Black Embossing Powder

[Julie/MO]

What is the best embossing powder in your opinion?
I have Stampin Up. Yesterday I tried to emboss using Versafine and Black on watercolor paper and could not seem to get a good result. Even with the embossing buddy I had flecks of black everywhere. I was trying to use watercolor pencils with the blender pen and I was even getting black smears. The effect was just not as clean as the image in my head thought it would be.

[fionna51]

I would try using the watercolor pencils with a water brush rather than the blender pen. The blender pen is a solvent for the ink and so softens the ink so it bleeds back into what you're coloring. Watercolor is a water soluble pigment meant to be used with water. Blender pens have glycerin and alcohol...two different solvents. There's not many inks that resist that combination.

As for the Versafine...personally, I haven't used it. But it is billed as "instant drying". In order to get good embossing, in my experience, you need something that stays wet longer. I would try using Versamark instead.

[Julie/MO]

Oops--meant Versamark instead of Versafine.

[Pat in Ohio]

Also, stamp in your black ink and use clear embossing powder. No errant flecks of black on your card stock. I use Versafine Onyx Black all the time.

[Julie/MO]

Thank you both for responding. I will try those suggestions.

[UnderstandBlue]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat in Ohio

Also, stamp in your black ink and use clear embossing powder. No errant flecks of black on your card stock. I use Versafine Onyx Black all the time.

Ditto!

[shazsilverwolf]

It could possibly be the watercolour paper causing the problem here. As its supposed to hold water, it may have soaked up the ink too fast for there to be enough of it left wet for the embossing powder to stick to properly? Versafine will heat emboss on some types of card, especially the 'coated' ones, btw. Generally, most of my embossing powders are the Stampendous ones.

[ailhelen]

I've never been a big fan of black embossing powder. I prefer to use black ink and clear emboss, it saves sooooo much time and frustration.

[Illinois Marge]

Are you sure the powder was fully melted? Was the smear a "powdery" smear? I know from my experience that I prefer SU embossing powder. Others seem to be finicky and turn out flat, whereas I always get a nice gloss with SU's. I use black and detail black EP a lot. Be sure to "flick" and use a fine paintbrush to get rid of strays.

[wavejumper]

I have had the same problem and never found a good black powder so now I do the same thing-black ink, clear powder.

I dont know what it is about black powder. I dont seem to have the same problem with other dark powders. Is anyone else?

[Copperkids]

Are you rubbing the "ek tools powder tool". Before embossing. It helps prevent the errant black specks.

[dawnmercedes]

I use black ink and clear Embossing powder too!

[deb_loves_stamping]

I love using black ink and clear embossing powder ... results look the same but it is not annoying!