Ho-ho-ho….and I think that today I am going to address and hopefully shed some LIGHT to you all about the heat embossing tip from Monday’s Post! Again, I adored all of your comments and we do have a winner….I just love being Santa……drum roll….drum roll…. it is Jennifer Newell….woot-woot….go Jennifer, go Jennifer and do that dance!!! I think I have a correct address for you but just in case, please email me and let me know!!!!
I encourage you to read the comments because there are some great ideas and also some common questions that were asked over and over again! One thing that is apparent is, there are many that just adore heat embossing. To me, my heat embossing is an instant smile maker each and every time because it is rewarding and people are always amazed at the result!
For today, leave a comment and today’s winner will receive a container of the GOLD & COPPER Embossing Powders!
Here is the “low down” in the best that I can give it to you in words! I agree – I need to do a video to show you but that is just going to have to wait until after the holidays! I think that these points will help you. Please chime in with your comments….this is how we learn!
(these are in random order….everything is rather random with the holidays!!!!!) 🙄
Here are 2 pictures that I hope will help!
- I always use a coffee filter to add the embossing powder over the stamped image. They are sooooooo easy to bend to put the powder back into your container. 🙂
- I also take a swifter cloth to wipe off my area “just in case” some leftovers were there….this powder is very fine and these cloths are perfect for cleaning your area – just keep it in a baggie! 🙂
- Always use the Stampin’ Buddy on your paper before you stamp. I know that if you are stampin’ with one of our inks it is hard to remember to do this but try to as it does make a difference! After I heat emboss I take a clean swifter cloth over top of it and wipe off any residue that might be there from the Stampin’ Buddy! 🙂
- Go to the dollar store and purchase a super inexpensive paint brush – I find having a ling thin one is great to “flick off” and strays that are hanging out! 🙂
- When I clear heat emboss….I DO NOT USE VERSAMARK….(trust me, I was silly Susan and ruined a versamark pad)….after you stamp it with the color (say Real Red) then add the CLEAR EMBOSSING POWDER OVER TOP! 🙂 There is enough moisture from the ink that the embossing powder will hold~ just be prepared to have all of the products ready to rumble! 🙂
- I do have a VERSAMRK Pen and I have tried to use it but I will say that I do not have the best of luck with it….(maybe it’s me) 😕
- In the comments, some asked about getting a clear impression ~ this is one that you are just going to have to play with. I hope that this makes sense but we all know that there are times that some stamps require double stamping to get that perfect stamp (maybe it is just me being type A) but trust me, I get it. IF you need to double stamp, I would make sure that you are using a stamp-a-ma-jig or if you have a MISTI…you are good to go! 🙂
- I would make sure that your ink pads are well inked…..again, you will need to play with this because sometimes I OVER INK mine and then that’s a mess…..(if you do this just take a piece of card stock and it will soak in) 🙂
- If you are using the White, Gold, Silver or Copper Embossing Powder than YOU NEED TO STAMP WITH VERSA MARK and then put the powder over top and then heat set it. 🙂
- Make sure that your Heat Tool is GOOD AND HOT BEFORE you bring your stamped image to be set. I have found this to be a GAME CHANGER! 🙂
WHEW…..I hope that this SHED some light! It is really hard to put into words and I appreciate you hanging in there with me! Please leave a comment and hopefully you will be the WINNER-WINNER and be able to do that dance!!!!
I have so many other fun blog tips and tricks that I want to share and trust me, my head is swimming with ideas – it is just the TIME thing right now with the holidays!!!! I think you all “get it” – I thank you for popping in and having some “me time” for yourself!!!!
Stampin’ hugs….enjoy the day!
Thanks for compiling everybody’s tips into a list. Off to the stamp table to make some New Years cards with (you guessed it!) EMBOSSING. Then to the store to get a Swifter cloth 😉
Hey Susan ! I am so glad that you have not been too happy with the Versa Mark pen either. I had visions of hand written embossed sentiments or personalized cards using it . Just not a winner !
Thank you for the written out tips on embossing . It is always good to refresh ! I have not embossed in a while . Plan to get back because it is so special. That is what got me into stamping . Saw a demo at a Christmas craft show . Loved it !! BTW….I already have the Gold and Copper powders .
