Technique: Heat Embossing

Overview:

Heat embossing is a technique that started in stamping, but has carried over into scrapbooking. It uses the combination of ink, embossing powder and heat to create a shiny, raised design. The beauty of heat embossing is that it can be used on any color of paper. It makes creating light colored designs on a dark paper quick and easy. Heat embossing, in its many variations, adds elegance and detail to any layout.

Tools and Supplies:

Rubber stamps
Embossing powders -

• Colored embossing powder embosses your image in the color of the powder.
• Clear embossing powder can be used over colored pigment inks to allow the color of the ink to show through.


• Pearl embossing powder gives a pearlescent sheen over colored inks.


• Embossing tinsel contains glitter and adds sparkle to the embossed image.


• Embossing foil creates a smooth, shiny look of foil.


• Embossing antiquities and golds give a texturized faux finish such as verdigris stone or antique gold. There are many different finishes available.


• Detail embossing powder is an extremely fine-grained powder for use on very detailed images. The smaller granules stick to smaller detailed areas and preserve small details when the powder is heated and melts.


• Embossing enamel is a large-grained embossing powder which is used to create thicker embossing and more textured looks.

• Embossing inks are clear and used mostly for heat embossing. They are available in pads or pens. Some embossing inks also have refills available to refill your pad with ink when it runs out of ink or becomes too dry. Using embossing pens, you can write words or draw an image to emboss rather than stamping. Use embossing pens to color in small areas of a stamp instead of inking the entire stamp.


• Pigment inks may also be used for embossing. Pigment inks do not dry immediately like dye inks, allowing time to sprinkle embossing powder on the wet ink.

Step by Step Lesson:

Basic Heat Embossing - Basic heat embossing is easy to do; there are five basic steps. First, ink the stamp with embossing ink. Then stamp the image where you want it to be placed on the paper. Pour embossing powder onto the stamped image while it is still wet. By creating a funnel with your paper, pour the excess powder off the paper and put it back into the jar. Using a heat gun, heat the image just until the powder melts and becomes shiny. This happens fairly quickly, so be careful not to overheat. Heating for too long will result in a dull, flat finish instead of the raised, shiny finish you desire.


Clear Embossing - This technique works best on darker papers. First, stamp an image with a clear embossing ink. Then sprinkle clear embossing powder over the entire image. Pour any excess powder back into the jar. Use a heat gun to heat the image. You now have a subtle image that allows the color of your paper to show through.


Over Embossing - Stamp and color an image on your paper. Then, sprinkle clear embossing powder over the image. Heat your image from beneath the paper with your heat gun until the powder has melted. Sprinkle additional clear embossing powder over the image and heat from beneath again. Continue adding layers of embossing powder and melting them until you have a shiny, smooth surface. It will resemble lacquer.


Double Embossing - Stamp and heat emboss an image. Color the image using colored pencils, markers, or chalks. Brush or sponge clear embossing ink onto the colored areas of the design. Sprinkle the wet ink with clear embossing powder and heat until the powder melts and is shiny.


Multi-color Embossing - Ink a stamp with pigment ink or a clear embossing ink. Sprinkle one color of embossing powder on part of the image, then sprinkle another color of embossing powder on a different part of the image. Continue sprinkling different colors of embossing powders until the entire inked image is covered with the powders. Shake off the excess powder and heat emboss the image to create a multi-colored embossed image.


Resist Embossing - Use a colored marker over the entire area to be stamped. One or many colors may be used. Make sure the ink from your marker is completely dry before stamping your image on top of it. Stamp an image on the colored area with clear embossing ink.

Next, sprinkle clear embossing powder over the stamped image. Heat emboss the image with you heating tool. Finally, use a sponge to dab black ink over the design. The ink will not stick to the clear embossing, and you will have a “resist” design.


Embossing Enamel - One layer of this embossing enamel produces a bumpy finish. Two or three coats of embossing powder will produce a smooth surface. Try building up several layers to create a very thick surface and then stamp an image into it.

Just as with other embossing methods, stamp an image with embossing ink and emboss it with a heat tool. When using embossing enamel, it is best to heat from beneath the paper. Melting pots are available, or try using an electric fry pan or small teflon-coated crock pot to dip items in the melted embossing enamel.

Thick embossing enamel can be cut into shapes with scissors or a cookie cutter. Glitter, tiny beads, or metal confetti can also be sprinkled between coats of hot embossing enamel to give dimension and sparkle to the enamel.

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Tips:

• Embossing powder will stick to any moisture or static on your paper. Therefore, it’s best to use an embossing anti-static bag before stamping. The bag contains a fine powder that will eliminate the moisture from fingerprints and help to give a clean, clear embossed image. A baby sock filled with baby powder will have a similar effect. Just rub the bag (or sock) over the surface to be stamped and then stamp an image. When you sprinkle the embossing powder on the wet stamped image, it will only stick to the wet ink.



• Remove any stray bits of embossing powder with a fine paint brush.



• If you cut out your embossed image, avoid cutting into the embossing to prevent pieces from flaking off.



• Make sure a stamp is clean before pressing into a clear embossing pad.



• To keep your paper from warping during embossing (especially on vellum), hold your heat gun farther from the paper. You can also try heating the paper from the bottom. A third option is to line a cardboard box with foil and place your item to be embossed inside. The foil on the bottom helps to disperse the heat evenly and keeps the paper from warping.



• When possible, emboss on a separate piece of paper instead of directly on the layout. This prevents ruining your background if any mistakes are made.



• Detailed rubber stamps may require you to use a fine grain embossing powder to capture all of the detail.

Technique "Twists":

• Use stamps and embossing ink to stamp onto cardstock and create a subtle “watermark” background on your paper.



• Cut letters from cardstock for a page title. Press each letter into a clear embossing ink pad or color with a clear embossing pen. Sprinkle the wet letters with embossing powder and heat emboss. This is a great way to make shiny gold or silver letters.



• Change the color of brads, nailheads, etc. with embossing powders. Use a pair of pliers (not your fingers, or you may get burned!) to hold the brad or nailhead. Heat the item briefly with your heat gun and then dip immediately into embossing powder. Again, heat a bit with your heat gun, and a brad will be changed to the color of the embossing powder.



• Cut images from sheets of double-sided adhesive tape and sprinkle embossing powder over them. Heat emboss them to create a page embellishment.



• Randomly stamp on cardstock using an ink pad direct to paper. Sprinkle with embossing powder, and heat emboss. This looks spectacular on the edges of cardstock, edges of torn cardstock, or as an overall background.



• Print words or an image with an inkjet printer on vellum and immediately sprinkle the wet ink with embossing powder (work fast!). This can be heat embossed directly from your printer. This works best with vellum because the ink does not absorb into the vellum, and doesn’t dry as quickly, allowing time for the powder to attach itself to the ink.