Fancy tools are great if you’re an experienced crafter. BUT if you’ve never tried the technique they’re meant for, it can all feel a little bit scary. I’d never hot foiled. Not once.
So when Spellbinders released their new Glimmer II Hot Foil System and said it makes hot foiling easier than ever, I knew I had to put it to the test. No prep, no practice, just my genuine first impressions. And if a total beginner like me can get fail free foiling, so can you.
You can watch the whole thing, from the unboxing to my first cards, right here:
What’s new about the Glimmer II
Spellbinders released their first hot foiling machine back in 2018, BUT this one is different. It promises to be the easiest to use yet, and a few changes stood out to me straight away:
- No bulky docking base. The heated platform sits on a simple silicone mat, so it takes up much less room on your craft desk.
- A magnetic power cord. It clicks onto the side of the platform and pulls straight off when you’re ready to foil, so nothing gets nudged out of place.
- Lights and beeps. The machine tells you when it’s heated up and when your plate is ready, so there’s no guessing.
- A magnetic pick-up tool. It lifts hot plates off the platform so your fingertips stay safe.
- Plates that work in both machines. The new Press + Foil plates work in the Glimmer II and the BetterPress, and your older Glimmer plates still work too.
If you’d like the full details, including which die cutting machines it’s compatible with, I’ve linked the Glimmer II in the shopping section below.
Three materials, three first attempts
I put the Glimmer II to the test on three of the most common materials in any paper crafter’s stash. You’ll see every sample in the video, no do-overs.
Cardstock
My very first foil. Ever. No pressure! I’d read the instructions, so it was time to find out if that counted for anything. I was so surprised by just how easy my first attempt was. I did get some slight over foiling BUT other than that, it’s perfect. The instructions are super easy to follow and it’s fun! I’ve since found a few ways to reduce the over foiling, I share those in the linked video.
Vellum
The next test was Vellum and because vellum is see-through, I was really curious how the foil would look on it. I was not disappointed, it’s stunning. Watch the video to see just how well this turned out!
Acetate
This was the one I’d been dreading. Spellbinders make a specialty clear film for foiling, but I don’t have it. What I do have is heat-resistant acetate in my stash, and say it with me… we use what we have. One thing worth knowing if you try this at home: only use acetate that says heat resistant on the packet. Regular acetate isn’t made for that kind of heat. And watch out for static, because it can move your foil around before you’ve even started.
Once my tests were done, I finished the samples into three cards.
The verdict
So, can a total beginner get fail free foiling with the Spellbinders Glimmer II Hot Foiling System? Absolutely! Sure, there’s a little bit of a learning curve and a little trial and error, BUT that comes with anything new. I’m super happy with the results I got in just one afternoon, with no previous foiling experience at all.
If you’ve been curious about hot foiling but too nervous to try it, this is a really friendly place to start.
My top tips as an absolute beginner using the Glimmer II Hot Foiling System.
Here’s what I learned in my first afternoon of foiling, so you can skip the trial and error.
- Trim the foil close to the design. Spare foil around the edges is the main cause of overfoiling, so cut it to fit.
- Place your foil confidently. Most of my wobbles happened when I was being too cautious. Small pieces of foil are also harder to place, so use one larger piece over several plates where you can.
- Move quickly, then smoothly. Build your foiling sandwich quickly so the plate doesn’t sit on the heat too long, then roll it through your die cutting machine nice and smoothly.
- Keep a sand eraser handy. It gently lifts any stray foil off your cardstock. Or do what I do and pop an embellishment over the spot!
- Use the right cutting tools. Foil is thin and slippery. If you’re struggling to cut it, try the Spellbinders Quick Trimmer with the foil blade, or a pair of long-bladed scissors.
Shop the supplies
Everything I used in this video, linked for you here: Shop my Glimmer II collection on ShopMy
- Spellbinders Glimmer II Hot Foil System
- Spellbinders Platinum 6 Die Cutting Machine
- Stark White Cardstock (Use this specific one for best results)
- Glimmer Hot Foil Rolls
- Spellbinders Quick Trimmer with foil blade
- Tombow Mono Sand Eraser (The easiest way to remove over foiling)
- Poppy Crafts A4 Heat Resistant Acetate (the one I used)
- Glimmer Specialty Clear Film Sheets (Spellbinders’ own clear film for foiling)
Spellbinders kindly sent me the Glimmer II to test and share my experience with you. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you shop through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting what I do!
