid the foil sheet on the letters...used a regular piece of printer paper on top and ran through the Foil Master.....Here's my results:

20130611_164647.jpg

So my question is.......is that what you all are getting with your mono printers??????? Or is it better???? I really would love to hear your feedback....cause if possible it would be great if I didn't have to spend more $$$ LOL But I'm like you all...I want as much coverage as possible!!!!

[kim]

I went and tested mine (I haven't foiled any large areas in a while) and I got great results with my little mono printer. Almost made a huge boo-boo and grabbed the Foil Max brand of foil. Good thing I had it labeled. I got the foil I got from Dawn and the results were great. I have a little HP 1102 Laser mono printer and got it at Office Depot on clearance/sale for about $50, I think. It was such a deal that I bought it for my craft room, saving me from running back and forth to my office where I have my color laser printer.

[Thyme]

We get much better results - none of that speckling!