Missed you yesterday !
I do not use the versamark pen to write with…I too found it lacking in that area, but I use it to “fill” in an area that I missed on the first stamping. (when I was too lazy to use the Misti for a single stamping). It has saved me many times. Be sure to get enough product down though with the pen. My greatest complaint (other than I can’t calligraphy with them) is that the little devils dry out pretty quickly no matter what I store them in.
Great tips. Thanks for sharing. It’s nice to hear what works and doesn’t work for people. I’m gonna give the coffee filter tip a try. The embossing powder seems to get everywhere when I use a folded piece of copy paper. I’ve been on the fence about trying a versamark pen. Sometimes it would come in handy if your stamped image didn’t stamp clearly.
Thanks so much for the tips. Having the heat gun hot is a good one. It keeps you from over embossing which can burn and curl your paper. You are always a joy to read Susan. Thanks for all the tips!
Great list! Thank you for your creativity and honest evaluations. So helps even a seasoned stamper!!
Thank You for all those reminders for using embossing powders, Susan! Most things about stamping I learned on my own….I call them trials and errors. Lol It’s always nice to know what works for others so we can give them a try too! When I first started using the aqua painter and blender pens, I was so nervous, but the more I used them the more comfortable I became and now they are just second nature. That old saying Practice makes perfect is so true. The very first time I used the blender pen I was painting that old truck from “Countryside” stamp set. At first, I Did Not like the way it was turning out so I set it down and walked away. A couple hours later I decided to pick it back up and work some more, and I felt so much better about what was happening and how things were coming together. In the end, it looked pretty good and I received 32 comments on Splitcoaststampers!
The tips you listed are great tips and have found them to be very helpful. I do use a plastic container to store my powders that I use a lot and a small plastic spoon (like the ones use for tasting ice cream) to sprinkle the powder on my image. TFS
I’m so glad you mentioned the thin paint brush! I think it’s as important as the embossing buddy. I used to try & flick excess powder off with my finger or a pencil eraser (whatever was within reach) but would always take off too much ? And with my OCD it would drive my crazy ? if it got embossed & I was unable to remove it! Love the idea of clear powder on a stamped color image. TFS
First of all, congrats to Jennifer! This has been a fun posting session with all the comments and tips. Love the learning curve and not having to CASE a card at the last minute because I knew someone who would love the card. I had the same idea as Sonny with heat embossing a signature. That sure didn’t work – maybe short names or words work but not mine. I didn’t have much luck with trying to repair an image either. I tried a Happy Birthday that was a pretty font and the curly H didn’t emboss all the way. I heated that area and you could see the cute little curly part but it was like it smudged off then. I think I will try that again and see if it is the operator’s fault, maybe not enough Versa Mark pad or even the stamp.
A demo on a blog site says to heat it from behind but I didn’t have good luck with that – I have now learned a new way distressing! It had a nice brownish glow around the word. At least I didn’t have to make treats for the fire dept! I don’t think that tip works for me. And then what about warpage?
Very Helpful, Thank You!
*Heart* all of the tips/suggestions. I’ve been using a cheapy paper plate for crying out loud and I’m going to try the coffee filter and swiffer cloth ideas for sure!
An FYI I clear heat embossed gold ink, thinking it would give it an extra lift, in the end decided it wasn’t worth the effort. Instead I just left the gold stamping as is. But I must admit, heat embossing colored inks gives it a wow factor. Thanks for all your embossing tips.
Congrats to Jennifer! I love all this blog banter…..so many tips and tricks. Thank you, Susan, for the great instructional pics and your awesome site!
What a nice “review” for heat embossing!! I have also learned by “trial & error” but have finally come up with success!! I think I will do the coffee filter trick…….I think it will be a lot tidier then a folded paper or paper plate. Have a great Holiday Season & we are all in the “time crunch zone”…….but, will soon be calling it DONE!
Thanks for all the great tips, Susan!
Working on my “last card” for this year. Finally! Using heat embossing. Thanks for the tips; I always forget to use the embossing buddy but now will just leave it on my desk with the fluffy make-up brush I use for stray powder.
