Favorite Technique

My favorite card making technique happens to be the one used in the Stampin’ Up! Only Challenge right now–heat embossing. It was a technique used at the very first Stampin’ Up! class with my now team leader I ever attended. I was hooked immediately. And, it is still my very favorite technique.

Photos just don’t do it justice. Videos are better, but even they can’t capture the magic that happens when you see it in person. You start with a stamped image–often with clear Versamark. Then, you add embossing powder of your choice and your stamped image now has the addition of color, but it is still dull and flat.

Then, the magic happens. Add the heat tool and watch as it transforms right before your eyes. Watch the embossing powder melt and become a shiny embossed outline of your stamped image. It’s magical.

It’s going to take the invention of something spectacular to bump heat embossing out of it’s spot as my favorite technique.

Green card with patterned paper layer of bright, multicolored stars. There is a green strip of paper across middle of card with sentiment "You make me HaPEA" heat embossed in black. White circle die with slash marks embossed around outside of circle is on the right edge of the sentiment strip. Circle is stamped with a pea pod showing four peas with cartoon faces. Pea pod is heat embossed with black embossing powder and colored with green marker.

Card Details

Want to add the touch of something special to your cards? Try heat embossing. Does that sound scary and anxiety producing to you? I want to turn your crafting stress into success. Here are some tips I’ve learned throughout the years.

Tips and Tricks

Rub an embossing buddy (powder bag) over your cardstock before you stamp to decrease static electricity.
Once you’ve poured your embossing powder on your stamped image, hold it upside down and flick on the back to help any embossing powder not stuck to your ink to fall off.
Use a small paintbrush to brush off any embossing powder left on the card where you don’t want it to be
Put the lid back on your ink before running the heat tool.
Don’t point the heat tool at the pile of unused embossing powder. Maybe put it back in the jar before using the heat tool.
When using the heat tool, don’t point it at your fingers.
Use tweezers or something to hold the cardstock to keep your fingers away from the heat
Keep the heat tool moving back and forth across the image.
You may want to add heat to the back of your cardstock as well.

This card used the black embossing powder to emboss both the sentiment and the outline of the peas in the pod. Adding color to embossed images is easier since you have slightly raised lines making it easier to stay in the lines.

These peas were colored with a Granny Apple Green marker to match the card base. And, the little pea is sticking out a Berry Burst tongue.

Never tried heat embossing and ready to try it for yourself? I’m thrilled that the embossing powders are back in stock through Stampin’ Up! You can get them in sets of 3. Either Basics (black, white, & clear) OR metallics (gold, silver, copper)

Click here to see and purchase products used to create this card.