Want to try embossing

I'm really interested in trying embossing. I've already got a good selection of clear stamps. Can anyone recommend the following (I'll be getting them in either M's or ACM).

1. Embossing tool..what brand would be good.
2. Clear ink pad..which brand..and does it need to be clear..just want to get the right thing.
3. Powders...here's where I need the most info on..do they come in sets? Do they come in different textures (plain, glittery..other?). Any advice on brands and what would be good to use would be so helpful. Thanks!!

I got a heat gun from Michaels with my coupon. Marvy I think.

I love my versamark pad.

I usually buy individual embossing powders. I prefer detail powders.

Welcome to heat embossing! The Versa Mark Pad is the most important. I use a hair dryer for all my embossing. I have been using that long before they even come out with the heat guns. I like the finer powders that completely melt when heat is applied and they are glossy. There are some that have glitter and some that melt like they have sand in them for texture. I don't use those as much. I also buy the embossing templates where you use the embossing tools to either raise or upside down you deboss the design and make it lower. Either way you can do them either using the wet or dry techniques. You just have to test the paper you are working on to make sure the wet method does not change the color of your paper and leave a water mark. Using the Versa Mark Pad that is clear you can also use your stamps and leave what they call a water mark on the paper to create your own back ground papers without adding much texture and changing color of a favorite paper. Enjoy and practice on scraps. I save them and even the scraps end up on my pages most of the time. One hint on the wet or dry embossing is to use very little pressure and do it over and over till you get the depth you want. Too quickly or with the wrong end of the stylus will rip the paper.

I got my heat gun at HL, so can't help you there, but, I prefer the detail powders because they give a crisp image. However if your wanting a gritty image go with the distressed powders (ranger) or if your wanting really thick go with the enamal powder Melt art ultra . You can use what ever color of ink you want as long as it is not a quick drying ink. For clear I'd go with versamark. For the distress powders, light colored and clear powder the ink will show through. When getting white powder, make sure it says white, the clear ones look the same.

• KITswpa Said:

What?!

What kind of hair dryer do you have?!
I tried this, and it just blew the powder all over, and didn't get hot enough to melt the powder.
I would NOT recommend a hair dryer.
You can get a heat gun from the hardware store. But be careful, because some get VERY hot!

You don't necessarily have to have a Versa Mark pad. Any embossing ink will work. I believe the difference in embossing and regular ink is that the embossing stays wet longer, to allow you to add the powder.

Great advice! As far as the finer powders that give a glossy finish..which ones would those be..the Ranger Super Fine? And does the embossing enamel also give a glossy finish?

my heat gun is Marvy..got it with coupon online somewhere....had it for years...still working.

you will need what is called an embossing ink pad...it stays wetter longer so that glitter/emobssing powder will stick

as for glitters and embossing powder...there are so many brands and so many colors and types, they can be purchased in sets or singles...I like singles so I can just buy colors as I need them

Good luck..it is tons of fun!!! hth

• Bxr-Linda Said:

holy smokes...a blow dryer....I can't imagine that working...I wouldn't trust the heat guns from the hardware store either...they get super hot!!!

• LPinto Said:

Thanks for ask, yesterday I was about to buy the embossing tool because I want to try the embossing too but I had doubts about the brand that M's sells!!!

I've got a hairdryer in the shape of a heat tool and I can set it in different heats BUT it still doesnt work! I have tried this when they came out with the embossing ink n powders, it just blew everything over the table. Whats the trick for it?

• TheCharmedOne Said:

I've never heard of any successfully using a hairdryer to heat emboss.

I guess you could try heating from the bottom, so it doesn't blow the powder around, but I think it still wouldn't get hot enough.

There are other posts here where plenty of people say they've tried a hairdryer and it does NOT WORK.

I've heard of people using a toaster, a lightbulb, an electric stove, but never a hairdryer.

I'm sure there are a zillion tutorials available on the web, but this -- http://www.kiyomikrafts.com/kiyomi/2008/08/just-like-magic.html -- is the one I watched when I first started embossing. She gives good information. Hope this helps!

• Library Mommy Said:

Great tutorial. I think I now know what I need to get. Thanks for all the advice.

I'm so glad this question was asked. I've been wanting to try embossing too. Love how it looks. Now I know exactly what to get.

I just added a new post to my blog about embossing....check it out, it might help you
http://scrapbookjourney.blogspot.com/2009/03/embossing-powdernot-just-for-stamps.html

Any pigment ink will work for embossing. You can use colored ink and clear powder, or clear ink (I love Versamark!) and colored powder. Clear ink with clear powder is really nice too if you want a more subtle look. I also couldn't get a hair dryer to work, and I have the cheapy Walmart embossing gun and it works great.

Just went to J's today..picked up a heat gun (got 40% off with the coupon), Versamark inkpad, and a pack of embossing powder. Boy, was I upset though that they hardly had any embossing powders at all...as if they were cleaned out of everything. Will check out what M's has this week. Cannot wait to get started and try it out.

If you are ever interested in dry embossing, check out my gallery - several pages back. I use to teach it and loved it. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Hi!! Would love to hear about how to dry emboss

Dry embossing is very easy now a days with all the stencils you can get for the Cuttlebug. Only downside of that is, you cant put the big papers thru the machine..and with seperate stencils you can directly emboss on the backing papers, regardless the size.

Definately recommend versamark brand for either watermark ink or embossing. As far as the powders go, I have seen some sets, but generally you buy them by the tube. there is a great variety of flat colors as well as sprakly or grainy colors.

Before embossing your LO though, do a sample, as the color of the powder is occasionally quite different than the finished product.

You'd probably be better off with a traditional embossing heat gun, meant for scrapbooking, it's the right temp, and the right force of air.

Another thing, be careful NOT to buy ultra thick embossing powder unless you're ready to try dimensional designs, it's great for impressions and a cool tool, but it won't work for traditional embossing