Great suggestions and ideas! Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas season Susan!
Love these tips from you and others. I love using heat embossing on cards. I never seem to think of it for tags. I have a Versamark pen, but like others have said, I don’t have much luck trying to correct a boo-boo. As several have said, I think practice is the best solution to perfect heat embossing.
Those are great tips, Susan. I need to heat emboss more often. I love the look of it. It was one of the things that first attracted me to stamping! I was at a craft show and a lady was demonstrating and I was hooked!
Susan, I use my colored ink pads with clear embossing powder; works every time. Great tips.
thanks for all the tips! here is one. you talked about ruining a versa mark pad. you can clean these up and reink them. just fold some paper towels and press into the pad. keep refolding and pressing until the pad is clean as you can get it and then reink.
Love all the embossing tips. Nice sharing for the holidays. Thanks for blogging every day, even in this busy season.
Loving all the tips! Thanks for s-p-e-l-l-i-n-g it out for us…there is something here for everyone! I LOVE embossing and the cloth is one I don’t have…gotta try that! You da bomb, Susan!
I highly suspect that I do not even own any clear powder. You are right on about the get the heat tool hot first. I suspect that might be part of my problem that my old tool is getting too old to go on. I can’t bear to think about it even though I emboss so rarely.
Great tips! I always do my sprinkling in/over a large square Tupperware, then it’s easy to pour back in the jar!
The copper powder is just stunning! Thanks for keeping up with us during the busy season, and for this clarification for clear powder.
You are just th best with these tips you are sharing!!! I will have to try the color ink and clear embossing powder. I confess that an embossing buddy is something that I keep forgetting to order. I have just been using a “dryer sheet” to hopefully get the static off before stamp/embossing. I also have a question about the chamois – is it wet when you clean off your stamps or dry? A lot of times when I am just stamping for myself (versus when I have a class) I tend to use (kitchen) disinfecting wipes (Lysol/Clorox) to clean my stamps. Is this harmful for the stamps? Thanks for all you help and advice.
I too have a block using the embossing buddy — I usually remember after the fact! I have used the VersaMark pen and love it — you have to really pay attention on how you use it. Sometimes you have to go over the area with the tip several times so that you get good coverage. I love using it on special words or just dots. It’s great when you want to just outline a stamp instead of the entire stamp.
I appreciate the helpful tips on heat embossing. Thank you for sharing!
I love heat embossing, gives everything a rich look, Never emboss without using your embossong buddy. learned thatthe hard way. LOL
I keep my embossing buddy with my embossing powders so I don’t forget to use it. I bought a small paintbrush but I don’t think it was small enough and I wiped away too much. ?
I really LOVE your embossing tips, but what I would absolutely LOVE more would be to win some copper embossing powder!!! You are a wonderful Santa with the best presents ever in your sleigh!!!
Thanks for the tip on clear embossing powder. I need to play around with it. Thanks for all the great info Susan.
Merry Christmas
Love the richness embossing adds to images/words. Have a blessed Christmas, Silly Susan!
Susan, I just love reading your posts! You are always cheerful and share great tips. P.S. Love the updates on the Peeps and the pets 🙂
Well I just received a present from a friend who decided to get rid of her rubber stamps. She sent me some that she thought I would like and put the rest in a garage sale earlier this fall. What a fun idea. She also enclosed a Basic Black SU stamp pad that has never been open and a VersaColor red ink pad. Oh boy, now I gotta go try embossing something with it! Has anyone ever used the VersaColor pads?
Thank you for compiling all the tips on embossing…the Type A Person in me loves the bullet points. 🙂 Two tools have made embossing a game-changer for me: the embossing buddy and the paintbrush. I keep the embossing buddy in a baggies stored on top of my powders so that I don’t forget to use it. See you in a few more hours for tomorrow’s post! Can’t wait. 🙂
great info! I don’t have either of those colors-hope I will soon! 🙂
Great tips! TFS!
Merry Christmas, Susan. Enjoy your time with family.
Merry Christmas ! Have a wonderful holiday with your family !!
I keep my embossing buddy on top of my versamark. Then there is no way that I can forget to use it. Thanks for all the tips and have a merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Susan and to all my cyber friends!