4 Ways: Clear Card Elements

Hello! Today I am sharing 4 ways to incorporate clear elements on your cards. I also am sharing with you my favorite clear (acetate) products… I tested many!

[All supplies are linked in the text below… and to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you.]

Acetate (or transparent/clear pieces) are fun to add to cards and allow you to get new looks from products you may already have. Today I share four techniques… and talk about my three favorite acetate products: Hero Arts Acetate Clear Cards, Hero Arts Acetate Sheets, and Judikins Embossable Window Plastic.

#1: Clear Card with Stamping

My first example is a clear card with simple stamping. When making a transparent card, I highly recommend Hero Arts Acetate Clear Cards. These cards come with white insert and envelopes… and are are very thick and have a nice fold. I have used them for years! (See below for video examples.)

I feel the best ink for stamping on acetate is Black Staz-On Ink. And the best part? If you mess up, you can completely erase the ink with an rubbing alcohol! (To clean Staz-On off of your stamps, I recommend Hero Arts Ultra Clean.) For my clear card, I stamped the “yay happy mail” sentiment from the Mama Elephant Scripty Birthday Stamp Set.

To see how I assembled the card, be sure to watch the video! I used the fantastic Mama Elephant The Dog’s Woof Stamp Set. Isn’t it the cutest!?

#2: COLORING ON ACETATE

My second idea for using acetate creatively is to add coloring. For this example, I used another acetate product I recommend – Hero Arts Acetate Sheets,. This is inexpensive, crystal clear, and perfect for windows or shaker cards. (You can also use recycled clear packaging or transparency. However, this is thicker. Any acetate should work.)

I started by stamping a flower and the word “lovely” from the Mama Elephant Pretty Lovely Stamp Set with Black Staz-On Ink on a Hero Arts Acetate Sheet. Once it was dry, I colored it with Copic Markers. (You can also use Sharpies.) The results? Looks like stained glass!

I added the acetate piece behind a die cut window with foam adhesive. I like how it “floats” on the card. This is a great way to use acetate!

#3: Heat EMBOSSING ON ACETATE

It is also impressive to heat emboss on acetate. However, most acetates will warp significantly when heated. Therefore, I recommend the Judikins Embossable Window Plastic. This acetate is heat resistant and great for heat embossing!

I couldn’t share acetate ideas without making a shaker card! Inside the shaker window, I stamped and colored the cutie elephant from the Mama Elephant Fly With Me Stamp Set. I also white heat embossed “big hugs” on a piece of Judikins Embossable Window Plastic. After creating a unique window with a Lil Inker Designs Fringe Scalloped Rectangle Die, I formed the shaker card with lots of Lucy’s Cards Rainbow Bright Jewels inside. I *love* the look of the floating white sentiment!

#4: TEXTURED ACETATE

One of the most impressive cardmaking techniques I know of is using embossing folders on acetate. The folder creates texture on the acetate… and makes it white. I recommend using the thick-and-strong-and-high-quality Hero Arts Acetate Clear Cards. However, you can test it with any acetate you may have.

For this card, I used the Tim Holtz Tiny Dots Embossing Folder to add texture to the front of a Hero Arts Acetate Clear Card. I added a cute little doggie made with the new Mama Elephant Dog Dies. This set can be used in many ways!

I added a collar with a sentiment from the Mama Elephant Girlfriends Stamp Set… and a little silver “tag” with a Mama Elephant Iconic Letter “F” for “Foxy.”

Be sure to watch the video to see how I included a place to write a message on the inside. This card didn’t take long to make… I may need to make more.

RELATED VIDEOS

Here are a few videos with other clear element cards:

SUPPLIES

Want to find the products I used? I have listed them below. (Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. Thank you! Affiliate and product disclosure can be found here. All products were personally purchased except those from Mama Elephant or with asterisk. As always, this post was NOT paid for or sponsored.) Click on the icons below each product picture to go to a favorite store.

