Does anyone use embossing powder anymore?

Jennasmomma · 03-31-2011, 03:09 AM

I still have some jars of embossing powder. I never use it or my heat gun. I don't really do much stamping so that's probably why. Plus its so dang messy!

So does anyone still use this product?

cbet · 03-31-2011, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jennasmomma

I still have some jars of embossing powder. I never use it or my heat gun. I don't really do much stamping so that's probably why. Plus its so dang messy!

So does anyone still use this product?

Lord, yes

Not on every card, and I really don't need all the colors I have, but I certainly won't be giving mine up any time soon.

lutheran · 03-31-2011, 03:56 AM

I emboss everything, everyday, it seems. We did one embossed flower on a card at a workshop this week and two customers said "I should emboss more but it seems like lots of trouble." Hmmm. Not to me, I love it!
Mary Beth

cbet · 03-31-2011, 04:12 AM

Mary Beth - I agree! The only reason I don't do more is because right now my powders aren't stored in a good spot. Embossing itself - piece of cake. Getting the box of powders down from the high shelf, somewhat less convenient.

KristaTracy · 03-31-2011, 04:18 AM

I agree that it is messy, so I don't do it very often. But when I do, the results are so cool! One tip that I learned recently is to stamp in colored ink (ex: Black Versafine) and then emboss with Clear powder. Then any stray flecks are not as noticable. The ink must be sticky/pigment ink, not your basic water-based ink.

jmtaylor · 03-31-2011, 05:05 AM

We have a small card club and yesterday we used embossing on 2 cards, so guess won't be quitting anytime soon

librarian · 03-31-2011, 05:33 AM

I find when I am at a workshop, embossing sells the most novice attendee!

Betty_S_K · 03-31-2011, 06:22 AM

Store your powers in a glad or ziplock dish with the cover. I also keep a plastic spoon in each dish. this way I stamp my image and than hold the card over the dish, sprinkle the powder,glitter, etc. over the wet image. I than can tap the card with my spoon and/or snap my finger on the card to remove excess powder, glitter, etc. The mess stays in the dish and clean up is a breeze. All you do is cover the dish. I do keep the jar with the dish so I know what is in the dish. I have fine powder, thick powder, etc.

Betty
Ps. I can seem to hit that tiny jar with folded card stock/paper and end up making a mess.

meeyore151 · 03-31-2011, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betty_S_K

Store your powers in a glad or ziplock dish with the cover. I also keep a plastic spoon in each dish. this way I stamp my image and than hold the card over the dish, sprinkle the powder,glitter, etc. over the wet image. I than can tap the card with my spoon and/or snap my finger on the card to remove excess powder, glitter, etc. The mess stays in the dish and clean up is a breeze. All you do is cover the dish. I do keep the jar with the dish so I know what is in the dish. I have fine powder, thick powder, etc.

Betty
Ps. I can seem to hit that tiny jar with folded card stock/paper and end up making a mess.

I use the glad containers and spoon for my most used colors, too. The other colors I use coffee filters to catch the over flow and dump back into the containers. I have those tray things but they're so staticky (new word, LOL) that they're a pain to use. Coffee filters are cheap and plentiful in my house!

jackie1 · 03-31-2011, 06:47 AM

I love embossing, I think it gives the card a touch of class and elegance. I don't think that it is any more messy than the other things that I do when making a card. I keep a stash of swiffer clothes near my work area and I use them to wipe up the messes between colors as I go.

pjw2855 · 03-31-2011, 08:16 AM

I feel storing the embossing powder in a larger container is much easier also. I use embossing powder for many of my cards. It does add a touch of elegance. I think it's the best kind of embellishment you can use!

Patti

AlbertaStamping · 03-31-2011, 08:19 AM

I try to heat emboss on every card I make only because I have collected so much of it over the years and only recently found out it doesn't keep forever, especially the metalic ones.

cj nalley · 03-31-2011, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jennasmomma

I still have some jars of embossing powder. I never use it or my heat gun. I don't really do much stamping so that's probably why. Plus its so dang messy!

So does anyone still use this product?

