Embossing brads trouble
 

I tried embossing brads today but did not have successful results. I tried inking them up from a craft pad, which I found was hard. I guess reinkers work best where you can just dab the brad in ink to coat. Then I dipped them in clear embossing powder. When I would heat them, the force of the hot air would blow the ink off to the sides, so I had to re-ink them and re-emboss them just to get the brad head covered. Once I finally accomplished this, I began attaching them to my card. In the process of putting them on the cs, the embossed shell came off the brad head! I was so annoyed! I dipped the now bald brad head in rubber cement and tried to re-attach the embossed shell, but by then I was so fed up that I chucked them and just used gold brads on my card.

Has anyone else had problems like this with embossing brads? I have seen many cute cards with them (I actually was casing one), but they were such a nightmare to do that I hesitate to try again. Any tips?

I have embossed brads with great success but using a different technique. I inked my brad with VersaMark then dipped in colored embossing powder and melted with heat tool. If you want a stronger color, dip back into embossing powder while the brad is still warm. Just be sure to not heat too long or color will run to one side of the brad. HTH.

Stephanie

I have done it where you just heat the brad, dip it in the colored embossing powder then heat again. It doesn't come off. All of them I have done with Versamark have come off.

HTH

Amy "Pro" K :D

EP brads
 

That is how I do mine also just use a clothes pin or something so you do not burn your fingers.
If the brad is not hot enough the EP will not stick.
Jen

I do it like this and it works great.

I also earned from my SU demonstrator to not coat the brad with any kind of ink. Just heat it real good with your heat tool, then dunk the head of the brad in your embossing powder of choice and heat again. This method has always worked like a charm for me!

Amy J. in Wisconsin

This process won't work with craft pads would be the answer. You have to use versamark or you can try heating the brad first. The craft inks with the metal won't work. The key to versamark is that it's sticky and why it won't run off the metal.

HTH

I use the Versamark pad to coat the brads first, then dip and heat, repeat until the brad looks the way you want it to. A great way to hold it is with a pair of tweezers from EK Success, which are called Tweezer Bee. They have a non-stick coating, so if you end up with any EP on them when you are working you can just peel it off. As simple as that. A tip is to not overheat the EP or it will start to drip off.

Morissa
glittergirl

I wondered why the ones I coated with Versamark always came off! Can't wait to try just heating it first!