Jun 18, 2014

Quilled Ginkgo Biloba Cards and Letraset StudioTac Dry Adhesive


I've quilled the quietly serene ginkgo biloba leaves before here, here, and here in the past, but this new version is similar to the one in my book, Pretty Quilled Cards.


These two cards are ones that I made with the leaves I practiced on, but what I really wanted to show you was the subtly patterned paper beneath the leaves.


Sometimes during pre-press or printing, some highlights get blown out, which means no definition – as in the case of the ginkgo project. So I thought I'd show it here. Isn't it the perfect backdrop?


I got it at Daiso, my fave $2 store. They're meant for blotting tempura, but they are just gorgeous for an Asian feel without overpowering the card. It's a tad see-through, so I'd suggest using double-sided tape, spray adhesive, or Letraset Studio Tac/LetraTac to adhere to your card rather than glue.


I've used this dry adhesive for many years and still have the packaging from the first pad I got in college.
It's kind of like the Xyron, but low tech. Peel away the wax layer to expose some white dots. Place your item on top and press against the dots. Your item is now a sticker. I have found it's quite removable within the first day or two and the longer you leave it, the harder it will be to remove.


Here's a close up of the white dots. Hope that helps your project!

7 comments:

  1. Neat! Very pretty embossed background and just right for your ginkgo leaves. I've never used dry adhesive, but have been curious about them. Which would you recommend as most useful - LetraTac or StudioTac?

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    1. I bought StudioTac in 1990 (good ol' college days!) and then bought LetraTac perhaps a decade later? I assumed it was simply re-branded by Letraset because I haven't seen StudioTac in forever. Of the two, I remember thinking the LetraTac was easier to use.

      When I peeled the wax off the StudioTac dots, some of them stayed with the wax side, which ended up transferring to my image if I didn't clean them off first. That doesn't happen with the LetraTac.

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  2. lovely background. Looks delicate and very fit for your leaves. Thanks for another gluing tip.

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    1. Thanks Suganthi! I'm happy I could share another new one!

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  3. Hi Cecelia, the embossed background enhances the Gingko Biloba Leaves.
    I too had a pack of StudioTac/LetraTac for over 10 years. last year I bought a new pack and didn't like it as it kept transferring the little glue dots to the front of the card/paper. Last week I wanted to adhere some Yuzen Paper to a piece of card so I could die cut it, I couldn't think of any other way to adhere it, so reluctantly I got the LetraTac out, but instead of using the backing sheet I used a piece of Wax Paper, with no unwanted transference - LetraTac will not be going back to the bottom of the draw now! I never seemed to have this problem with the old pack (maybe because it was so old!?!) Anyway, sorry to digress; you're card is lovely! x

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    1. Hi Karen, glad you like the textured paper and card!

      And I'm thrilled to find another dry adhesive lover! I seem to have had the opposite experience as you did, with my older pack transferring. I thought it was because I placed heavy items on it, and it was getting older.

      How I handled that was I would peel off the wax side part way, take a piece of tape, and slide it along the wax, picking up all the stray dots. Once that wax was cleaned, I would use it for the next sheet. So happy I have this alternative to spray adhesive.

      Thanks for commenting and please keep sharing your experiences!
      Cecelia

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  4. Very pretty card! We have Daiso here in Malaysia, it is known as the RM5 shop and I love browsing there! I'll have to see if we have this paper here as well. I've never tried dry adhesive, but now I'm curious to give it a try!

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