embossing

Embossing

   Here we go!! Just what is embossing? Putting it in very simple terms, it is giving a raised surface to parts of your handmade greeting cards. It can be images or words and the effects are fantastic.
   There are two forms of embossing. One is heat embossing used with rubber stamps and the other is dry embossing used with brass stencils.
       A) HEAT EMBOSSING
   There are several tools that are needed to start. You will need rubber stamps, pigment ink, embossing powders and an

embossing heat gun.
TIP: DO NOT USE A HAIR DRYER BECAUSE THERE ISN'T SUFFICIENT HEAT AND IT WILL BLOW THE EMBOSSING POWDERS OFF OF THE PAPER.
Now it's time to dive right in and have some embossing fun. Ink your rubber stamp with the pigment ink and stamp your cardstock. Pour your embossing powder over the inked stamped image and carefully tap off the excess powder off of the cardstock.
TIP: TRY PLACING A SHEET OF PAPER UNDER YOUR CARDSTOCK TO CATCH THE EXCESS EMBOSSING POWDER SO IT WILL NOT GET ALL OVER YOUR WORK AREA.

Apply the heat gun about six inches from the work surface. You will see it start to melt and raise up and become shiny. It happens very quickly so try not to overheat the embossing powder.
Quick and easy isn't it? Now step back and marvel at what embossing magic you have created to enhance your handmade greeting card.
TIPS: 1) USE THE SAME COLORED PIGMENT INK AND EMBOSSING POWDER FOR THE BEST AND EVEN RESULTS.
            2) TRY USING AN EMBOSSING INK PAD( NO COLOR). iT IS USUALLY BLUE OR PINK AND IT WILL ELIMINATE THE USE OF A COLORED PIGMENT INK PAD.
            3) THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF DIFFEENT COLORS OF EMBOSSING POWDERS AND IF YOU ARE ANYTHING LIKE ME YOU WILL WANT THEM ALL. RESISIT THE TEMPTATION AND TRY MIXING TWO DIFFERENT COLORS OR TWO DIFFERENT SPECIAL EFFECTS EMBOSSING POWDERS FOR TRULY UNIQUE AND FANTASTIC RESULTS.
       B) DRY EMBOSSING
   The use of brass stencils are key to achieving a dry, raised embossing effect. You will need a light box to show you where to

emboss. Place the stencil securely to the top of the light box. Now place the cardstock over the brass stencil. The light box will show you exactly where to emboss. Using a stylus press along the edge of the openings of the stencil. When you remove the stencil you will see the raised embossed image. You are definitely on the road to creating amazing handmade greeting cards.
TIP: YOU CAN TRY USING THE WINDOW WITH THE SUN AS YOUR LIGHT SOURCE. ALTHOUGH SOMEWHAT AWKWARD, FOR SIMPLE EMBOSSED IMAGES IT WILL WORK JUST FINE.

/td