Comments on: Heat Embossing, Pt. 2

By: Becky

Becky — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:19:49 +0000

I have just started the embossing technique in my crafts and am finding great difficulty in preventing the paper from distorting and warping. How can this be avoided? Is it to do with the gsm or type of paper?

Thanks, love this tutorial,

Becky

By: heidi

heidi — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:06:40 +0000

I helped my sister emboss her invites last year and we had a lot of fun doing it. My advice is to make it a party! Two or three people working together can make this go very quickly. One person stamps, the next sprinkles the embossing powder and the last melts. We didn’t buy a heat gun because we were pinching our pennies. Instead, we used the back of a cookie sheet on top of her electric stove. With the heat on low to medium-low we heated up the upside down pan (make sure it’s super clean!). You put the invite on the pan and use a set of tweezers or tongs to hold down the paper against the hot metal, moving around the invite as some parts seemed to melt faster than others. It was super easy and fast and we liked not having to buy another piece of equipment. By the way, we were embossing invites that had already been printed and there were no problems with the print or ink.

By: DIY Bride

DIY Bride — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:38:13 +0000

Hi Melinda,

The dryer sheet is wiped over the surface of the cardstock before you add the ink and embossing powder. The dryer sheet (or embossing buddy) prevents static cling on the paper. If you wipe before you add embossing powder it’ll help keep stray embossing powder from sticking in places you don’t want it to. I hope that helps!

By: Melinda

Melinda — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:28:11 +0000

Hi, I’m a late comer but I’m confused as to what you are using the dyer sheet for. I’ve done embossing in the past, and love the technique. But I’ve never used a dryer sheet or embossing buddy. Are you sprinkling the embossing powder, shaking off excess, embossing and then wiping off excess with the sheet. OR, are you using the dryer sheet before the embossing step? Please clarify, thank you! Great site, I’m grateful to have found it. I haven’ t ever tried the flocking but am excited to try it!

By: diybride

diybride — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:03:06 +0000

Hi Yvonne!

>>I‚Äôm not sure if it‚Äôs the brands of powders I‚Äôve tried or I‚Äôm using a lesser quality ink that dries too quickly (all craft store variety).<<

Using a good craft ink helps keep the powders in place but won’t prevent them from sticking elsewhere. (I recommend Stampin’ Up!’s craft inks and VersaMark clear as my go-to inks.) It shouldn’t matter if the ink is clear or pigmented.

I’m guessing the problem is that the paper is still static-y before you put the powder down. Or oils from your skin (totally normal) are getting on the paper and attracting the powder.

An alternative to a dryer sheet is a product called an “embossing buddy” or anti-static pouch. It’s basically a little bag full of cornstarch that you rub over the cardstock. Some people have better luck with that when dryer sheets just don’t work. (I know someone who puts cornstarch in an old pair of nylons to make her own embossing buddy – she loves it.)

Another thing that may help is to let your embossing tool heat up quite a bit before embossing your paper. A higher temp will mean less time the air is blowing around the powder particle.s

My last suggestion is to have a teeny tiny paint brush on hand to sweep away any excess powders before you emboss.

I hope that helps!

By: Yvonne

Yvonne — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:30:55 +0000

Hi there. I’m just getting into heat embossing, but I’m having problems selecting the right products. My problem is having powder particles that remain outside the embossed design, even if I use a dryer sheet. If I try to dust them off, the entire design disappears. I’m not sure if it’s the brands of powders I’ve tried or I’m using a lesser quality ink that dries too quickly (all craft store variety). I’m stamping cardstock, vellum, and “metallic” papers.

What brands would you recommend? I want the embossing to be clearly defined and raised – both solid and fine-line designs. I’m using colored powders and clear ink; should I switch to colored inks and clear powder to try to avoid the specks left behind?

Thanks for any advice!
Yvonne

By: Sharon

Sharon — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:24:44 +0000

I always have an oily spot on the back of the embossed area of my project. What am I doing wrong? any solutions?

By: Andi

Andi — Fri, 02 May 2008 02:10:16 +0000

Thanks for getting back to me!

By: diybride

diybride — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:54:13 +0000

Hi Andi, you can use either. Unused ones work best but I like used ones because most of the scent is gone.

By: Andi

Andi — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:44:24 +0000

Hello. I get confused easily so I need a clarification, should I use a used dryer sheet or a new dryer sheet fresh out of the box??