Hey crafty friends! I’m back with another Heidi Swapp Minc project. Over the past few months I’ve shared how much I love this machine. It works like a laminator, bonding colored foil to laser-printed ink. You can design and print your own artwork or use the many premade kits available for the Minc line. Today I’ll show how I made pink foil flamingo cupcake toppers — my kids loved them, and they were perfect for a luau-style dinner.
These flamingos were easy to make using both patterned printed paper and solid black printed cardstock. The black-ink cardstock is a new favorite of mine because it lets you foil solid shapes without using your printer ink. I found the flamingo shape in the Silhouette store, cut the shape first, then ran it through the Minc. You can purchase the Minc at craft retailers or online from major sellers.
Supplies:
Heidi Swapp Minc
Silhouette Portrait (or similar cutting machine)
Heidi Swapp Minc foil
Thick black-ink cardstock or printed paper
Toothpicks and glue
Step one: Use your cutting machine to cut the flamingo shapes. I kept them fairly small since they were intended as cupcake toppers. Cutting on cardstock gives a crisp edge that foils nicely.
Step two: Place the cut shapes inside the clear Minc folder, lay the foil on top (shiny side up), and close the folder. Turn the Minc on and set the heat according to the project — most projects work well on setting 3. The machine warms up in a minute or two; then feed the folder through. After foiling, carefully peel away the excess foil to reveal the foiled shapes.
Step three: Attach each foil flamingo to a toothpick using a small dot of glue. Hold briefly so it sets, then trim any excess paper on the back if needed. These toppers add an instant, polished look to cupcakes and are sturdy enough for transport.
Tips and variations: keep the shapes simple for easier cutting and foiling; experiment with patterned paper for different effects; try various foil colors to match your party theme. The Heidi Swapp Minc makes it simple to create custom embellishments for parties, scrapbooking, and handmade gifts.