Tinfoil Rickrack Tutorial

We're going to get crazy with tinfoil!  That's right: tinfoil. Aluminum foil. It's the perfect material in all its glittery silver splendor. It's cheap. It's plentiful. It's in your kitchen right now. It's there for you in a pinch, but you'll also want to use it for its own sake. Really. You won't believe what we will be able to do with it.

For example, if you haven't seen the snowflakes on my Paisley Santa Christmas Cards, you must check out the full post here. They almost look like ice crystals! And my latest burlap card garland is a huge hit! It can be found by clicking here.


Pin It
But for right now, here's the basic tinfoil tutorial. {Tinfoil Rickrack and "Waffle Cloth" Tutorial!}  I'll unveil all sorts of fun things at the end of this post...


Make #aluminum foil WAFFLE CLOTH | #tinfoil rickrack Tutorial at I Gotta Create!

I promise.

Make #aluminum foil WAFFLE CLOTH | #tinfoil rickrack Tutorial at I Gotta Create!
The only tool you must have is a crimper. It's worth it. You can use it for many types of projects. Get one when they're on sale at your craft store and you'll pay less than 10 bucks. {Get one wide enough for an 8.5x11 sheet of paper. It will make life easier.} 
Make #aluminum foil WAFFLE CLOTH | #tinfoil rickrack Tutorial at I Gotta Create!
The other tool for creating the rickrack: wavy scissors {super cheap}.

Tear off a portion of tinfoil no wider than your crimper. Fold the foil in half {at least}, shiny side out, to give it more substance. Feed it through your crimper.


Here's what it looks like on the first run. 


Make #aluminum foil WAFFLE CLOTH | #tinfoil rickrack Tutorial at I Gotta Create!
Now, feed it through again going the opposite direction. This will create a grid pattern. Do that a couple of times. It will look like this: 
Make #aluminum foil WAFFLE CLOTH | #tinfoil rickrack Tutorial at I Gotta Create!
Now you have a fairly sturdy mesh or "waffle cloth" that you can work with. The thickness of the "cloth" depends on how many times you fold your foil before you start the crimping process. 

Want buttons like this? Click HERE
Social Media Button Installing? Tutorial here

To create your rickrack, just clip with wavy scissors.  
Make #aluminum foil WAFFLE CLOTH | #tinfoil rickrack Tutorial at I Gotta Create!


Notice you can achieve all kinds of patterns depending upon how you crimp the tinfoil. You can vary the width of your rickrack. You can also vary the thickness: for the rickrack, I like folding the tinfoil in thirds before crimping.


Make #aluminum foil WAFFLE CLOTH | #snowflakes at I Gotta Create!
Of course, you can also use punches to create tinfoil embellishments like I did with these snowflakes.  In that case, only fold the tinfoil in half before crimping. You don't want it too thick for the punch. 
And with some punches, the opening is so narrow that you will still have to flatten the foil after you've made it into a mesh. No problem. I just grabbed a jar and 'ironed' it across the mesh to flatten it out. {You will still have a lovely design.}


Make #aluminum foil WAFFLE CLOTH | #snowflakes at I Gotta Create!
Ok...I want to hear and see your ideas for how you might use this rickrack and tinfoil "waffle cloth"! Lots of cute options for holiday cards. What else? 


Check out The Best of 2012!

You might also be interested in: Star of Wonder Burlap Bags.
-and- Beautiful vintage fabric collage gift bags
See my Creative HITS of 2011


Here are all the tinfoil projects so far!!!!









Share your creations. 
Party with the Wildly Original Crowd now!  


I'm sharing this tutorial at these parties:
Monday:  CraftomaniacMaking The World CuterProject QueenThe Girl CreativeDebbiedoo's Newbie PartyThe Gunny SackTuesday:  Tip JunkieToday's Creative BlogWednesday:  Blue Cricket DesignNest of PosiesSavvy Southern StyleThursday: Shabby Nest;  Friday:  Finding FabulousMy Simple Home LifeRomantic HomeTatertots and JelloThirty Handmade Days; Saturday:  Be Different Act NormalFunky Junk InteriorsFrench Country CottageI Can't Stop CraftingSunday: Nifty Thrifty ThingsUnder The Table and Dreaming Holiday: Home For The Holidays at Uncommon



51 comments:

April said...

what a great way to make snowflakes! I hope you will link up with me here:
http://www.thegingerbreadblog.com/2011/12/sweet-saturday-v16.html

Janet @Ozarks Livin' said...

Wow, that's cool! I see a crimper in my future.

Unknown said...

These turned out GREAT! Love it!!! I'm your newest follower!

XO, Aimee from ItsOverflowing.com

Unknown said...

The ice crystals look so sparkly... definitely adds a bling factor to your cards! Very pretty! I'm putting a crimper on my letter to Santa! :)

Jennifer said...

This is brilliant. I don't have a crimper but if I did I would be silver ric-racing all over the place! How fun for the season. Your snowflakes are gorgeous too. I would never have thought they were tin foil. Would you link up to my party?

http://daysofchalkandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/12/garage-sale-table-redo-link-party.html

Kim @ Too Much Time said...

Seriously brilliant!I am hosting my first ever blog hop this weekend and I would LOVE if you stopped by to link some stuff up!

Kim @ Too Much Time

http://kim-toomuchtimeonmyhands.blogspot.com/search/label/get%20schooled%20saturday

Kathy said...

What amazing results!! Thank you so much for sharing.

Mel said...

What a clever use of foil. Love the snowflakes.

Kristina @ ReMadeSimple said...

I am fascinated! great repurposing idea and i'll be looking into a crimper. who knew?

chris said...

These look so unique! What a fantastic way to use foil.

Trish@MomOnTimeout said...

Alrighty. A crimper is on my list now. This is really amazing and so unique! I'd love for you to share at my party if you have a chance. Have a great weekend! http://www.momontimeout.com/2011/11/taking-timeout-thursday-no-6.html

Unknown said...

So cute! Love the rickrack!!

newest follower :)

Miss Charming said...

Awesome use of tinfoil! I have a crimper and am going to make some snowflakes tonight. Thanks for the great idea.

pbrenner said...

What a unique and beautiful idea! Now I need a crimper too :-) I have a Sizzix die cutter, I hope to crank out some of these with my snowflake cutter. Thanks for a wonderful idea!

Patty

Alissa@CraftyEndeavor said...

ooOOoooo I really like how those turned out. Now I just need a crimper!

Boden said...

What a great idea! Thanks for linking up! ~Jen @ www.icantstopcrafting.blogspot.com

Stephanie said...

So So clever! Great job :)

Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets said...

Great idea. I love the snowflakes too! Thanks for sharing!
(via Tip Junkie)

karah said...

These ideas are great! Adding crimper to my wants list. Thanks for sharing!
Karah @ thespacebetweenblog

Jamiecrafts said...

great idea :) TFS

Bonnie and Trish @ Uncommon Designs said...

This is so cool! I love the little snowflakes on the card!

Unknown said...

OK... now you got my wheels turning. I never thought to craft with tinfoil like this. So many cute ideas! Thanks! (I think... now I feel like I need a crimper. ha!)

Shiloh said...

That is so cool! I don't think I ever knew what a crimper was before. Now I need one.:)

Jenifer Harrod said...

What a great idea!
Please come to our party:
www.mychristian-life.blogspot.com

Jamie @ DIY Home Sweet Home said...

How have I never heard of a crimper before? That looks like fun. lovley use of foil. I love your blog. I'm your newest follower. Would love you to stop by DIY Home Sweet Home.
I have a giveaway going on right now. I would love you to stop by and enter.

Jamie
http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

What a great idea! Just brilliant. Thanks for sharing.

