Heat embossing in bulk
 

I don't know how well I can explain my question, but here goes . . . and I know for sure someone here will have advice for me!

I'm planning to do about 50 cards with embossing on them. I know when I stamp I have to sprinkle my embossing powder onto the Versamark pretty quickly to get it to stick. I'd rather do a group of stamping-and-sprinkling before I fire up my heat gun and melt the powder (rather than closing the jar of powder and moving it away after each impression) but I don't have a good idea of how much time I have to do that before the embossing powder won't stick any more. Does this make any sense, and can you help? Thanks very much!

I did my wedding invites like this. I did about 10 at a time...with no trouble...but in total...I did about 150. I made 10-20 a day depending on whether or not I was working that day. I think if I had more space I could have done 20 at a time no problem. I think if you stamp, sprinkle and stamp again...as long as it's one right after the other...you could do all 50 this way...if you have the space.

Just make sure your celing fan is off.

I would also suggest using a tupperware type thing for your ep. Then you can stamp, (using a spoon over the tupperware) sprinkle, tap off & keep going. Easier for multiples! :)

Thanks, ladies!

wonderful idea! :)

I have had embossing powder stick to versa well after stamping with the versamark. My Christmas cards last year had a versamark background, with an image stamped on a second layer. If I had the background cards anywhere near my table, the powder did stick to them. I had the same "problem" last week while making some baby cards that I used a similar series of techniques. You should have no problem stamping several images before adding powder, as long as they are not overly large areas.

Hi there,

I started using a hotplate to do my heat embossing before I bought my heat gun. I still use it from time to time, especially if I plan to do any embossing in bulk as the hotplate heats the powder from underneath the cardstock and does not disturb the embossing powder at all, so no worries if you plan to complete stamping all 50 pieces before heating them. If you do not have a hotplate, I have tried using a non-steam iron with similar results.

any chance of enlisting a friend?

it is hard to do it by yourself, especially with an ink that dries pretty quick, you have to be pretty fast depending on the design to do more that 5-10 at a time.

if you had a friend, you could stamp and emboss, then hand it over to heatset. it would go VERY quickly! just a thought!

What a good idea, Tami! Thanks!

There is about a ten minute window where the EP sticks best to the image. I tend to stamp 3 to 4 , then dip into my tray (or tupperware container) of EP, shake off, set aside, dip the next, etc. Then I stamp another set and repeat, then heat the batch of 6 to 8. I have done 2 DD's annd sister's wedding invites and 200 party favors for work party. If you try to do too many, you don't get as good an image. Help is the best thing!!!

LOL

Tell me more about using a hotplate. Can you show me a picture of what you mean by a hotplate? This sounds like something to investigate

A hot plate is like a single stove burner but the surface is flat metal. You could get one in the small appliance section of any department store. It is traditionally used in places where a stove isn't allowed or there isn't enough space like an office or dorm room. You would have to test it to get the right temperature, you don't want to burn the paper but neither do you want to wait for a long time for the EP to melt. I would test it on white paper to be sure there isn't any burning. I don't think they get quite as hot as a stove burner, they are more for heating things than serious cooking. Depending on the size, you might be able to get multiple cards on there.

Thanks to the poster who wrote that you have about 10 minutes for the EP to stick well. I've always wondered that!!

Hi there,

Some hotplates have adjustable heat settings so you may be able to play around with what works best. Do not bother with the tiny ones meant to power via the usb ports on your computers though. I bought one thinking it would be a good portable option but it was barely warm and meant to keep a cup of coffee warm instead. If you are not able to locate a hotplate, a small travel iron will do as well. I have a small one that folds to store flat so I am able to place it with the ironing side up and use it as a portable hotplate for my workshops as I have only one heat gun and tend to have several people working at the same time. Generally, it the setting is right, it is pretty easy to place the paper on the hot surface one after another. by the time you fill the surface, the first ones are done.

Thanks for all the tips. I am just about to start on 500 Christmas cards with the possibility of 250 more and was not looking forward to the stamp one, sprinkle with ep and then heating it every time Just have to find some room to spread the images out onto before heating up now.

What a great idea!! Thanks

Before I purchased my heat gun, I used a toaster to do my embossing. Hold the paper to be embossed above the toaster with a clothes pin. You can do 2 cards at a time, one for each hand. I used this technique to make about 50 Christmas cards one year.

If I have lots of embossing to do, I place items to be embossed on a cookie sheet and pop in the oven at about 350 degrees for a minute. You have to watch and be sure to remove as soon as they are "done" or paper will scorch. I can do a cookie sheet full with good results if I work quickly.

I hate breathing all the fumes from embossing lots of images with my heat gun.
Lynn

I would recomend using your heat gun from underneath the design ALWAYS! Three reasons:

1) It doesn't blow away your powder.

2) Flecks of excess powder outside the stamped design, often brush off even after heating.

3) NO dimpling or pitting! This is most noticable when using clear EP, just a beautiful shiny glaze!

But take it steady, don't burn your fingers, or the cardstock, works wonders!

I agree with stampnsk8r.... powder up about 10-20 at a time, then heat. I wouldn't do more than that, because, while the versamark stays wet longer, it doesn't stay wet forever! I've done Christmas cards like this. It also breaks up the process so you're not doing the same part of the task for too long.