dry embossing

 For this tutorial Tuesday, I thought I would share alternative embossing techniques. These are two dry embossing techniques: machine embossing and hand embossing.

 

 

Above shows the stages of embossing using a machine. You will need to buy an embossing machine (the one above is a sizzix big shot). You will need to follow the instructions which come with your machine to select the appropriate plates to use with the embossing folder.

1. materials you will need- embossing machine, the plates you will need, an embossing folder and some paper.
2. place your paper inside the embossing folder and lay this onto your base plates. place your final plate on top to create a sandwich.
3. run your sandwich through you embossing machine.
4. take out your paper to reveal the embossed design.

 

 

You can also emboss by hand using a stencil and a ball tool. The stencils are usually made from metal and are designed specifically for dry embossing by hand. You will need to select your ball tool according to the stencil, making sure it is small enough to fit inside the gaps to capture the detail, but not so small it will pierce the paper. This can be done with normal paper or cardstock, (using a light box) or on parchment, (you can see the stencil without a light box).

1. Materials you need- the light box, card, ball tool, stencil  and a candle or soap
2. coat the back of the card with the wax or soap by firmly rubbing over the surface.
3. following the stencil, gently rub the paper (wax side up) with the ball tool to emboss the spaces between or around the stencil. You can choose to do the whole design or sections.
4. the embossed card with the stencil. I chose to create a frame by embossing only the outer egde of the stencil design.

Mx

my millie...

front of the card

• 4x4" pearl card blank
• coloured card stock
• a tattered lace embossing folder
• lawn fawn- stitched circle stackable
• acetate
• sequins- spring mix
• digi cardstock, memento ink,copics
• avery elle- furry friends stamps & dies
• tim holtz distress ink pad (worn lipstick)
• SU! because you care
• sakura micron pen & clear star pen
• inkssentials opaque white
• glossy accents

to make this card I cut a mat of blue to fit my card, I then die cut a circle from this and the card blank. I then embossed the blue mat for added texture. I used the original circle die with a larger one to create a pink frame to layer on top. I then began to assemble the card by adding 2 pieces of acetate with beads and sequins in between, using foam tape to separate the layers creating the shaker window. I then layered the card up with the blue layer and the pink frame to decorate the front. I stamped, coloured and die cut the dog to add the image to the front of the card. I highlighted the eyes and nose with glossy accents.  I decided to colour the dog like my puppy millie, to add a personal touch.

inside the card

 

For the inside, I created a mat of pink card decorated with paws stamped all over for backing paper. I then added a blue circle of card removed from the window of the front. I stamped a sentiment and added it to the inside, lining it up with the window shaker window so it could be read from the front.
 

back of the card

I took the circle cut from the inside of the pink frame and added this to the back of the card for somewhere to write your message. I stamped it with a bone and added my 'handmade by' stamp to finish off. I think the combination of a sequin shaker, bright colours and the cute dog make this a really fun little card.  

challenges:

make the day special-(embossing, circles, bling/sequins)

simon says- clean the simple

Mx

sticky embossing

So this week, I thought I would share another embossing technique with you. This uses sticky embossing powder, which can be used to add glitter or foiling to a card. You simply follow last weeks tutorial on heat embossing, but use the sticky embossing powder and heat it up. You then add your glitter or foil and heat again. Watch the video below to be shown the technique:

 

 

 

glitter embossed sentiment

 

Mx

spring blues...

 

 

 

• hunkydory insert & little book of sentiments
• mirri cardstock

I had an insert with the message get well soon, which I didn't need. I thought I could use the pretty image on the front of my card instead. I cut a strip off the side of the insert, and matted on to mirri before adding it to my card. I found a sentiment to coordinate and placed on my card, using foam pads, to follow the sketch. to finish the inside of my card. I cut another strip from the end of the insert, then cut this to a rectangle to fit my card.

 

challenges:
freshly made sketches- #182

Mx

touch down !!

• LOTV rugby mad & for him sentiments
• tim holtz distress ink pads
• archival ink in sepia
• 5x5" kraft card blank & watercolour card

to make this card I cut a mat of watercolour card and (2nd generation)stamped the focal image in the centre. I taped the mat to a board and coloured it with the ink pads and water brushes for a soft painted finish. I added the stamped sentiment and glued it onto the card blank to finish.

challenges:
simon says Monday 'in the middle'
paper players 'clean & simple: watercolour'

Mx

heat embossing

For today's tutorial Tuesday, I thought I would share the heat embossing technique. This involves stamping with clear embossing ink and coating with embossing powder. When heated up, this creates the embossed effect. Depending on which powder you use, depends on the effect you get. There are lots of embossing powders available including glittery and distress effects. Some powders will require you to alter the technique slightly to suit the product, but the video below explains the basics...

 

 

 

a heat embossed image

Mx

cogs away!!

• first edition cog dies
• LOTV antebellum paper pad
• SU! says it all
• kraft cardstock and 6x4" card blank
• tim holtz black soot ink pad

for this card I cut a mat of paper, inked the edges and stamped a sentiment in the bottom corner. I die cut some cogs and inked the edges. I arranged and glued these to finish the card.

I think this is a simple card that is great for them difficult men.

challenges
case this sketch- #117
craft hoarders anonymous- go green

 

Mx

bold birthday!!

• tim holtz distress ink pad (tumbled glass, salty ocean & ripe persimmon)
• SU!/sizzix little letters thinlit dies
• orange sequins
• white card & 4x6" card blank

first i inked the card blank with blue tones, I cut a mat of white card and inked the edges orange. I die cut my sentiment then glued it down, as I wanted the depth for a shadow I used 3mm foam squares(but you could glue it flat for posting). I added a few sequins for a bit of interest.

 

challenges:

simon says "happy birthday"

the paper players #239 'use dies'

 

Mx

Two - step stamping ...

Today I thought I'd show you the 2 step stamping technique. You can buy sets of stamps, where you build up the image by placing one stamp on top of another... Its a little bit like 2D decoupage for stamping. There can be up to 4 layers, but it is still called 2 step !!

the stamp set from SU!

Below, you can see how each of the different layers stamps individually, with number 1 as the base up to number 3 as the top detailed layer.

2 step stamping example

 When you stamp each layer on top of the other, you can create an image like the one above. You can see in the picture how using different tones of ink helps to define each the layers to create an effective image. It can be difficult to line up the layers, especially if you are using a rubber stamp not a clear one; that's when it can be useful to have a tool like the stamp-a-ma-jig which help to line everything up.

 

Mx