need some info on embossing

HI, im new to scrapbooking/card making. I love the clear acrylic stamps, and I would like to try embossing, but I want to start off right. Can someone give me some detailed info on stamping for embossing specifically. Tell me about heating guns, brands, pros and cons, etc. What embossing powders are good? what inks are good? dos and donts, etc

thanks!!!

For ink, you need a pigment ink or Versamark. Basically an ink sticky enough to hold onto the powder.

You'll probably get lots of different answers on which powders are best or which gun is best. My first gun was a Darice, then I got the SU gun...the SU one heats up quicker and narrows the blast of air better. It's made by Milwaukee.

Usually the cheaper powders don't work as well, but you could buy one jar of a brand you want to try. If you have a lot of different colors of pigment ink already, you can buy a jar of clear and basically have every color!

When you start the embossing, let the gun heat up aimed away from the paper for several seconds first. Sometimes if it's not hot enough it can blow off some of the powder with the air before it actually melts it. Before you stamp, you might want to use something like an embossing buddy to help remove static from the paper so the powder won't stick where you don't want it.

Make sure you don't hold your embossing project directly over the full jar of powder when you're embossing!

A nice way to emboss is to cover a clipboard with aluminum foil, then you can clip your project under it and emboss away so you don't burn your fingers.

• GreenDragonLady Said:

I double what was said here.
something else I have noticed that fine embossing powders give better results. If you are buying embossing powder from Michael's, Joann's etc look for the fine embossing powders. I mainly use Stampin' Up! embossing powders and they are all "fine".
I have had the Marvy heat gun and works well, however I prefer the Stampin' Up! better, since as it was said it focuses the hot air better.

To emboss usually I hold the piece (if it's small piece) with tweezers . If it's larger I put it in a cookie pan covered with aluminum foil.

Have fun!

I just started embossing a few weeks ago and I love it! I bought the Darice heat gun (I was at Pat Catan's and it was the only one they carried.) I've been using Whispers powders (which I think are Rangers.) I've been told you can use regular embossing powders for most projects and that you don't really need the fine powders unless your stamped image is really detailed. (I asked at Archiver's.) So far I haven't needed the fine powder for anything I've stamped. You can use pigment ink since it's slow drying - I use "Emboss It" ink I got from Pat Catan's as well.

Other than that... have fun playing with embossing! You can use any stamp that you already have, and you don't really need tons of colors or powder. I read on here to start with white, black, silver, and gold. I also got some clear (so that the color of the paper or the ink you use shows instead.)

Embossing powders that I have had good success with are the Ranger brands, Stampendous! and American Crafts Zing! powders. Be aware on the Ranger embossing powder that the "distress" powders will not give you the same effect as regular embossing powders. I would buy regular ones at first instead of the distress powders.

You will want a "detail" or "fine" embossing powder for details to show up. If you want to emboss an object, go with UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel). It's thicker grain and covers larger spaces well.

Two of my very fav. powders is the Detail Copper and the Moonstone powders from Stampendous! brand. They are so versatile and beautiful.

Also, I have found that when you use the ScrapPerfect Printing Pouch, you get a cleaner embossed image. It makes sure the powder sticks only to the ink and not the paper you're trying to emboss.

Great question...I was wondering the same thing. You asked the right group of ladies...they are so HELPFUL and full of knowledge

thanks for the info, ill give it a whirl and if it goes badly I'll come back for some help! lol thanks!

~Kristina

I must say you ladies sure have a ton of knowledge!!!! I have not ventured into the embossing stage of card making but it surely sounds like something I would like to just try. Thanks for all the great advice and suggestions!!!!Hugs

One of the most elegant things to do with heat embossing (IMO) is clear versamark ink embossed with clear powder on dark cardstock. Especially brown. It is gorgeous, especially in a swirl pattern.

I did that here on burgundy:

http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/GreenDragonDesigns/Stamping/favorsclose.jpg

ok someone mentioned a print perfect pouch or buddy thingy? I have trouble with getting dots that I don't want on my paper when embossing... any tips on keeping the powder where it belongs and not where it doesnt? thanks!

There's a thing called an embossing buddy. It has something in it that helps remove static and dry up any bits of moisture like fingerprints. SU sells them, and I've also seen them at Michael's and I think AC Moore.

The perfect printing pouch is sold by a lady who is on the board (I don't remember her name). I don't know what's in that one.

I've read of some people making their own pouch and putting cornstarch in it.

I also use my air art tool (with no marker in it) to blow off excess powder. It works great and I don't spit on my project!

Hello-
"Here Kitty" pm'd me and said I might want to add some info...

The Perfect Printing Pouch does lots of things to improve your work -- stops smearing & bleeding when using wet inks (stamps, inkjet, markers, gel pens)--dries the ink fast (like 15 seconds when inkjet on vellum) AND is also an anti-static bag (which is what you're talking about here. If you wipe your paper first with the Perfect Printing Pouch, your image will be crisper, won't bleed when stamping on ribbon & silk flowers,you'll be able to print on many papers you couldn't before, and it will prevent the unwanted embossing powder from sticking where you don't want it. I've been asked many time if The Perfect Printing Pouch is the same as other embossing bags and the answer is the products are very different. Specifically, the Pouch is multi-functional so it does a lot more than just stop the stray embossing grains --yet it certainly does that, too. Lastly, it's lined so it's not messy on your hands or your desk!

thanks for the info- I just ordered one and can't wait to try it!

Different types of ink pads give different effects. I did some stamping w/ Verafine vs pigment ink. The Verafine is more subtle,detailed look. I tried chalks w/ it last nite ,nice way to give color to the b/ground. also did a clear embossing w/it,used Prism c/pencil on it, it covered in any areas I missed w/ the stamp.Clear pdr gives U a different lk than a color.
I only bght I jar of Ranger Distress pwdr,I don't like it. I do like Distress ink pads for stamping w/clear pwdr.

I see someone has mentioned Versamark. It's my favorite ink to use when embossing because you KNOW it's going to match the cardstock!

I emboss EVERYTHING and have a very detailed guide in the "tips" section of my profile if you want to check it out!

I use a good old fashion thin paint brush to brush the powder off from where I don't want the embossing.