Are you tired of hearing everyone talk about embossing but no one actually tells you how it is done? We are going back to square one and together we will go step by step through the process.
Materials Needed:
- heat gun
- embossing powder in the color of your choice
- Stamper (Try making your own stampers to emboss. You can use the Beer budget method or the Champagne budget method.)
- Stamp pad
- Card stock
- small paint brush
- optional: handmade paper
- optional: embossing pen
For our example we will be making a card. Once you learn the technique you can take it farther and begin embossing all sorts of media. Watch during the holidays for embossing christmas ornaments.
I have selected the card stock according to the size card I will want in the completed project.
I then selected a stamper with the picture or sentiment desired.
The stamp pad color can effect the color of the finished product. If I use a royal blue stamp ink and a white embossing powder, my results will be a very pretty milky blue. If the stamp pad is a light color and the embossing powder is dark, you will have little, if any, change to the embossing powder color. If the embossing powder is light and the stamp ink is dark, expect color changes in the finished product. One way to eliminate this is to use clear or white stamp ink.
Water based inks work best just because they are slower to dry.
I now choose the embossing powder that will, with the stamper ink, compliment to give me the correct finished product.
Here we go. Place an extra sheet of cardstock under the card. Ink the stamp and stamp it onto the card. Now gently sprinkle embossing powder over the entire stamped area. Pick up the card and tap the excess embossing powder off of the card onto the extra cardstock we placed underneath. Using your small brush, carefully brush away any stray traces of embossing powder on areas that were not stamped. Remove the cardstock with the excess embossing powder. You can return this to the jar when you are done but you do not want it near the heat of the heat gun. Lay the card back down and turn on the heat gun. Point it at the stamped area. Move it in a circular motion. Do not leave it in one position for any length of time as it will burn the paper. You will first see the embossing powder begin to melt and then raise. It happens very quickly. Move the heat gun around to make sure all areas are raised. Turn it off and you are done.
It is a lot of 'WOW' for very little effort. Once you have practiced, try different combinations of ink and powder to see what new effects you can come up with. There are many different kinds of powders on the market. Try something you wouldn't ordinarily choose. You will probably be very surprised at the results. And remember to always try to push yourself ourside of your comfort zone. That's when the real creative proces begins.
I have listed in the 'Materials needed' an optional item of an embossing pen. This is a pen that you can write anything with but it comes out clear. You then follow the same steps of putting embossing powder and heat on it and will get the same effect. The difference is you are not limited to a stamper. You are not limited to printing or script. You can even draw a picture or doodle. Experiment and as always, enjoy.
Try embossing on your own handmade paper
Try making your own stampers to emboss. You can us the Beer budget method or the Champagne budget method.
Try making your own giftbags and emboss them for the holidays
Click here to tell me what your thoughts are.
Try some of these other projects.
Do it yourself scrapbook supplies
"Copyright 2006, Mary Welling-Bonney & Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use will constitute an infringement of copyright."
