How to Make a Colorful Foiled Butterfly Card with Glimmer II

Combine hot foiling, alcohol-marker coloring, ink blending, and dimensional shaping to create a colorful butterfly card that sparkles from every angle. In this step-by-step tutorial, you’ll learn how to foil detailed butterflies and a floral background with the Glimmer II Hot Foil System, add bold color, and shape the butterfly wings for a realistic raised effect.

The Bright Butterflies and Thanks In Bloom Press + Foil Plates can be used with both the BetterPress Letterpress System and Glimmer Hot Foil System, making them versatile additions to your craft collection. This project focuses on hot foiling and pairs opaque black foil with vivid red and orange butterflies, plus Moondust foil and blended blue ink for the background.

Hi there! This is Annie Williams, and I’m thrilled to be back on the Spellbinders blog to create this bright butterfly card with you using the Create Your Way Everyday Collection.

Project Snapshot

Skill level	Intermediate
Approximate time	1 Hour
Project type	Hot-foiled butterfly card
Techniques	Hot foiling, alcohol-marker coloring, ink blending, die cutting, and dimensional shaping
Occasion	All-occasion
Finished size	Slightly larger than A2
Featured product	Bright Butterflies Press + Foil Plate & Die Set

What You’ll Need

Spellbinders Supplies

• Bright Butterflies Press + Foil Plate & Die Set - BP-373
• Thanks In Bloom Press + Foil Plate - BP-351
• Nested Postage Labels & Tag Etched Dies - S5-635
• Glimmer II Hot Foil System - GLS-010
• Platinum Die Cutting Machine
  
• Opaque Black and White Glimmer Hot Foil Rolls - GLF-049
• Moondust Glimmer Hot Foil - GLF-035
• Seaside ColorWheel Cardstock - CS-8-123
• Raven ColorWheel Cardstock - CS-8-147
• OLO Primary 8 Color Collection - OLO-4-7
• Blending Brushes - T-034
• Refillable Tape Runner - SCS-272
• White Foam Squares Mix 1mm - SCS-267
• Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue - PCG04E
• Opal Color Essentials Gems - SCS-195

Other Supplies

• Heavyweight white cardstock
• Peacock Feathers Distress Ink
• Blueprint Sketch Distress Ink
• Dry paper towel
• Craft pick
• Tweezers
• Ball stylus, optional

How to Make a Colorful Foiled Butterfly Card

This card begins with black-foiled butterflies that are colored with alcohol markers and die cut with the coordinating die. A second foiled panel creates the floral background, while two shades of blue ink add depth without covering the reflective Moondust foil.

The finished butterflies are shaped and attached only along their bodies. This allows the wings to lift away from the card and creates dimension without adding bulk beneath the entire die cut.

How to Hot Foil with Glimmer II

Step 1 - Prepare the Glimmer II System

Place the Glimmer II platform directly onto a silicone mat and attach the power cord. Unlike the original Glimmer Hot Foil System, the Glimmer II platform does not attach to a separate base.

Allow the platform to heat. When it is ready, the platform will beep, the red light will remain illuminated, and the white button will flash.

Place the Bright Butterflies Press + Foil Plate onto the heated platform, then press the white button.

Step 2 - Add the Foil and Cardstock

Wait for the platform to beep and for the green light to illuminate. Place a piece of Opaque Black Hot Foil over the plate with the shiny side facing down.

Position a piece of heavyweight white cardstock over the foil.

Place the thin shim and spacer pad over the cardstock to complete the foiling sandwich. Remove the charging cable from the platform before moving it to the die-cutting machine.

Step 3 - Run the Platform Through the Machine

Run the Glimmer II platform through the Platinum Die Cutting Machine using a slow, steady motion.

After the platform passes through the machine, carefully peel away the Opaque Black Hot Foil to reveal the butterfly design.

Annie’s Tip: A slow, consistent pass helps maintain even pressure across the design. Avoid stopping or changing speed while the platform is between the rollers.

Color and Die Cut the Foiled Butterflies

Step 4 - Color Over the Foil

Use alcohol markers to add bright red and orange color to the foiled butterflies. Color directly over and around the black foiled lines.

The opaque black foil keeps the detailed butterfly pattern visible against the intense marker colors.

Annie’s Tip: Test the marker colors on a scrap of the same white cardstock before coloring the finished panel. This makes it easier to select shades that blend smoothly and provide enough contrast with the black foil.

Step 5 - Die Cut the Butterflies and Sentiment

Position the coordinating die included with the Bright Butterflies set over the foiled images.

Secure the die temporarily, then run the panel through the Platinum Die Cutting Machine. The included die cuts all three butterflies and the sentiment in one pass.

Set the butterflies and sentiment aside while you prepare the background.

Create the Foiled and Ink-Blended Background

Step 6 - Foil the Floral Background

Repeat the Glimmer II process with the Thanks In Bloom Press + Foil Plate.

Place the plate on the heated platform and use Moondust Hot Foil with a panel of Seaside ColorWheel Cardstock. Complete the foiling sandwich and run the platform slowly through the Platinum Machine.

Remove the foil to reveal the floral pattern.

Step 7 - Blend the First Ink Color

Use a blending brush to apply Peacock Feathers Distress Ink over approximately the bottom two-thirds of the foiled panel.

Blend the ink gradually, allowing the original Seaside cardstock color to remain visible near the top.

Step 8 - Deepen the Bottom of the Panel

Use a clean blending brush to apply Blueprint Sketch Distress Ink over approximately the bottom third of the panel.

Blend the darker blue into the Peacock Feathers section to create a smooth gradient from deep blue at the bottom to the original Seaside cardstock at the top.

