A material test might feel like a waste of time until the problem you encounter could have been a simple matter of handling materials and testing a small area before assembling. Paper curls on a tag once adhesive is added. Vinyl lifts from a textured magnet surface. Ink smears when a sealant is applied. A keychain insert looks fine on a table, but looks awful through the bubble of a protective cover when pressed flat. All of these issues can be tested, and handled, on smaller pieces of scrap. It’s better to fix these problems on scraps than to have them ruin the gift tag, magnet, card, or keychain you were trying to give.
When testing materials, it is a good idea to choose one blank base and one decoration method. For example, a tag test should use scrap paper, while a magnet test should use a scrap piece of magnet board. Or, if you plan to attach a vinyl decal to an acrylic blank, cut a piece of vinyl and apply it to the corner of the blank. You are not trying to produce a souvenir, simply a test that uses the same materials you plan to use in the final project to check for any potential problems with how the materials are being combined.
It is best if the test is done using a scaled down version of the materials that you are testing. For instance, when testing adhesives or tapes, clean a small area of paper, cardboard, or wood with a cloth, then put a tiny sample of adhesive on the surface. The same is true when placing a printed label or piece of vinyl on a card blank, use a small piece of the actual adhesive or transfer material for the test. Press it in the same way you would press the full-sized design. If you are testing the impact of a surface coating, use a paint brush or small foam applicator to put a layer of the product on the blank. Make sure to allow it the proper amount of time to dry. A rushed test will lead to inaccurate results, since some problems only manifest when the coating has had time to settle on the surface.
When looking at a material test, it is best if you check the edges first, since problems in these areas might not be immediately evident. If the edges of paper or printed material are lifting, the adhesive you are using might not be strong enough. If a piece of vinyl is lifting from a wood or cardboard surface, a different type of material might work better, or the surface might need extra preparation. On a plastic keychain, be sure to test whether the insert is flat on the surface before pressing it flat. A raised insert will not look good behind a clear cover. If you find a problem with any of these steps, change the process or materials before cutting the design down to size and attaching it to the actual souvenir.
If you can, test the appearance and readability of your design on a piece of scrap first. Sometimes a design looks great on the computer but turns out to be too dark on cardstock, or too light on the plastic used for the insert. Print a small sample of the text, or put down a sample of the artwork you plan to use. Make sure the font size, spacing, image scale, and contrast from arm’s length, then make the necessary adjustments before cutting down the design. If the text is illegible or the image is hard to see, you will want to fix this issue before trimming and gluing it together into the final souvenir.
If you are unsure what worked, and what didn’t in a test, keep a list of all of the changes, adjustments or new materials that you used. You don’t need an elaborate chart; just make a list in the bottom corner of the test sample as you use it. Write down the materials you used, including the type and brand of adhesive, the type of paper or magnet blank, the type of printed material, sealant, and the amount of time you let each layer of adhesive dry. This information can be helpful in reminding you if you try something different the next time, or help you remember the problem areas the next time you make a magnet, gift tag, card, or keychain. Over time, these notes help you determine how to create a successful souvenir without having it curl, look bad through a bubble, or peel apart before long.
A good material test is the simplest test possible that can help determine the quality of the materials and decoration methods you are using for a souvenir. The goal is not to make a finished souvenir. Before using the test sample to assemble a magnet, card or gift tag, touch it to see if there is excess adhesive, tilt it to see if it has a bubble in the corner, check the edge to see if there is any glue build up, or put it on a clear sheet to see if there are any problems with the design being visible through the layer. It is this small sample you are testing that can show you if you are on the right track with a souvenir.