Product Review: Grafix Clear Craft Plastic

After looking everywhere locally, I emailed a friend and asked, "Do you know where I can find a similar material to Heidi Swapp's ghost letters (that clear, thin plastic)?" She didn't know either. I just knew somebody had to have had the same idea and would provide such a product. Scrapbook.com had many acetate sheets to choose from, but how can people tell how sturdy the sheet is? What if it's like a page protector and bends? This review is for Grafix Clear Craft Plastic sheets and they are definitely sturdy!

Product Name: Grafix Clear Craft Plastic

Price: $4.99 - $6.99

Product Description:

The $4.99 package comes with four sheets of 6"x6" craft plastic. Each sheet is wrapped with a blue peelable protective covering on each side. For larger projects, the $6.99 package has four sheets of 8"x8" craft plastic. The thickness is .02, similar to the Heidi Swapp clear alphabet.

In Use:

Once I opened the package, I pulled off the blue protective sheet. I recommend waiting to do that until you know exactly what you want to do with your sheet. I tried bending it in half quickly and the product broke in half. I tried to bend it again slowly and it worked. You have to start off with a slight fold, and then slowly and gently crease/sharpen the fold. It's worth the wait. This plastic is fabulous! I want more of it. I think this is best used for album covers or thick clear cards.

I ran the plastic through a Cuttlebug die-cut machine and it wouldn't cut. It only scored it, making it a waste of time and product unless you want to finish cutting it out with scissors. Although the plastic is thick, it cuts smoothly. I easily cut a spiral with sharp scissors. You can also cut it in your paper trimmer with several back-and-forth tries.

Tips and Tricks:

• Keep the blue protective sheet on the entire time you're cutting; it will keep your plastic clean and it isn't hard to cut through.
• Place your clear plastic over any image and cut around it to have a clear shape.
• You can cut through it with an exacto knife, but it's tough.
• To hide your adhesive, stick a mat, or similar size of paper, on the other side of the plastic.

Product Idea/Example: