Embossing Woes...

I am having problems with my embossing powders just coming off with a light touch of my fingers. What could I be doing wrong.

For my first trial I used Distressing Ink with Distressing Embossing Powder. I know the powder is supposed to come off as you rub it with your nail, but mine was all coming off much easier.

For my next trial I used Inkessentials Emboss it Clear Ink with Ranger Glitter Embossing Powder. Again, it came off with light fingertip touch.

TIA!!! I hope you can help me. I just ordered 6 canisters of Zing embossing powder. I don't want it to go to waste!

Hope help finds you. I'm sure it will.

Don't worry, your powders aren't wasted!

First of all, Distress inks are not made for embossing. It dries too quickly, and that's why the ink isn't sticking to it.

I use the Emboss pad or Versamark and they work very well.

Secondly, the powder will come off if you try to rub it with your fingers. So don't... You've got to heat set it ASAP after you ink and then apply the powder.

Heat embossing takes practice, you probably won't get the perfect results you're looking for right away. Just practice on scrap paper until you get a feel for it. But don't give up, there are SO MANY awesome things you can do!

• Here Kitty Said:

I almost always use my VersaMark pad for embossing because it takes so long to dry. I'm sort of new at embossing, so I can use those few extra seconds! Also, I only buy inks that say "Good for Embossing" or "Embossing Ink" so I know they are slow drying. Good luck!!

When you use the Tim Holtz distress embossing powder, you have to heat it a little bit longer than regular embossing powders. You will see it change color a bit. Let it cool and test a small corner of the embossed image. You want it to feel like sandpaper versus sand on the beach that rolls around. If it doesn't feel like sandpaper it's not set. Use your heat gun on it again, and keep testing. With the distress embossing powder certain pieces are supposed to brush off so your embossed image gets a distressed look. Use your finger or a small brush to lightly brush back and forth over the image so the release beads (what makes the distress look happen) fall off. Don't put the release beads back into the embossing powder container. Just throw them away. The Tim Holtz distressed embossing powder only works with the Tim Holtz distress embossing ink as far as I understand. Happy embossing!

You never said anything about heat setting it....zing is awesome with versamark...I jsut bought some vivid green its gorgeous on dark paper..have to heat set it!

I actually have a quick question in regards to heat setting. Sometimes my images come out dimpled, almost like some of the powder didn't melt or melted weird. Is this a result of heating too much or too little? I'm always afraid to heat too much because I have scorched embellishments in the past, and that's not fun.

thanks in advance.

• Smashley Said:

Without actually seeing it, I can't tell you for sure. It might be because:
1. the powder didn't stick to the ink well
2. the powder wasn't fine enough (coarse grain powders don't melt as smoothly as detail powder)
3. it wasn't melted enough
4. it's possible that it got too heated, but you can usually tell when you've overheated it. It turns brown or starts to smell differently.

Do you have a photo you can show me? It's easier to see it than to guess

• Here Kitty Said:

I actually ran some tests today...

it seems it's because the powder is coarse. So, I guess for detailing I'll have to be sure to buy the "detail" powder.

I do have a photo of what I'm talking about in my gallery, but the scan isn't the greatest, and you can't really tell it's dimpled in the scan.

What kind of powder are you using?

Thanks so much! I think that I was nervous to heat the images TOO much. I tried again applying the heat gun longer and it worked! I love the look!

I really appreciate all of your responses. I will definitely use some of the other tips, too! I'm hooked!

Hello everyone, I am hoping someone can advise me. I am using Versamark on Tim Holtz Watercolor paper with Hero Arts Fine Detail White embossing powder. Normally I have no problem whatsoever but tonight I couldn't get the ink to transfer from the stamp to the paper even though I added a LOT from the reinker. Several times when it looked like the ink was on the paper, the embossing powder didn't stick to the inked image. I am wondering if the heat (it was 92 degrees in the house) might have anything to do with the performance of Versamark ink, making it too runny and not sticky enough?

Just watch the powder as you heat it. It will turn bright and shiny as it melts showing you it's been heated enough. It will have an entirely different look than when you put it on.

• Poetesse2 Said:

Was it a new stamp? Acrylic or Rubber?

Some stamps have a coating on them that needs to be removed with a light scuffing before ink will stick to them. Acrylic stamps are a little harder to get a nice "stick" with embossing ink.

I'm assuming you know you need a heat gun to get a permanent adhesion on the embossing powder.

Thanks for your answer. I'm nearly positive it was the heat. When the temperature dropped, I didn't have a problem.

Thanks!!

I think the heat made the Versamark ink too runny and not sticky enough. It was transferring the ink to the paper but nothing was sticking to it and my powder was even kind of clumping up because of the high humidity here. I guess I either have to turn on my air conditioner or only work when the temperature is cooler and less humid.

I haven't tried it but I think Tim Holtz oxide inks MAY work with embossing powder. I have misplaced my heat gun so I cannot give my theory a test.