Question: I see clear items all over—from clear buttons to transparencies, overlays and more—this trend is very popular! With so many paper crafters using clear items, how can I add a bit of a personal touch to the clear elements I incorporate into my pages or cards?

Paris Says: Just as papers can be altered, clear overlays can also be distressed or altered for just the look you want. Overlays can be inked, stamped on or colored in a variety of ways!

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Inking or Stamping
Applying ink to an overlay is a great way to add definition or color, but be careful of what kind of ink you use. Our designers have found that StazOn ink pads are best, since overlays are non-porous surfaces—the ink dries quickly without the chance for smudging.

You can ink the edges of an overlay by running the overlay edge along an ink pad. Susan inked the upper right corner of this “Birthday” overlay and folded it over for a fun accent. The defined edge gives a finished look to the page.

For all-over inking, place the overlay on a piece of scratch paper and turn the ink pad face down. Press the ink pad to the overlay, increasing pressure for more coverage, pressing lightly for less. You can also press a stippling brush to an ink pad, then to an overlay for a different look.

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And remember, you don’t have to stick to plain blacks or browns when inking, try using bright colors that coordinate with your project to really accent your overlay!

Overlays are also a great surface for stamping (again, be sure to use a StazOn ink pad). Paris cut out this “Bloom” overlay art piece and placed it over a pink textured paper. She stamped a message on the blank portion of the overlay using alphabet stamps and giving the piece a personalized touch.

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Coloring with Paper
Adding a touch of color to an overlay is also a simple and fun way to alter it. Select your overlay, then pick cardstock or paper that coordinates with the overlay and project. Cut the cardstock or paper to fit behind the entire overlay piece or just a select portion—behind a letter, border or image.

Paris cut pieces of colored cardstock to fit behind these overlay letters to the right, making each of the letters in the word “cake” really stand out!

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Another great example? Susan accented this overlay to the left, by cutting tiny shapes out of gold glimmer paper with an X-acto® knife and glued them behind the corresponding shapes on the overlay to fill in some of the cute dog-themed images. Susan also added colored brads in many of the “o”’ shapes on the overlay for even more color.

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Coloring with Paint or Pens
Another super simple way to add a touch of color to your overlays is with a permanent ink pen or liquid acrylic paint. To add the color, turn the overlay over and apply the ink or paint to the back. This way the color will show through the translucent portions while still allowing the darker printed portions on the overlay to show. Tip: We recommend a Permapaque® opaque or Slick Writer™ pen for coloring, and liquid acrylic paint with a small paintbrush for painting.

LeNae used Permapaque® pens to scribble lines behind these letters, adding additional texture to the decorated sarabinder™ and helping them coordinate perfectly with the primary colors in the papers.

Sanding
Another great idea for altering overlays? Try lightly sanding the top of an overlay piece to add texture to the surface.

Love the look of these overlay projects? Be sure to look for more great ideas in Clear & Frosted Overlays for Scrapbooking, the Cardmaker’s™ All Occasion Clear & Frosted Overlays, the Cardmaker’s™ Clear & Frosted Birthday Overlays and Design Elements, the latest idea book from Hot Off The Press.