Banner With Duck Deco Glitter Laminate

Banners are something I don't make often but I do like to make them and I am always listening and watching for times I can make a banner project.

I have a little friend who loves her glitter and I promised her I would make her a name banner for her bedroom and all I needed to know was what colors she wanted. And, if you are a little girl that names her pet bird Princess Poppy the only font that would be acceptable is Storybook! Storybook was one of my favorite Cricut cartridges because the wonderful fonts that looked so fancy with the layers available to dress up the letters and it worked wonderfully for the banner.

If you know how expensive glitter paper is you know that you tend to find ways to add a glitter detail without using up the expensive glitter goodness of glitter cardstock and for this project I opted for that absolutely sparkly, glitter, shininess that only the Duck Deco Glitter Laminate can offer. If you haven't seen this stuff in person let me tell you that there isn't a picture available to convey how gorgeous this stuff can make a project!

**Settings** I had to finagle *okie is always amazed that the word finagle is actually a word and it has to be since it never gets that red underline when she types it* with the settings to find the right one for the laminate. If you cut too strong it will cut right through the laminate and the backing sheet. I finally found that for the Explore the Washi Tape setting works quite well. Sometimes I did get a slight cut through the backing paper but for the most part it worked great.

Once I had the letters on the banner pieces they seemed to need a little something else and I thought about my pearls I have in my stash of embellishments and they added that pieces de resistance we often strive for in our projects. My little friend was very pleased with her banner and as far as I know it is still hanging in her bedroom!

For the Love of GLIMMER

Ya know there are times when we see something that just catches our eye and the other day when I was in Walmart I saw something that definitely fit that bill! I was actually back in the craft section getting some paddle wire to use with my Bowdabra, yes folks I am one of those people who actually owns one of those fabulous bow making contraptions. In fact, I own two! I have the regular Bowdabra and the Mini-Bowdabra but that is another story...back to what caught my eye!

I had grabbed my paddle wire and something hanging on the end cap caught my eye....glimmer!! I mean GORGEOUS GLIMMER too! It reminded me of little shiny diamonds on a roll that resembled contact paper. Why had I never seen this product before...oh wait, that would be because I rarely go in the craft department of Walmart anymore and now I'm thinking maybe I need to stop in every now and then because I could be missing out on some awesome stuff!

The price was $5.97 for a roll that measures 20" x 6' and I quickly half way did the math in my head and thought "well this is cheaper than glitter vinyl". The packaging says it is permanent but since I thought of using it on ornaments I didn't figure it not being like super permanent would be a problem. I wasn't sure if the Explore Air 2 would cut this stuff but since that machine seems to cut just about everything else I've tried I tossed the roll in my buggy and figured if it didn't cut then I could find some use for the lovely glimmer sticky stuff. 

I had to call Carmen and send her pictures of the stuff and her reply was "OOHHH SHINY DIAMONDS!" and we both cracked up laughing *okie wonders if she should explain why she and Carmen would both have the same thought but the figures she doesn't want to do all that typing*. I first tried cutting it on the "washi sheet" setting and that didn't work so well. I looked for what material was a notch or two more than that and I saw the printable vinyl setting and that my friends seemed to be just about right!

Now to see how sparkly this stuff really is you will probably need to click on the picture and make it bigger...go ahead...I'll wait *while waiting okie stretches her neck from side to side, takes a few relaxing breathes* SEE!! WHAT DID I TELL YOU?? It is one of those OOOHHH MMMYYY GGAAWWDDDD. Okay it might just be OMG in the picture but in person it is for sure OOHHHH MMMYYY GGAAWWDDDD!

I immediately regretted not getting the gold Deco Glimmer Laminate but I went by yesterday and picked up a roll to try on some red ornaments and while I don't think it sparkles quite as much I still love the look it gives. It's really hard to get a good picture to show the true mesmerizing sparkle of the glimmer laminate but if you click the picture look toward the outer edges of the design and I think you can see the sparkle a bit better. 

I had an extra little set of silver swirlies and my stainless steel tumbler was sitting in my handy dandy ScrapMaBob ***side note: if you don't have a ScrapMaBob and you are a heavy drinker like me I highly recommend this handy dandy gadget*** and I figured why not put those swirlies on the tumbler for experimentation reasons! So that is what I did. I took a picture with my flash off and then my flash on trying to convey how this stuff sparkles...again click the picture and make it bigger *okie picks at some glitter under her fingernail and wonders where it came from since she didn't remember using any glitter this morning* Yeah so what did I tell you?? OOHHH MMMYYY GGAAAWWDDD right??!!!!

Flash Off

Flash On

I suggest you RUN, don't walk...RUN LIKE HELL to your nearest Walmart and see if they have this stuff because I tell ya what it is worth every cent if you love bling!

Oh and.....You're welcome!!! *okie gives a smug grin because she knows some folks are gonna go TODAY and look for this stuff and fall in love with the blingy goodness*.