TUTORIAL: Heat Embossing with Rubber Stamps

Embossing really makes your cards and projects special. Heat embossing creates a raised pattern from your rubber stamp image. It's very easy to do if you have the proper supplies.

Heat Embossing Supplies
You will need:

• rubber stamps of your choice
  
• pigment ink pad
  
• embossing powder
  
• embossing heat gun
  

The embossing heat gun I use is one made by Marvy Uchida, I've had it for about twelve years and it still works great. An embossing heat gun gets hotter than a hair dryer so you need to use caution when you use it. You also need cardstock and alcohol free baby wipes to clean your stamps with. I stamp on a piece of paper so I can funnel the embossing powder back into the jar.

Heat Embossing Steps
After gathering your supplies:

1. Place your cardstock on the piece of paper.
   
2. Ink your rubber stamp with the pigment ink.
   
3. Stamp your image.
   
4. Pour embossing owder over the stamped image.
   
5. Dump the excess powder off the cardstock onto the paper and funnel this back into the jar.
   
6. Turn the heat gun on and move it back and forth over the stamped image.
   

Using the Heat Gun
Hold the heat gun about six inches above your project. As the embossing powder melts it will rise up a bit and become shiny . Be careful not to heat it too long because the powder will melt too much and flatten out and look dull. This powder melts very fast so it doesn't take much. Once done, turn off the heat gun and place it on a heatproof surface.

Heat Embossing Tips
Here's a few things I do to make my projects look good. I try and use the same color pigment ink pad and embossing powder, I get better coverage that way. You can use what is called an embossing ink pad for any of your embossing powders. These are usually tinted pink or blue. I have one that is clear because sometimes I want to use clear powder and the tinted ink will show through.

Another way to do heat embossing is with embossing markers. I have some by Marvy Uchida called Wet Looks. These are fun because you can color the rubber side of your stamp different colors, stamp the image and use clear embossing powder and heat.It's very simple and looks so pretty.

EK Success makes Zig markers with embossing ink in different tips, such as bullet, detail, and calligraphy. I use these to write in my cards and emboss the words. I also use these to make borders, just run the marker along a plain or fancy ruler and emboss.What an easy way to fancy up your card.

Embossing is one of my favorite ways to use foam stamps. I get a nice bold image that I cut out and use on my cards or scrapbook pages. When I teach children to make cards, I pre-make several of these images so all the children have to do is adhere them to their projects. This way I don't have to worry about the hot heat gun burning someone.

Embossing Powders
There are several different kinds of embossing powders. They are all used the same way, but with different results. There are Fine Line Detail powders for detailed stamps. I also use these with my word or phrase stamps. There are powders that sparkle with glitter, powders that are scented, some that glow in the dark. Ranger has a line of Distress powders the give a distressed look to your projects. There are inks in this line also.

It is also fun to mix up your own embossing powders. I found this out when I tried to mix red and white powder to get pink. I didn't get pink -- I got white with tiny red flecks in it. I had to buy pink. Embossing powders don't mix like paint. It's fun to mix them and you can add extra fine glitter to get added sparkle.

I have found embossing powder recipes on the internet and mixed up a few of my own. Two of my favorite mixes are one I call Candy Corn, which is two parts white, one part orange, and one part yellow. My other favorite is one I call Christmas Time which is two parts white, one part red, one part green, one part gold, and one part extra fine glitter in gold. By a "part", I mean one forth of a teaspoon. I don't make much at a time. A little embossing powder goes a long way.

I hope you explore the use of embossing powders. They are so much fun and add a little dazzle to your projects.