Heat Embossing 101 and Faux Metal Techniques
Supplies:
Embossing powders
Embossing Heat Tool (NOT a hairdryer)
Versa mark ink pad
White or colored cardstock
Rubber Stamps, or Acrylic Stamps and Stamping block
Optional-Embossing powder catch tray
First select a piece of cardstock. If you are using a colored embossing powder, white usually is the best option. If you are using white, black or clear embossing powder, colored cardstock will work just as well as white. Ink up your stamp with versa mark ink, and then stamp it onto your cardstock. Tap off excess powder into powder catch tray, or over a piece of paper. Using your heat tool, heat your image until shiny and completely melted. You may find it helpful to use tweezers to hold your paper while you heat it as your heat tool blows VERY hot air. Also, do not attempt to do this technique with a hairdryer as it will not get hot enough to melt the embossing powder. You now have an embossed image! You can color it in using markers, twinkling H2o’s, or any other medium. Try embossing on patterned paper and cutting out the embossed image! The more you use heat embossing, the more versatile you will become using the technique!
Now that you know the basics of Embossing try this amazing technique for creating faux metal!
Faux Metal Technique
Metal embellishments are all the rage in the world of mixed media art these days. This is a simple technique to create faux metal inchies, artist trading cards or embellishments for your mixed media projects as well as for scrap bookers. With so many different ways to utilize this technique in your artwork, I am certain it will become one of your favorites as it has become one of mine.
Supplies:
Heavy weight cardstock or light weight chipboard
Versa mark ink pad
Metallic embossing powder (I used gold)
Embossing Heat tool
Rubber Stamp or Acrylic Stamp with Stamping Block
Optional-Embossing powder catch tray
Take a scrap piece of cardstock paper large enough for your stamp. Ink the entire piece up with versa mark ink, and then sprinkle embossing powder over piece. Tap off excess powder into powder catch tray, or over a piece of paper and heat until shiny and completely melted. Repeat with a second entire layer of versa mark ink and powder, and then melt a second time. Now take the versa mark ink and ink your piece up a third time. Next ink up your stamp with versa mark ink. Add a third layer of embossing powder to your piece and heat through to the melting point. Immediately stamp your stamp into the hot melted embossing powder. Leave stamp in for 2-3 seconds then gently remove. You now have a finished embellishment or inchie! This will work great with silver, gold, and copper powders, for faux metal and also looks great with regular embossing powders. You can use punches to punch out a section of your faux metal, or use it as a whole piece. This works great for inchies, and you can also use a crop-o-dile to punch holes to thread ribbon through for a metal tag type of embellishment for card making or scrap booking.
