Stamp embossing trouble? help!

Hi there,
I am learning to emboss for my wedding invites and save the dates. SInce silver is one of my colors I bought a fine detail silver powder and clear embossing ink and a heating tool. I also had my custom logo made and it has fine detail. Everything works fine until the final product. My problem is when I emboss it I get holes in my image. There is nothing wrong with the stamp but the image just gets holes or indents. I don't know if this is how it is supposed to be or if I am doing something wrong. I don't know if I would be better off using a colored ink and a clear powder or if it has nothing to do with that.

You may not be getting enough ink on your stamp to begin with. Whatever brand of embossing ink you're using, see if you can get a re-inker for it and put more ink on the pad. If you can't get a re-inker for it, I would switch to VersaMark - that brand does sell re-inkers. Check the stamp before you ink on your paper also to make sure the entire stamp is covered. Also, if you don't have one already, you should use an embossing pouch. It will stock the embossing powder from sticking to the paper where its not suppose to because of either fingerprint oils or static. Rub the area you want to stamp all over with the embossing pouch and then stamp. Most stores that carry stamping supplies will have some sort of embossing pouch. If you can't find one, you can make one out of an old pair of pantyhose or knee highs and some cornstarch. Put some cornstarch in the pantyhose a twist it off fairly tight and tie a string around it to keep it closed. The little holes in the pantyhose material will let out just the right amount of powder. You could also use baby powder, but then you invitations will smell like baby powder. Once the embossing has cooled off, I take a clean face cloth and wipe away the powder.

Another tip I have is that you practice until you're pretty confident you can get it right almost every time. I made my own wedding invitations as well and had to buy more cardstock because I kept messing up the embossing.

Hi Cat woman -
Thanks for the tips. I am using a clear glue ink maybe that is what is making it not uniform because I made sure the entire stamp was covered but I noticed it wasn't covering evenly. I will try to find the versamark it seems like everyone likes that brand. and also I will look for an embossing pouch.
Last night when I went to practice some more, my tool broke! So I have to go return it to michaels and get a different one...ugh hope I can get this right.

• wmhs02dm Said:

If you're using a glue pad, that could be a problem as well. Glue usually doesn't react well to heat. I would go with an embossing ink like versamark. Another thing I just thought of, is to condition the surface of your stamp. Take a white or soft pink eraser and go over the surface of your stamp. It will slightly roughen up the surface so it has a little more tooth for the ink to hold onto.

I agree. Don't use glue. I've never even heard of glue ink.

You want to be sure you have plenty of powder on your image. I usually dump it all over the image, then tap off the excess.

Your tool broke? You are talking about a heat gun, right?

If you've never done heat embossing before, this video may be helpful:
http://www.scrapbook.com/videos/147.html

Maybe it's not glue its just a clear embossing ink I got at Joanns. But I will try colored ink. Yes my heat gun broke I only used it on one or two images...I will exchange it today...

I was thinking about trying stamp n foil technique I saw here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhu_Bz-C5y4

that is the smooth shiny look I am aiming for. I noticed the embossing silver just doesn't look smooth.... I feel like this might just be the way it looks... What do you guys think?
It will cost me another 20 bucks or so but I think I will like it.

I was having the same problem until a friend told me to try heating the image from behind. Apparently the embossing powder can bubble if it overheats. The idea is to hold the card a couple of inches away from the heat tool, and move it in small circular motions, bringing it slightly closer if necessary. Once you see the powder start to get shiny, move onto the next bit to avoid it overheating. There are demonstrations on YouTube.

I know what you mean about the clear ink/glue - I have both the perfect medium from Ranger and the clear ink from versamark, and they are quite sticky. I have a couple of brands of embossing powders, my favourite is my American Crafts. But if the image you are using is very fine, perhaps make sure that the powder is not too coarse for it. Ranger do an ultrafine embossing powder.

You can always practice on some scrap card until you feel more confident. Good luck!

The foiling technique you showed is beautiful. I've tried to do it with SU! heat n stick (or whatever its called), but I can never seem to get full coverage. There's always little spots missing. As Christine19850 suggested, perhaps an ultrafine detail embossing powder would be more appropriate. I know from my own experience, detail embossing powders seem to melt more uniformly and give a smoother finish.

I've only just started playing with heat embossing, but I was having HORRIBLE results with the powder I bought at Ms. I picked up some Ranger Ink powder elsewhere and it's been just fine. Probably just me and my lack of technique, but I'm sticking to Ranger from now on.

She said in the first post that she's already using a fine detail embossing powder.

What about your stamping surface? I find stamping with a piece of foam under my paper helps.

Hi everyone -- I just want to thank you all. I think the problem was the "embossing glue pad" and silver powder.

I bought a silver pigment ink and clear powder and found my results were much more smooth. I am so happy with the way everything is turning out. Thanks so much!

so glad to hear that everything worked out for you. Best wishes for a wonderful wedding.

I bought some flock but I haven't tried using it yet. Do you have to use the glue pad for that or how do you get it to stay on?

Yes, you will have to use glue for the flocking.