SU is coming out with three new colors of Embossing Powder in their Summer Mini Catalog.

Yes, I still use embossing powder, mostly for backgrounds on cards and post-it note holders.

shemantis · 03-31-2011, 08:31 AM

I have never been an embosser, but I am also not huge on stamps.
I definitely see the appeal, visually, but I agree that it is too messy, and since I really only stamp sentiments, I just don't find it "necessary."

muscrat · 03-31-2011, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristaTracy

I agree that it is messy, so I don't do it very often. But when I do, the results are so cool! One tip that I learned recently is to stamp in colored ink (ex: Black Versafine) and then emboss with Clear powder. Then any stray flecks are not as noticable. The ink must be sticky/pigment ink, not your basic water-based ink.

I learned this trick recently too and love it. You don't have to look for an embossing powder to match your card, you just use the matching ink and clear embossing powder. Love it!

bound4london · 03-31-2011, 11:49 AM

I love the look that Embossing Powders make---gives it a classy touch. I emboss sentiments too---makes them stand out. I keep all my powders and my gun in one box, easily accessible and quick to do. One you get started using them more you'll find they aren't too much trouble and give your items a nice look.

RAWS · 03-31-2011, 12:02 PM

I do and I am still wowed when I see those beautiful images appear.

weims · 03-31-2011, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betty_S_K

I do keep the jar with the dish so I know what is in the dish. I have fine powder, thick powder, etc.

Betty
Ps. I can seem to hit that tiny jar with folded card stock/paper and end up making a mess.

I write on the container what's in it so I can add more if I need to. I use the little jars for other things. This is the ONLY way to do embossing powder IMO. the containers are cheap at the $1 store and I don't waste any powder this way.

JoanieG · 03-31-2011, 01:58 PM

Embossing powder is the thing that finally "grabbed me" and sucked me into the dark side! LOL! My mom had been stamping for years and she kept saying I should do it too, but I just didn't see the point of spending more money getting into yet another hobby. Then I saw the magic of embossing powder and it was all over for me! I still use it quite a bit. Adds a nice touch! I like to use metallic watercolors on my cards and the embossing powder makes a nice little "barrier" to hold in the paint.

sprtchick · 03-31-2011, 02:59 PM

wendykins · 03-31-2011, 03:10 PM

Heck yeah, I still use and it still amazes me, LOL
can't wait for the new embossing powder colors from the Stampin' UP mini.
I also use the glad type containers, write on them, so i remember and use the embossing buddy, it is amazing and it really works!

Gatomom · 03-31-2011, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meeyore151

I use the glad containers and spoon for my most used colors, too. The other colors I use coffee filters to catch the over flow and dump back into the containers. I have those tray things but they're so staticky (new word, LOL) that they're a pain to use. Coffee filters are cheap and plentiful in my house!

Ohhhh I like the coffee filter idea!! Thank you will try that next time. I love to emboss, don't do it tons but really like the results when I do.

angelmom916 · 03-31-2011, 06:21 PM

a qiuck tip....use a rosin bag to wipe over the area where you are going to stamp and emboss and it eliminates the static and the powder only sticks to the ink and you don't get the little spots in unwanted areas....

MSBetsyZ · 03-31-2011, 06:24 PM

When I'm being lazy, I will do the clear ep over colored pigment ink, too. Still, I really like the looks of using colored ep better, especially on colored cardstock. The color just looks so much more vibrant. I guess it's sort of like cooking ingredient substitutions...they work, but they're not necessarily as good as the real thing, lol!

inkymommy · 03-31-2011, 07:10 PM

I use it & love it. I also use the coffee filters. I have a tidy tray thing but prefer the coffee filters.

Ted · 03-31-2011, 07:35 PM

If I could find VERY FINE detail in more colors, I'd be using it left and right.

I love the look.

