Heat embossing 101

After having a conversation with someone today regarding heat embossing, I thought I would briefly set out the available options for this wonderful technique. I remember when I first started crafting and the heat tool was the first thing I bought - wish I'd known these options all those years ago.

1. Versamark with clear embossing powder on a colored cardstock - means you will see through the glossy embossing to the colored cardstock. Gives a nice crisp and raised stamped image.

2. Versamark and colored embossing powder. You can use any color of cardstock and the colored embossed image will clearly show. Gives a nice crisp and raised stamped image.

3. Colored versamark and clear embossing powder. The image will be the color of the versamark. Gives a nice crisp and raised stamped image.

4. Colored versamark and colored embossing powder. Whatever type of versamark you use (clear or colored) the colored embossing power will be what determines the color of the finished embossed image. Gives a nice crisp and raised image.

5. Craft ink is basically a versamark with color. See above applications.

6. Versamark and ink with clear embossing powder. Apply versamark to image, then stamp the versamark inked image into the color of ink of your choice and stamp onto cardstock. Then emboss with clear embossing powder. The stamped image will be the color of the ink you used. Gives a sharp stamped image but not quite as raised as the versamark is under a layer of ink. The stamp must be cleaned inbetween each stamping unless you will put colored ink into your versamark.

7. Any ink will work for the heat embossing technique, it does not have to be versamark/craft but you must apply the embossing powder instantly as the ink dries quicker than versamark or craft ink. If stamping on a non-porous surface you have more time as the ink will not try as quickly. The new SU stamp pads are much wetter and will work for this technique better than the previous stamp pads.

Phew, I think that covers the major aspects of heat embossing.

If you arent sure about something - just try it. You might discover a new way of doing things :-)

October crafting group

My craft groups got together this week and I think this card has to be amongst the best ever received, everyone really enjoyed making it. The card itself if quite unique in its folding, for more info about how to do it, go to the demo by talented SU demonstrator KellyJean Gettelfinger in the following video :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhMJl_Mh8FY&feature=plcp

But what was also nice was the gingerbread men from the Scentsational Season stamp set embossed in sugar and spice embossing powder, they were almost good enough to eat. The detail on the gingerbread men is picked out by using a white gel pen.

SU ingredients :
Stampset : Scentsational Season, sentiment
Cardstock : Whisper white, crumb cake, soft suede and various dsp. Everybody had a different dsp :)
Accessories : Scented embossing powder, gel pen, Holiday collection framelits dies

The second card was a more traditional Christmas card, using the kissing technique. Maybe I should have included a little bit of mistletoe on there ! lol The deer from the stamp set Christmas Deer is a perfect type of solid image to use for this technique.

SU ingredients :
Stampset : Christmas Deer, En Francais background stamp, Priority Mail (Hostess set)
Cardstock : Gumball green, crumb cake, naturals white, Festival of Prints dsp
Accessories : Bakers twine, Labels collection framelits

Kids Birthdays

Today was a friends sons Bday, he is 5 - what a lovely and special age.  

Casing a card from SU catalogue

There is an adorable card in the Stampin' Up! catalogue. For a friends wedding recently I cased the card. Love the shiny hearts.

Thanks

A friend recently gave us a delicious box of Honey Crisp Apples fresh from her tree - yummy. They are our absolute favorite. I made a very appropriate apple thank you card.

The apple is made from punching multiple hearts, folding them in half, gluing them together and sponging. I snip off the bottom of the heart to give it that apple shape. Its better to use thinner paper for the apple unless it gets too bulky. Love 3d cards :-)