Let's Heat Things up a Little Bit: working with embossing powder

Embossing projects are a lot of fun - especially when a gun is involved... A heat gun that is!

One of the tools in my craft box that's always good for an impressive effect is the heat gun. It sort of looks like a small hair dryer but don't try to dry your locks with one of these suckers... unless you're ready for a new do.

Tools needed:

• Heat Gun
• VersaMark ink
• Embossing powder
• Stamp image
• Simple Card Base & Envelope
• Paper trimmer or scissors
• Adhesive
• Embellishments

Prep-work: Make sure you've got a clean workspace with no drafts or fans blowing air on it. It doesn't take much of a wind to pick up the powder.

Set down a piece of paper under your working space to catch the embossing paper when you are done with it. If you fold the paper in half ahead of time, it will make filtering the embossing powder back into it's container much easier and cleaner because the fold will help funnel it in.

Step 1: Take your stamp and ink it up real good with the VersaMark ink. Since the ink is clear it's a little harder to see if it's nice and juicy, so tap it a few more times than you think you need to.

Step 2: Carefully line up your stamp with the edges of the carstock and then firmly press the stamp down without rocking or sliding it on the paper.

Check to make sure the image came out okay. If not, there's always another side to the paper!

This one looks good to me. Now quickly...

Step 3: Dump your embossing powder over the image before the ink has a chance to dry.

No need to be too neat here. You should have set down some paper before you started (you did do that, didn't you?) which will make catching the powder easier. If you forgot that step, well... you'll know next time! So here's an example of how not to do it... just 'cause I want to make a point.

See how awkward that is? Yeah, so don't do that!

Step 4: Once you've sufficiently shaken off all extra powder, turn on the heat gun. Point it at an angle towards the paper and a few inches away.

Work from one side to the other, moving your gun in small circles to keep from scorching the paper.

You'll start to see the powder melt and get shiny-looking.

More melty-goodness...

And this is what it looks like once the entire image has been sufficiently heated and all powder melted. Pretty, isn't it?

Step 5: Once you are done with the heat gun and the paper has had a chance to cool off a little (sometimes it gets a little warm during the process) you can trim your cardstock to the size you need.

Step 6: Add any embellishments, and then adhere your layers to each other. Simple, elegant and so much fun!

If you want, you can add some finishing touches to your card.

 

 

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