Right now, I just have the Filigree in: clear, gold, black, white, silver... but it would be a dream to find very fine EP in regular colors as well.

contrapat · 03-31-2011, 07:44 PM

I heat emboss all the time. Instead of using the trays to catch the excess, I use a sheet of plain old copier paper, which I fold in half to make a crease, then open. When I've tapped the excess powder off the card, all I have to do is funnel it back into it's container with the paper. I don't find the process very messy at all. And I love watching the powder turn from drab to glossy and bright. I think embossing is one of my favorite techniques.
This is a card I made that really relied on the embossing for it's look:
Valentine for my husband by contrapat - Cards and Paper Crafts at Splitcoaststampers

Also this one:
Blue Valentine by contrapat - Cards and Paper Crafts at Splitcoaststampers

lylacfey · 04-01-2011, 01:44 AM

I love to emboss. One of my favorite techniques. I emboss so much I think my gun is going out.

Allistamps123 · 04-01-2011, 03:14 AM

ALL THE TIME!!! I still LOVE to emboss with powders! I only have a few colors but SU has new colors in the summer mini and will be getting them.

No, I've never thought it was any trouble to emboss.

Oh, and thanks for the coffee filter idea. I had a tray but threw it out. Only cost about $2.00 with a coupon from Hobby Lobby. I've just always used a piece of copy paper.

LancasterLurker · 04-01-2011, 04:51 AM

Thanks for the Dollar Store tip. I am new to the US and haven't been there yet, but it sounds like I need to!

Those tray things are blinking useless aren't they?

annie* · 04-01-2011, 08:39 AM

I love the look of heat embossing and when I can use my glad-type containers I do just fine. But I have purchased quite a few small bottles of colored powder over the years. I use the folded phone book page method when I am using small bottles and wow, can I make a mess! I did some embossing a couple of weeks ago and I am still finding powder! I am not normally a messy stamper, but my goodness I can mess up an entire room when I emboss!!

Cinnistew · 04-01-2011, 04:45 PM

You can also emboss with clear powder and Distressed Inks.

fionna51 · 04-01-2011, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ted

If I could find VERY FINE detail in more colors, I'd be using it left and right.

I love the look.

Right now, I just have the Filigree in: clear, gold, black, white, silver... but it would be a dream to find very fine EP in regular colors as well.

I totally agree!!!

glenda s · 04-02-2011, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinnistew

You can also emboss with clear powder and Distressed Inks.

I keep forgetting that the distressed inks are embossable. I will have to try it soon.

Plain Jane · 04-02-2011, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlbertaStamping

I try to heat emboss on every card I make only because I have collected so much of it over the years and only recently found out it doesn't keep forever, especially the metalic ones.

Seriously?

I have some silver and gold EPs from WAAAYYY back... they are probably 15 years old, and I have never had a problem with them.

Allistamps123 · 04-02-2011, 09:43 AM

I've had some copper that went kapoot!

sandyh124 · 04-02-2011, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allistamps123

I've had some copper that went kapoot!

It really depends on the moisture level where you live. When I lived in upstate PA I found that some of the the metals just weren't as bright as they should be after awhile, I think they tarnished. After moving to Texas though, I have noticed a big difference.

I read on here (somewhere) that gave a suggestion of putting those little silica packets (from shoes, pill bottles, etc) in with your stash of EP helps to keep the air dry around them. So I've been gathering the little buggers anywhere I can find them to add to my EP drawer. My Stampendous EP "Stardust" is one of the ones I had problems with for holiday cards last year. I'm hoping I can find it again because that is my "go to" for snow or twinkle looks for my grand-daughter.

JMO

pammers · 04-02-2011, 04:31 PM

I love using EP!!! and I probably use a bit of it on every card I make.

mac4551 · 04-02-2011, 05:40 PM

I still use my embossing powders..and I have a lot of colors. Since I got my Cricuts, I haven't been using my over 1,000 rubber stamps except for the sentiments. When I do stamp them, I do an entire page at a time, emboss the wording, and have the sentiments in an envelope so they are ready to use. I mostly use black, but on occasion I will match the embossing powder to co-ordinate with the colors of the cardstock and embellishments. I started the embossing around 1993 and have always loved the results. Don't use the copic markers, but I still use water colors and colored pencils if I do use any actual stamping images...