All about embossing by sugarloaf...
1
Very thin papers, like tissue and mulberry, can burn easily. They will also absorb the embossing ink to some extent, and flatten out quicker if overheated. Apply heat from a distance and watch the powder melt. Stop the heat as soon as the powder turns shiny.
2
Vellum is a plastic and requires great care when embossing. If stamping with a clear embossing ink or a pigment ink, the stamp may slide on the paper. This will result in a thick looking image. With vellum, glossy papers, glass, acetate, tile, or any other nonporous surface, you need not apply a lot of pressure to get a clean stamped image. Just lightly touch stamp to the surface and proceed
3
Because vellum is a plastic, apply heat very carefully. If the heat is concentrated in one area for any length of time, the vellum will buckle just a little. That ‘little’ is enough to affect the final look of your project. On vellum, apply the heat tool from way above the project. This will heat the whole surface of the paper and not just a small area. Slowly move the heat tool a bit closer to the vellum and stop as soon as the powder is melted. This will take a little longer, but your vellum won’t be as distorted when you’re done! This is a good rule to follow when embossing on acetate as well.
4
Dye based inks aren’t ordinarily considered to be embossable. They are designed to dry quickly and absorb into the paper. On vellum and other non porous surfaces these inks dry very slowly and, in most cases, will easily wipe off. That is usually considered a disadvantage, but in the case of this technique, it is an advantage. You can create a very delicate look by stamping with dye based inks, like our Whispers inks, and embossing with clear powder.
5
Another way to emboss with dye inks is to cover your stamp with clear embossing ink, apply the dye based ink in the colors of your choice over the embossing ink, and emboss using clear powder. This will work on any paper and is a very light and delicate look for light and delicate images.
6
To create an antiqued look with embossing, stamp with pigment ink or embossing ink, and apply powder color of your choice. Over-melt parts of the image to simulate an aged effect. This is especially effective with metallic powders. One of my favorite looks!
7
For a reverse effect, stamp with clear embossing ink, apply clear embossing powder, and heat. Add watercolor or markers around the embossed image making the background fairly dark for contrast.
8
To take this process a step farther, after coloring the area around the embossing, reheat the clear embossing and, with a craft knife, scrape away the melted embossing. You may need to reheat and scrape several times to get the embossing removed but, the effect is well worth is. This is a beautiful technique for Indian pots, feathers, leaves, and a way to get a new look from some of your older images
9
Using Clear embossing ink and clear powder will create a tone on tone effect on any color paper. You’ll get a watermark look with just a little more punch! The darker the paper the more elegant the effect.
10
As always …practice, these ideas before trying them on a project. Some will require more practice to get the effect you want.
All content © Inque Boutique Inc 2000 to 2007
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Posts
