scrappilyeverafter

alisonrasmussen
independentmanager#879

This is actually the first technique that attracted me to rubber stamping. When you see something embossed, you'll want to try it yourself. The gold and silver raised foil embossing adds elegance and class, and there are many more types and colors of embossing powder available. You'll be amazed at the effects you can achieve!

Supplies

• Embossing heat tool
• Embossing powder
• Embossing ink (or slow-drying ink such as VersaMark or any color of pigment ink)
• Cardstock
• Rubber stamp
• Tidy Tray

Technique

1. Place the cardstock you wish to stamp in the Tidy Tray.
2. Ink the rubber stamp with slow-drying embossing ink.
3. Cover the entire stamped image with embossing powder. Tap off excess into Tidy Tray and return it to the jar.
4. Slowly move your heat tool back and forth across the powdered image. Hold the image above your work surface for the most even heating. You'll see the powder begin to melt.
5. As soon as the powder has melted, you're finished! You now have a raised image for your artwork.

Extra Hints and Tips

• If you don't have a Tidy Tray, you can arrange several sheets of light-weight scrap paper for your work surface. After tapping off the excess powder, you can roll the top piece (and second sheet, if necessary) into a tube to return the excess powder to the jar.
• For intricately detailed stamps, fine embossing powder, or for ease in returning powder to the jar, I recommend using X-Static to remove static electricity from the cardstock to be stamped and the Tidy Tray, before you start. You can also use a fabric softening dryer sheet for the same effect.
• If the embossing powder is still sticking where it shouldn't, use a Q-Tip or small pain brush to remove excess powder before heating.
• If you don't have embossing ink, try using VersaMark or any shade of pigment ink. (Dye ink typically dries too fast for embossing, but keep reading if you'd like to use the colors in your work!)
• If you're on a budget, I recommend you skip the embossing ink, buy a VersaMark pad and some clear embossing powder. Then, ink your stamp first with VersaMark, then move the inked stamp to the ink color (dye or pigment) of your choice. Sprinkle on clear embossing powder, and you will have extended the variety of embossing colors to the colors of your ink palette! (Be sure to clean the stamp before re-inking with VersaMark, though, to avoid color mixing.)
• If you work with colored ink, I recommend you use clear or the same colored embossing powder for best effects.
• Use fine, ultra-fine or foil powders with detailed images. Save ultra thick, tinsel or glitter powders for less detailed and bold images.
• When heating cardstock, you should lift it up from the work surface to avoid scorching and ensure even heating. Some heat tools get hotter and direct heat more accurately than others, so experiment till you get the desired result.
• Hold cardstock with a pair of pliers if it gets too hot for your hands.
• I have tried embossing with a hair dryer and an iron. A hair dryer usually doesn't get hot enough and blows too much air (and removes the powder before it can melt). An iron will work, but make sure it's on the highest setting without steam. Hold it above your work, or better, move your work slowly in front on the iron. For even occasional embossing, I still recommend purchasing a heat tool.

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