Mama Elephant The Dog’s Woof Stamp Set
[ SSS | MML ]
Mama Elephant The Dog’s Woof Dies
[ SSS | MML ]
Mama Elephant Fly With Me Stamp Set
[ SSS | MML ]
Mama Elephant Pretty Lovely Stamp Set
[ SSS | MML ]
Mama Elephant Scripty Birthday Stamp Set
[ SSS | MML ]
Mama Elephant Scripty Notes Stamp Set
[ SSS | MML ]
Mama Elephant Dog Dies
[ SSS | MML ]
Mama Elephant Girlfriends Stamp Set
[ SSS | MML ]
Mama Elephant Iconic Letters Stamp Set
[ SSS | MML ]
*Lil Inker Fringe Scalloped Rectangle…
[ LLN ]
Tim Holtz Tiny Dots Embossing Folder
[ SSS ]
Hero Arts Acetate Clear Cards
[ SSS | HA ]
Hero Arts Acetate Sheets
[ SSS ]
Judikins Embossable Window Plastic
[ SSS ]
*My Favorite Things Extreme Black Ink
[ SSS ]
StazOn Black Ink
[ SSS ]
Mini MISTI Stamping Tool
[ SSS ]
MISTI Bar Magnet
[ SSS | ELH ]
Mini MISTI Mouse Pad
[ SSS ]
Neenah Classic Crest 110lb Cardstock
[ SSS | ELH | AMZUS ]
Sketch Copic Markers
[ SSS | ELH ]
Alcohol Swabs
[ AMZUS ]
Hero Arts Ultra Clean
[ SSS ]
Fiskars Amplify Scissors
[ SSS ]
Be Creative Tape
[ SSS | ELH ]
Darice Foam Adhesive Strips
[ SSS ]
Tim Holtz Distress Collage Adhesive
[ SSS | ELH ]
Darice Ultrafine Tip Bottles
[ SSS ]
Tonic Crystal Glaze
[ SSS ]
Lucy’s Cards Rainbow Bright Jewels
[ SSS ]
Micropore Tape
[ SSS ]
Anti Static Powder Bag
[ SSS | ELH ]
Hero Arts Heat Gun
[ SSS | ELH ]
VersaMark Ink
[ SSS | ELH ]
Hero Arts White Embossing Powder
[ SSS ]
Black Nuvo Drops
[ SSS ]
Sizzix Big Shot Express Die Cutting…
[ SSS ]
3M Foam Tape
[ SSS | AMZUS ]


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90 thoughts on “4 Ways: Clear Card Elements”

  1. You make it look so simple! Your wonderful videos are always inspiring….and HELPFUL with all the details you put in. The cards are amazing!

    1. Oooops, I didn’t see that is was posted earlier…. These are all so adorable Jennifer, I can’t wait to try some of them. Oh my goodness I love the “lovely” card with the flower, it does have a stained glass look to it.

  2. I pinned each of these separately, hoping I’ll be able to attempt them someday soon. Playing with acetate looks like great fun!

  3. Are you kidding me?? I Love these cards. I just pinned about 10 things I want to buy from this video. I crazy about my little dog, Repo. He is often the center of my cards. I’m so glad you love dogs too!! You are always a bright spot in my week!! I am in bed with a cold and feeling better just watching you!! Thank you s much.

    Any misspellings or grammar errors can be traced back to my Niquil coma!

  4. Wow Jennifer!! I’m still trying to master cardstock greeting cards, but I am just amazed & grateful that you showed us how to do clear cards if we ever wish to!! I actually try to sometimes make special cards like this for a family members birthday & this is an excellent video to show me how to do a successful clear acetate card!! Thank You!!

  5. Thanks for the tutorial on using acetate. I really like that you can heat emboss of special acetate. Can’t wait to try your techniques. I also love the way your shaker card turned out. Gluing some of the embellishments really does make the design look great always!

  6. Love these Jennifer! So inspiring as usual! I can’t believe you have a daughter in college. I guess I just imagined you with little ones. 😉

  7. Wonderful video, I especially enjoyed watching this one. I’ve never done embossing with acetate and would love to give that a try as well as that coloring on it. Thanks for the great inspiration.

  8. I watched your video this morning and I am in love with all of your cards! I’m a sucker for acetate cards and the one using the Dog’s Woof stamp set is simply adorable!

  9. Hi Jennifer – Glad you are feeling well enough to go to Creativation show. Could you please tell me how I can order my own stamp that will say “handmade by Cathy” like your stamp? Thank you.

  10. These are all such fun ideas with great results. I have one question: How do you avoid fingerprints? I’ve never used acetate that I didn’t end up with obvious fingerprints or smudges. It ruins the look for me. Thanks in advance for any tips.

  11. Hi Jennifer…love these cards…saw your video with Gina @ Creativation. …was great…. thankyou 😊

  12. I love watching your videos. You are so talented. God has given you a wonderful gift. Thank you so much for sharing. These cards are vibrant and beautiful.

  13. So cute! I’d never try this without your help, but I did my thanksgiving cards following your video on stained glass effects and they were awesome! I’ll try these techniques, too, now that I have a good supply of heat-resistant acetate. Thank you, thank you!

  14. I love all your work! You are so talented and make everything look so easy. And, please keep up the great videos showing your techniques.

  15. I’m going to try my hand on coloring on acetate. I do love a nice shaker card too, thanks again for all the ideas. You share so effortlessly and you certainly appear to life as you preach and that means so very much. My mom once told me that I may be the only bible someone reads. You examplify that to me. Thank you again.

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