Embossing for beginners
Materials, how to get started, what to expect
Have you ever seen those Instagram or Youtube videos of powder magically changing color after being heated? Don’t know what I mean? See below.
Well, that’s something is called embossing. I stumbled upon it years ago back in high school, as I was starting to get into making cards that were more than just copy paper folded in half. I figured that embossing would take my cards to the next level —as it reminded me of the colorful, textured letterings you find on professional Hallmark cards. But you know what’s even better? You can emboss almost anything — glass, clay pots, acrylic, stone, and more…meaning, endless possibilities of customized gifts!
So how can you get started? Luckily, I was actually embossing something recently, and realized I would love to share my process for those who were in my position. Here’s what you’ll need to get started, along with my product recommendations. (Bear in mind, I’m in no way a professional embosser/crafter, I just make cool cards as a hobby)
Materials:
- Embossing powder
(Ranger Embossing Powder) - Embossing Ink/Pen
(Ranger Embossing pen clear + black two pack) - Heat gun
(Can’t find my one anymore, but here is a low price one ) - Cardstock/Paper/Material to emboss
(The green cardstock I use here is part of this collection) - Powder bag (optional)
(Inkadinko Powder Tool)
How to emboss (step by step)
- Optional Step: First, powder the material you will be embossing on. This removes static and prevents stray powders on your surface.
2. Now, using your embossing ink, or pen, draw out the design you want to emboss.
3. Once you’re done, pour the powder onto the design. Like glitter, pour the remaining powder back into the bottle.
4. To remove any excess material, try tapping the back of the surface or blowing at the powder to remove loose pieces.
5. Optional Step: Remove flecks of unwanted powder using a dry brush/toothpick/q-tip/blunt edge.
6. Plug in your heat gun, making sure no unwanted powder is nearby. Make sure to twist the cap on the embossing powder bottle tightly.
7. Turn on the heat gun and wait a few seconds for it to warm up before facing it towards the powdered design.
8. Watch as the powder melts! Make sure not to overheat it, as it may cause crumbling.
That’s it! Practice, practice, practice. Try to figure out how long you need to emboss your powder, the type of powders you want to get, the type of pen nib, and the materials you like!
