Flock powders have been around for some time and yet they don’t often get used. Could it be that they are messier than glitter or embossing powders? I wanted to give the Flock powders by WOW! a try and share a few tips and tricks on how to use them. They come in many gorgeous colours, so I created some fun colourful projects to inspire you to try them too.
You may have seen flocking on textiles like T-shirts or tote bags. Unlike the complicated process of creating such textiles where the tiny little fibres are manipulated to stand upright and subsequently applied to an adhesive, applying this craft flock, on the other hand, could not be easier. It will be adhered flat, but it adds a fun fluffy texture to your project. All you need is a way to adhere it.

I experimented with a few methods and have listed a few ways to adhere the Flock powder. My favourite of all must by the ‘dry adhesive’ application methods, eg a double-sided sheet adhered onto a cardstock which can be die-cut into any shape or even a background, remove the die-cut backing sheet at once or in sections and add the flock. The results are instant and oh-so satisfying.

Although, I was excited to learn that it works with the Matte Gel too – this way it adds extra dimension and looks like flocked textiles I mentioned earlier. It also means that you could choose any stencil to work with, which offers many creative possibilities. I love the look of fluffy glue dots too! You could create a whole bunch of them in no time and crate fun backgrounds or accent your design with them. 3D foam squares and tapes are a great option too.

The Flock powders come in many bright colours, but you can take it a step further and mix your own! Yes, it is possible. The fibres are so tiny that you can take a pinch a little bit of one colour and add another to mix a different shade or another colour easily. Just make sure to have a spare container for your new colour ready. All you need to do is to add both colours into the container, close it and give it a little shake. If you then need to alter the colour, just add a pinch of one or the other and shake again. This is a great way of extending your stash too.  

All this shakin’ and fun and I almost forgot to mention… do not use your fan when working with them! Guess how I know? The Flock powders are not for glitter-phobics and those sensitive to dust. They can create a little dusty surface on your craft desk, but a wet cloth or a baby wipe on hand are an easy solution to keeping your workspace clean, so don’t let it stop you from having a bit of fun. From sentiments to full backgrounds, from stencilled designs to fluffy bee or bear bellies… the possibilities are endless! Flock it up!

Ingrid loved the colours of these powders so much!

Ways of application I tested:

• PVA Glue – works great, but must be allowed to dry before handling
• Glue pens – ideal for adding details and little accents
• Glue dots – not shown on any of my cards, but it creates cute fluffy dots!
• Matte Gel medium – adds dimension, but must be allowed to dry before handling
• Double-sided tape – instant results, perfect for creating plaids or adding borders/edges
• Double-sided sheet – can be die-cut into any shapes or sentiments once adhered onto a cardstock
• Foam adhesive including adhesive squares & dots - creates fun dimensional square, round or rectangular embellishments
• Permanent tape runner – yes, this works too!
• Bonding Powder – will need to be in use with an embossing ink and heat gun, perfect for stamped images or dry embossed surfaces

Happy birthday

HOW TO: create a rainbow-inspired flock card

1 Secure the dies together with a tape, adhere the adhesive sheet onto a piece of cardstock and die-cut.

2 Carefully remove one strip of backing sheet from the die cut, starting with the smallest circle first.

3 Sprinkle the your desired Flock colour onto the exposed adhesive – we’re using blue Flock powder first.

4 Press and gently rub the Flock into the adhesive. Brush excess off with a brush onto a scrap paper.

5 Carefully complete the rest of the nesting circles with your remaining colours. Cut a mask for the clouds.

6 Use the cloud mask to apply Distress Oxide Ink onto the card front, repeat with a 5”-wide strip of cardstock cut into a cloud shape.

7 Secure elements onto the card, draw birds as desired with a glue pen, apply brown flock on top and allow dry.

8 Die-cut and stamp the ‘happy BIRTHDAY’ sentiments and adhere them onto the card front with a few sequins.

Top tip

Sprinkle just the right amount of the Flock and gently press it in first, then rub with you finger to remove excess

Thank you

Simply make

1 Using Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide Ink, stamp the background stamp onto a piece of white cardstock trimmed to fit the card front

2 Adhere the double-sided adhesive sheet onto a spare white cardstock and use it to die-cut the large ‘Thank You’ sentiment.

3 Slice the backing sheet with a craft knife or scissors and remove it section by section, adding each colour of the flock powders as you remove them until the entire sentiment is covered.

4 Adhere onto the card front along with the ‘FOR EVERYTHING’ secondary stamped sentiment and a few sequins.

Top tip

Create eye-catching textured sentiments with large dies and flock

Bee happy

Simply make

1 Dry-emboss an A6 size white cardstock using the Honeycomb embossing folder.

2 Rub the VersaMark inkpad from top to bottom over the positive side of the embossed card, sprinkle the Bonding Powder on top and heat the powder to melt it.

3 Trim the card around the edges and add a vellum strip across the bottom section. Add another white banner to the right-hand side.

4 Adhere the double-sided adhesive sheet onto a white cardstock and die-cut the letters to spell out ‘bee happy’. Add the flock to the letters and adhere it onto the card front.

5 Die-cut the bee three times from gold Mirri Card, cut the underside of the bee belly from leftover adhesive cardstock, removing the backing and securing the bee on top.

6 Sprinkle the brown flock onto the bee to fill the spaces, and secure onto the card front as shown to finish.

Top tip

Flock powders are perfect for adding accents to animals

Just for you

Simply make

1 Die-cut the gift box parts from white cardstock and the sentiment from gold Mirri Card. Assemble the gift box and set aside.

2 Dry emboss an A6 size white cardstock using the Bubble embossing folder, rub the VersaMark ink from top to bottom of the negative side of the embossed paper.

3 Sprinkle the Bonding Powder on top, clean up inside of the bubbles and heat the powder. The powder stays sticky for a while so apply one colour of the Flock at a time and carefully reheat the powder. Repeat until you cover the entire area.

4 Trim the panel to fit the top of the gift box and secure in place, adding a white strip of cardstock to the top. Add a strip of a white cardstock and affix a gold Mirri Card die-cut sentiment on top.

Top tip

Gently reheat the Bonding powder to make the Flock stick better

Bookmark

Simply make

1 Secure the stencil on top of an A5-piece of white cardstock and apply the Matte Gel using your palette knife. Remove the stencil, wipe it well and repeat on the opposite side.

2 Whilst the paste is still wet, sprinkle one colour of the flock at a time, tapping any excess off onto a scrap paper. Allow it to dry naturally, then carefilly brush off the extra flock.

3 Cut the panel to measure 7½x2”, round the corners, punch a hole and add the eyelet and the handmade tassel. Adhere the glitter letters to spell the word ‘READ’ across the bookmark.

Top tip

Experiment with different mediums to find ways to add extra dimension

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