Heat Embossing Technique

The technique that hooked me into stamping years ago was heat embossing. It is fascinating to watch the magic of the crystals of embossing powder change before your very eyes into a smooth raised surface. Here are some tips to make your heat embossing spectacular.

Supplies:
Embossing powder (109129), Embossing Buddy (193083), Versamark Ink Pad (102283), Heat Tool (129053), card stock of your choice – the sample is using Gumball Green, stamp of your choice – I’ve used the Christmas Tree from Joyous Celebrations (128069), small watercolor brush, clothes pin or tweezers

Directions:
1. Lightly rub the Embossing Buddy over your card stock to remove static electricity and any oils from your hands.
2. Ink your stamp with Versamark and stamp on your card stock.
3. Sprinkle…heck I dump…the embossing powder on the card; then tap it off onto a piece of paper. Transfer the extra embossing powder back into its container and close the lid. This is very important so you don’t blow embossing powder all over.
4. Check for any stray embossing powder on your card stock and gently brush it off with the small watercolor brush.
5. If your piece of card stock is relatively small, hold it with a clothespin or a pair of tweezers to protect your fingers, as the air gets pretty hot.
6. The new and improved heat tool has two heat settings. The first one is for drying ink and the second one is hotter for heat embossing. Turn on the heat tool to the second setting and let it warm up for a few seconds, then direct the heat onto your embossed image. Hold the piece of card stock so the light shines across the surface of your image.
7. Move slowly across the image instead of going back and forth. By moving slowly across it, you get all the crystals melted instead of just the top ones. This gives a smoother embossed surface.
8. It is possible to overheat the powder and it will soak into the card stock leaving a slightly dull, flat image. Check out the samples to see the difference between under-heated, just right, and overheated.