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I got a rubber stamp, stamped it on a cardstock using clear Versamark, covered it with the embossing powder, shook off the excess, and used the heater gun to emboss. Some parts of the image embossed well, whereas others seem to be, well, just flat. The color of the embossing powder is there, but it looks more like I painted or used a marker rather than embossed. Is it because I over-embossed or is it because I didn't put enough powder?
Also, I think my cardstock is now very slightly wavy (or actually was during the process). Is this normal? Can more delicate paper (for ex, normal copy paper) handle heat embossing ?
From your description (which is pretty darn good BTW), I can't tell if you over or under heated. When I'm "torching" my image, I tip the image or my head to watch for the moment when the powder being heated turns shiney. That's the moment you want to move the heat onto another area (you should be making small gentle circle with the heat tool all the time -- or at least that's how I was taught-- but you're concentrating on one area at a time.) If you keep the heat on the "shiney" too long, it will absorb into the cardstock. But sometimes the reason it doesn't look embossed is because it wasn't heated long enough to "pop." Does this make sense?
Another possibility that you questioned was if you had enough powder in the first place. From your description of the end result, I think you were fine but when you're heat embossing, it is good to look at is how "sticky" the Versamark or chalk/craft ink image is. If you have an involved stamping you may want to "huff" (like you did as a kid on a cold window to get a "fog" to write in) on the image before applying the powder to help your ink stay sticky and hold the powder better.
Since you say your new to the heat embossing thing, I'd suggest you grab some scrap cardstock and just play around a bit with the technique and get a feel for how it works. Have fun!
P.S. You might want to search the "resources" section here at SCS for a visual tutorial. You'll find a toolbar/menu at the upper right hand of the page that includes "resources." Or Google "heat embossing" with "stamping" and see what you get.
I think Jeanie answered most of your questions about the powder application. I can tell you that sometimes paper or cardstock will get wavy after heat embossing. This seems to happen often; it's not nice, but normal. If you use what you've embossed for layering, it's less of an issue. Practice is definitely a good thing.
Sometimes, holding your cs too close to your heat tool will cause some paper warping. I'm guilty of trying to emboss too quickly by thinking if I hold my heat gun closer to the cs, it will "melt" quicker. I emboss on a clip board that is covered with tin foil. The tin foil heats up and "quickens" the process without the need to hold the gun closer to the cs.
HTH
I am also new to embossing. I have only done heat embossing two times at a workshop. I loved the result, but I was always too scared to attempt it myself.
I just got a heat embossing tool at A C Moores. I'm going to play around with it this weekend.
I've read somewhere on SCS that some people heat from the bottom of their cardstock and that it seems to help but I can't make it work in my mind why that would help and I haven't had the time to try it to see how big of a difference there is.
__________________ Proud Mom to an 9YO Level 7 gymnast
I've read somewhere on SCS that some people heat from the bottom of their cardstock and that it seems to help but I can't make it work in my mind why that would help and I haven't had the time to try it to see how big of a difference there is.
This isn't something I do, but I think the reason for it is that if you heat for so long that your CS begins to "burn", the brown color will be on the back side rather than ruining the front.
I don't usually need to heat from the bottom when using regular embossing powders, but when using UTEE, it is VERY helpful because of the large granuals of the UTEE. Because they are so large, they tend to scatter when heated from the top, but heated from the bottom stops the air flow, but not the heat. Does that make any sense. (I'm sure it does to anyone that has ever used UTEE and have seen the stuff fly all over the room when you put the heat gun to it...lol)
If you do not have an embossing buddy, get one. It will be the best investment you will ever make. It helps the stray powder from adhering to the cardstock.
Also, heating from the bottom can work, but not with UTEE. Sometimes, I start heating the image directly, then flip the cardstock over and continue heating from the bottom.
If you do not have an embossing buddy, get one. It will be the best investment you will ever make. It helps the stray powder from adhering to the cardstock.
Also, heating from the bottom can work, but not with UTEE. Sometimes, I start heating the image directly, then flip the cardstock over and continue heating from the bottom.
When I heat using UTEE, I heat from the bottom, but the heat gun is under my paper, not on top with the embossing "stuff" facing down. (it faces up with the heat gun underneath the paper) does that make sense? I'm so confused...LMBO
So I got to practice and I think I got it now. I'm able to have the embossing effect. But...
The only problem now is that after I apply the "versamarked" image with embossing powder, I shake off the excess but a few dots still remain on my cardstock, here and there around the image.
I tried shaking the card harder, tapping from the front and from the back. But then, it's too strong and I'm losing some of the powder on the versamarked lines.
I tried using a small brush, but in small narrow areas, it's not so convenient. I tried a toothpick which seems to do the trick, but it's too time consuming.
The embossing buddy will help with those "stray" pieces of embossing powder. You rub this over the card stock prior to stamping with versamark. If you can't get the embossing buddy right away, try using used dryer sheets and rubbing the card stock. This doesn't alway work as well as the embossing buddy, but it does help alot.
The embossing buddy will help with those "stray" pieces of embossing powder. You rub this over the card stock prior to stamping with versamark. If you can't get the embossing buddy right away, try using used dryer sheets and rubbing the card stock. This doesn't alway work as well as the embossing buddy, but it does help alot.
Oh, thank you!!! I'll try the dryer sheets first then, while waiting to get te embossing buddy. My DH actually likes using those used dryer sheets to undust his stuff, especially on his car dashboard. It works well to collect the dust and to remove the electrostatic thing. So he said...
Also, if you're a bigtime handlotion user like I am-DON'T. Not before you stamp, anyway. It's the oils from your hands as you pick up and handle the cardstock that cause some of the EP cling. I remember fretting about it when I was new, but now I don't care if there's a stray dot or two.
new to embossing: questions
Thank you for this thread!
