How to heat emboss without curling the paper?

Jan '05 Punchaholic

I love to heat emboss, but the paper often ends up curled or warped after I use my heat gun to set the embossing powder. Does anything have any tips on how to prevent this? I wonder if I'm holding the heat gun too close to the paper, but when I try to hold it further away, the embossing powder won't melt.
Jan '05 Sassynai

RE: Punchaholic: I love to heat emboss, but the paper often ends up curled or warped after I use my heat gun to set the embossing powder. Does anything have any tips on how to prevent this? I wonder if I'm holding the heat gun too close to the paper, but when I try to hold it further away, the embossing powder won't melt.

I saw on the DIY network where when she was embossing she covered a piece of cardboard with aluminum foil... That she didn't have to apply the heat as long. It has something to do with the aluminum...
Jan '05 Young_scrapper14

RE: Sassynai: I saw on the DIY network where when she was embossing she covered a piece of cardboard with aluminum foil... That she didn't have to apply the heat as long. It has something to do with the aluminum...

I think you are doing it a little longer then you need to do for it to work.
Jan '05 Langluy

RE: Young_scrapper14: I think you are doing it a little longer then you need to do for it to work.

yah, try not to heat it for too long. maybe heat it and then move the gun away for a few seconds and then heat again?
Jan '05 BeachScrapper

RE: Langluy: yah, try not to heat it for too long. maybe heat it and then move the gun away for a few seconds and then heat again?

I heat emboss on a marble tile. Ever since I started doing that, heat embossing has been so much easier and the results have improved greatly. Move the gun around while you are heating and try both heating less time and MORE time. I have found that I actually was not heating it enough and the paper flattened itself out after a few extra seconds. Another thing I have done is put something heavy down on top of it while it is still warm to flatten it.
Jan '05 Kate77

RE: BeachScrapper: I heat emboss on a marble tile. Ever since I started doing that, heat embossing has been so much easier and the results have improved greatly. Move the gun around while you are heating and try both heating less time and MORE time. I have found that I actually was not heating it enough and the paper flattened itself out after a few extra seconds. Another thing I have done is put something heavy dow...

What makes the aluminum (and I'm guessing the marble) work better, is that you're heating from the bottom AND the top at the same time. I use a magazine covered in aluminum foil.
Jan '05 Punchaholic

RE: Kate77: What makes the aluminum (and I'm guessing the marble) work better, is that you're heating from the bottom AND the top at the same time. I use a magazine covered in aluminum foil.

Thanks, everyone. I've read before about using aluminum foil underneath, but I never tried it. Maybe it will help!
Jan '05 Scraprabbit

RE: Punchaholic: Thanks, everyone. I've read before about using aluminum foil underneath, but I never tried it. Maybe it will help!

I use a clipboard covered with foil. The clipboard is nice because then you can clip down your piece and you won't burn your hands! Also, I preheat my gun for 15-30 seconds before I start it on my paper...that also seems to help some with the curling since you don't have to apply the heat as long.
Jan '05 Outrageous

RE: Scraprabbit: I use a clipboard covered with foil. The clipboard is nice because then you can clip down your piece and you won't burn your hands! Also, I preheat my gun for 15-30 seconds before I start it on my paper...that also seems to help some with the curling since you don't have to apply the heat as long.

i just heat it, and if it warps, i iron it back flat.
Jan '05 Punchaholic

RE: Outrageous: i just heat it, and if it warps, i iron it back flat.

I like the clipboard idea! More than once I've gotten my fingers a little too warm for my liking.
Jan '05 Scraprabbit

RE: Punchaholic: I like the clipboard idea! More than once I've gotten my fingers a little too warm for my liking.

That actually wasn't *my* idea...my SU consultant gave me that great idea.
Jan '05 AuntLynnie

RE: Scraprabbit: That actually wasn't *my* idea...my SU consultant gave me that great idea.

Great idea! I have an old, unused, unloved clipboard I can rededicate! I'll probably grab some binder clips with it, to hold the other corners. Loving this tip!!!

I also like the idea of preheating the gun. Never thought of that.

If the clipboard doesn't help, I may have to break down and go to Home Depot.
Jan '05 Dawnie

RE: AuntLynnie: Great idea! I have an old, unused, unloved clipboard I can rededicate! I'll probably grab some binder clips with it, to hold the other corners. Loving this tip!!! I also like the idea of preheating the gun. Never thought of that. If the clipboard doesn't help, I may have to break down and go to Home Depot.

hmm...never thought about a clipboard before. Great idea!!
Jan '05 Momofasoldier

RE: Dawnie: hmm...never thought about a clipboard before. Great idea!!

I use a clipboard covered with aluminum foil
and then I use wooden clothes pins to hold
down the other 2 ends. If my paper is to
small, I will hold down one end with that
and put something heavy on the other end.
Works great. Sometimes I will put a marble
tile on top of it for awhile before using it
Jan '05 ScrappyMac

RE: Momofasoldier: I use a clipboard covered with aluminum foiland then I use wooden clothes pins to holddown the other 2 ends. If my paper is to small, I will hold down one end with thatand put something heavy on the other end.Works great. Sometimes I will put a marbletile on top of it for awhile before using it

I like the clipboard ideas!
Jan '05 Punchaholic

RE: ScrappyMac: I like the clipboard ideas!

I just bought myself a clipboard today!