Reflection Technique

by Beate Johns

Use a piece of Acetate to create a reflection.

Supplies

  • Stamps

  • Ink

  • Cardstock

  • Piece of Acetate

Step-by-Step

  1. Step 1

    Ink your image and stamp it on cardstock.

  2. Step 2

    Ink your image with the same ink and stamp it on your piece of acetate.

  3. Step 3

    Flip your piece of acetate over so your stamped image is facing down. Line it up with your first image to create your reflection. Place acetate on cardstock.

  4. Step 4

    Rub over your acetate. It will transfer the image from the acetate to your cardstock.

  5. Step 5

    Doodle or paint ground underneath your image.


  6. Step 6

    Add water or ice looking background around your reflected image.



  7. Step 7

    Finish your card.


Video!

Variations

  1. Stamp on a stamp
    Use a solid shape stamp instead of acetate, and transfer your image by first stamping your image right on to the solid shape stamp, then to your paper.

    Try a brayer
    Use your clean, dry brayer (instead of acetate), to pick up an image off your stamp and then transfer it to paper.

    Mirror images
    Use this same technique to create a side-by-side "mirrored" image instead of a reflection effect.

Your Turn

You've seen the tutorial, now you try it! We've got a section of the gallery set aside for Reflection Technique. Try this technique, then upload your artwork to the gallery. Show us your creations!

***Please note - Internet Explorer/Edge is not a supported browser, and will not allow you to see the videos. Please use Chrome, Firefox or Safari to view our tutorial videos.

Questions and Comments

We'd love to get your feedback or questions. Leave your comment below.

This idea is perfect for a lot of male cards always stumped when required to do one for my many brothers. Thanks again Beate
regards jen
jennifer  |  Sun May 4, 2008 at 10:48 PM
I love this! I hope it's as easy as you've made it look. I can't wait to try it. I've got to look at the rest of the gallery examples. Thanks
eured99  |  Tue May 20, 2008 at 5:55 AM
Great idea!
Giulia  |  Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 2:53 AM
i have done this technique using vellum. you stamp the main image on one side and then turn it over. stamp the image off once on a scrap piece of paper and then onto the vellum. then you can color and embellish as you wish.
Jenn  |  Fri Sep 19, 2008 at 4:59 PM
You can transfer your image from freezer paper instead of acetate. See my tutorial on freezer paper transfer HERE. It is listed on the sidebar under "Pages". I've never used it for a mirror image with a stamp. I always photocopy onto it and apply it. Yours is a very good idea and mine may just be cheaper.
Nancy
Nancy  |  Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 1:45 PM
Neat! I LOVE it!! Especially the one with the deer! Thanks for sharing!
Bonnie Deibel  |  Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 6:48 PM
I use an acrylic block to stamp the transfer image onto. This makes for a more stable transfer. The lovely as a tree stamp set is wonderful to work with in this manner. Think sock monkey. I bet you good do great things with that. I need to go to work on that and see what I come up with.
Margaret Brunier  |  Fri Jan 2, 2009 at 7:22 AM
I get together on the average of once a month with a group of ladies & a Stampin' Up demonstrator & work on card making. There are tons of ideas & great techniques. I've accumulated quite a supply of supplies to the point where I am running out of room to keep them all & now I have to revamp my craft room to try to think of different ways to store things better & in a more organized manner! Right now I have total chaos! I also get together with a gal, one on one just to do our own thing with some card making & our supplies.
It's fun just to play around & see what we can come up with! Keep having fun & thanks for sharing! Bonnie Deibel
Bonnie Deibel  |  Fri Jan 2, 2009 at 3:21 PM
what is acetate?
marcia  |  Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 8:15 AM
Marcia,
Acetate is a piece of clear plastic like Transparency sheets.
Check the comments above for alternate materials like using Vellum or freezer paper.

Hugs and smiles
Beate
Beate  |  Thu Apr 16, 2009 at 8:18 AM
wow, neat, gotta try that!
Lindsay Weirich  |  Fri Apr 17, 2009 at 8:26 AM
What a great idea. I tried it and it works well.
I always used a rubber block, I wont now this technique is better.
Thank you

lots of Stamping Hugs
Debbra Hector (Aust.)
Debbra Hector  |  Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 2:40 AM
In place of acetate or even a clear piece of plastic, if you have a Frisker's Easy Stamp Press if makes it so easy to stamp as well as position the reflection correctly..

I just love the Easy Stamp Press when I am stamping with acrylic or cling back stamps. So easy to use and to know just exactly where you are stamping.
Margaret  |  Mon May 25, 2009 at 5:07 PM
Hi! I love this card, but I am such a new stamper that I cannot figure out how you add a water or ice looking background, or what you did to finish your card? Card stock, colors etc? Hopelessly lost!! And anxious to learn!!

Thanks! Julie
Julie  |  Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Julie,
I just added a bit of blue ink with my Aqua Painter underneath the grass. You can also use a watercolor brush. Really easy. I even left it streaky so it would look like ripples in the water.
Hugs and smiles
beate  |  Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 1:02 PM
I read in someone's post on SCS that instead of transparencies you can use wax paper in the same way with great results-think her post was under one of her cards with mirror image and it was beautiful. Haven't tried it yet but I definitely will (I'm a VERY 'THTIFTY' person).
Diane  |  Mon Mar 8, 2010 at 5:43 PM
Beate,
You do such a great job what would we do without you. many years ago back in 1995 they had a stamp called a reversing stamp that was how we did the mirrow images, this is much easier.
Diana Laabs  |  Wed May 12, 2010 at 5:20 AM
Hi,
I loved your tutorial but I am wondering what stamp pad did you use? I have tried this technique before unsuccessfully. I would appreciate your advice.

Joanne
Joanne Stoddart  |  Mon Jun 6, 2011 at 6:13 AM
Hi Joanne,
I think I used Stampin' Up!'s Chocolate Chip classic ink. It's been a while, but I can see the ink pad in the supply image.
beate  |  Mon Jun 6, 2011 at 7:17 AM
I experimented and found that paper protectors work also. I didn't have acetate, so I monkeyed around with other clear papewrs. Worked just fine!
Donna  |  Mon Sep 5, 2011 at 2:44 PM

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The Author

Beate is a housewife and SCS team member. She lives with her husband and three children in Edmond, OK.

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