Abrazos,
Sapphire @ Life with My Pollitos

Lindsi B said...

Yay! I have a new use for my crimper!!!! (For those who don't have one...a hair crimper works too!)
Would you please share this with my readers for Fun Stuff Fridays linky party? http://www.toysinthedryer.com/2011/12/fun-stuff-fridays-3.html

Unknown said...

Oh my...what a fantastic idea! Thanks for sharing this, I am definitely making some of these snowflakes!

concretenprimroses said...

Wonderful!
I wonder if I could use it when i make my mushroom ornaments. I considered rick rack for the shroom veil... Maybe wavy on one side and straight on the other would work for a shroom.
Kathy

Donene said...

I am going to use my crimp er! What great ideas and so beautiful!

Terry said...

I promised my hubby no more craft purchases but I have to get a crimper now...just love what you've done with foil! I have a linky party every weekend, if you have time - please stop by and link up. Also love, love your cards! Now following you too!

Funky Junk Interiors said...

This is amazing! I've never heard of a crimper before but you can be sure it'll be on this non crafter's list. I LOVE the look and now wish I littered my tree with these wonderful tin snowflakes!

Shared on FJI Facebook and pinned for SNS 112. :)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150513210856141&set=a.192514281140.164586.175378011140&type=1&theater

Donna

Barbara Jean said...

awesome!! I came over from Funky Junk's FB page!

blessings
barbara jean

Kimberly Pate | KP Kre8tions said...

What a great idea ~ I must try this tomorrow. I have a cripmper that i have not used in ages.

I am your newest follower, and email subscriber.

Kimberly
Kimberly.pate@gmail.com
http://scrappinrookie.blogspot.com

Designs By Jo-Anne Moreau Bougie said...

What a fabulous idea.. NOt to mention when you use your punches on the foil it sharpens them at the same time :D ..

nicolette {momnivores dilemma} said...

Pinned and tweeted! Never have seen this... :)

Great idea!

Pieced Pastimes said...

Love this idea! So creative and pretty - thanks for sharing.

Ruby Jean said...

Love it... Be sure to share this one to at http://shoprubyjean.com/2011/12/sew-crafty-tuesday-linky-2-and-highlights/

Etcetorize said...

What a smart idea! Makes me wonder what would happen with embossing templates...very exciting! I'd love for you to come on over and share this at Etcetorize. The party is still open: http://etcetorize.blogspot.com/2011/12/make-it-great-monday_18.html

Ruth said...

I need to get one of these crimpers. These snowflakes are great.
Ruth

Vanessa said...

That is a fabulous idea!

Susan said...

I love this! And your gorgeous orange and pink Santa card as well. May have to CASE that for next year...

I do have a question though. In the directions for the rick rack, you say to fold the foil in half. then in the directions for the snowflakes, you say to only fold the foil in half. Did I miss a fold somewhere?

Christina at I Gotta Create! said...

Hi Sheahasu! Thank you for your kind words <3

I mention that I like folding the foil in thirds (last sentence just above the snowflake cards). However, I think that's really easy to miss so I tried clarifying the directions. Thank you for helping me - I want folks to try this because it's so fun!!

Gwen @ The Bold Abode said...

Wow and Wow! That is ridunculus! I wonder if I could use my pleater...hmmm..don't smock very much these days anyway...hmmm...

Howsewears said...

Oh, my. This is incredible! Thanks so much!
www.thisandthatfromtami.blogspot.com

Kathi said...

Brilliant! And someone just gave me a crimper!

Mimi said...

This is absolutely unbelievable. I can;t wait to try it and share the technique with my crafty sisters.

Aimee said...

I must get a crimper, NOW! Absolutely brilliant.

Anonymous said...

I have a crimper and foil and wavy scissors. Guess what I'll be working on this weekend.
Thanks-can't wait to try it.

Anonymous said...

You do amazing things with foil!

Jenifer Harrod said...

This is really neat. I would love to try this sometime.