If excess ink settles over the foiled design, gently wipe the foil with a dry paper towel. Use light pressure so the cardstock and foiled surface are not damaged.

Annie’s Tip: Build the darker ink gradually. It is easier to add another layer of color than to soften an area that has become too dark.

Die Cut and Layer the Background

Step 9 - Trim the Foiled Panel

Position the Inner Square A die from the Nested Postage Labels & Tag Etched Dies over the foiled and ink-blended panel.

Run the die and panel through the Platinum Machine.

Step 10 - Create the White Postage Layer

Die cut heavyweight white cardstock using the Postage A die from the Nested Postage Labels & Tag set.

This larger white layer creates a crisp border around the colorful foiled panel.

Step 11 - Assemble the Background Layers

Use a tape runner to adhere the foiled panel to the center of the white postage-shaped layer.

Add 1mm White Foam Squares to the back of the layered background. Adhere it to a top-folding Raven card base measuring slightly larger than 4.25 x 5.5 inches.

The dark card base frames the bright blue background and helps the black-foiled butterfly details stand out.

Shape and Attach the Butterflies

Step 12 - Shape the Butterfly Wings

Use your fingers to curl the outer edges of each wing downward while gently pulling the wings upward from the butterfly’s body.

For more controlled shaping, place the butterflies on a soft surface and use a ball stylus to curve the wings.

Step 13 - Adhere the Butterflies

Apply a very thin line of liquid glue behind the body of each butterfly. Avoid adding glue behind the wings.

Arrange the butterflies over the foiled background and press the bodies into place. Keeping the wings free allows them to lift from the panel and creates a dimensional effect.

Annie’s Tip: Experiment with the butterfly arrangement before applying glue. Rotate the butterflies in different directions to create movement across the card.

Step 14 - Add the Sentiment

Place small pieces of 1mm White Foam Squares behind the die-cut sentiment.

Use tweezers to position the sentiment in the lower corner of the card.

Step 15 - Embellish the Card

Add Opal Color Essentials Gems around the butterflies and sentiment.

Vary the gem sizes and spacing to give the embellishments a natural scattered appearance.

 

Tips for Better Glimmer II Foiling Results

• Place the Glimmer II platform on a heat-resistant silicone mat before connecting the power cord.
• Wait for the platform and plate readiness signals before adding the foil and cardstock.
• Position hot foil with the shiny side facing the heated plate.
• Remove the charging cable before running the platform through the die-cutting machine.
• Roll the platform through the Platinum Machine slowly and steadily.
• Use smooth, heavyweight cardstock for detailed foiled images.
• Wipe excess ink from the foil with a dry paper towel using very light pressure.
• Adhere butterflies only along their bodies so the shaped wings remain dimensional.
• Use tweezers or a craft pick when positioning small sentiments and gems.

Ways to Customize This Butterfly Card

Change the butterfly colors to suit the occasion. Pink and purple butterflies would create a softer design, while yellow and coral would work well for a cheerful birthday card. For a more dramatic look, try teal or violet butterflies against the blue background.

You can also change the foil combination. Gold butterflies would give the card an elegant finish, while silver or prism foil would emphasize the cool tones in the background.

Instead of arranging all three butterflies on one card, divide them among three coordinating cards. The smallest butterfly could also be used on a gift tag or attached to the corner of a sentiment panel.

For a flatter card, skip shaping the wings and adhere each butterfly completely. To increase the dimension, curve the wings more deeply with a ball stylus and attach only the narrow center of each butterfly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which side of the hot foil faces the plate?

Place the foil with its shiny or colored side facing the heated plate. The cardstock sits on top of the foil before the thin shim and spacer pad are added.

Can alcohol markers be used over hot foil?

Alcohol markers can be used to color the cardstock around and over the foiled lines. Work carefully around the design and test the markers and foil combination on a spare sample if possible.

How can I remove ink from a foiled design?

Lightly wipe the foil with a clean, dry paper towel. Use gentle pressure and avoid rubbing the surrounding cardstock, which may disturb the ink-blended finish.

How do I make die-cut butterflies look dimensional?

Gently curve the wings with your fingers or a ball stylus. Apply adhesive only behind the butterfly’s body, leaving the wings free to lift away from the card.

Can Press + Foil Plates be used with both BetterPress and Glimmer?

Press + Foil Plates are designed to provide creative options with the BetterPress Letterpress System and the Glimmer Hot Foil System. Follow the instructions and use the appropriate ink, foil, plates, and machine sandwich for the selected technique.

More Hot Foiling Ideas from Spellbinders

• Hot Foil Stamping for Beginners: Complete Guide to Glimmer Foiling Techniques
  
• Beautiful Butterflies As Accents and Focal Points on Cards
• How to Use the Reverse Foiling Technique on a Colorful Window Card 
  

Create Colorful Dimension with Hot Foiling

This colorful butterfly card combines crisp hot-foiled details with vivid alcohol-marker coloring, a blended blue background, and dimensional wings. The contrasting foil colors keep the butterflies and floral background distinct while still creating one cohesive design.

Try the same layout with a different color palette, foil finish, or sentiment to create a card for birthdays, thank-you messages, encouragement, or another special occasion.

I hope you enjoyed this colorful foiled card project. Thank you so much for stopping by today!

You can find more inspiration on my blog, AnnieBWills.com, or follow me on Instagram.

About the Designer

Annie Williams is the cardmaker behind AnnieBWills.com, where she shares handmade cards, detailed tutorials, and creative paper-crafting techniques. Follow Annie on Instagram for more colorful cardmaking inspiration.