Basic Embossing with Rubber Stamps
by Lydia Trimmer

This is a simple technique using Rubber Stamps and Thermal
Embossing that will add dimension to your cards and artwork.
Nothing looks as elegant as a stamped image that has been
embossed in gold and has rich color added to enhance your
artwork.

You can use rubber stamps and thermal embossing on many different
surfaces such as paper, glass, wood, leather, tile and ceramic
objects. It's fun to experiment and create your own unique and
individual sense of style. Don't be timid and have fun.

The following steps will teach the beginner where to start
Embossing with rubber stamps takes practice and the more you do
it, the better your results. Remember your art is unique to your
personal style. It reflects your personal experience. It conveys
your emotions. So use your imagination! Use color!!

The colors you choose to use with your rubber stamps can convey
your personal style and make a statement. Reds reflect warmth and
blue can reveal cool and soothing moods. Greens and violet
contain both warm and cool elements.

MATERIALS: Rubber Stamps Embossing Ink Stamp Pad Embossing Heat
Gun Embossing Powder or Tinsel Something to stamp on

Choose a paper or craft object to Emboss. Don't limit yourself to
just plain paper. Rubber stamping and embossing works well on
fabric, glass, mirrors, tiles and terra cotta pots. Experiment
with a variety of papers and transparencies, shrink plastic,
laminated sheets, wood and metal.

Ink and stamp your image on your paper or craft object using a
slow drying Pigment Ink Pad.

Tap your rubber stamp firmly several times on the Embossing Ink
Pad in order to completely ink the stamp. Make sure the rubber is
completely covered with ink. Always stamp a new rubber stamp onto
a piece of scrap paper for the first time to make sure all areas
of the image are well inked. Place your rubber stamp firmly on
the paper, being careful not to rock the stamp. Rocking will
result in blurred lines. Large rubber stamps require more care in
pressing down on all corners of the stamp. Each rubber stamp is
different and you will learn how to best stamp each one. Some
need more pressure in order to get the perfect image.

The difference between pigmented inks and dye inks is evident in
that the Pigment inks stay "wet" longer. Pigment inks do not work
well on glossy card stock unless you are EMBOSSING the image.
There are many choices of slow drying pigment inks with slight
tints to dark shades or no color at all.

After rubber stamping your image with pigment ink, sprinkle
embossing powder over the image. Turn the artwork and gently tap
off excess embossing powder. Use a dry paintbrush to remove any
stray flecks from surrounding areas. Do this before you heat the
image. If the powder is not sticking to the image in even heavy
coats check to be sure you rubber stamp is well inked.

Keeping your embossing powder in stackable plastic containers
will allow you to catch the excess powder. Alternatively
collecting excess unused embossing powder is easy if you use a
file folder or a sheet of glossy paper torn from a magazine under
your card stock, then transfer the powder back into the jar. Pick
up the paper by its edges and use the centerfold as a funnel to
direct the powder back into the jar.

Embossing powders also come in a wide variety of choices, from
Ultra Fine to Tinsel. Both the pigment ink and embossing powder
are available in many color choices as well as metallic,
pearlescent and other unusual compositions.

The final step is to direct hot air from your heat tool over the
powder. This will melt the powder and create the Thermal embossed
effect.

EMBOSSING POWDER comes in many different compositions. Metallic
Powders such as Gold, Silver, Bronze or Pewter can be used with
the embossing inks, either tinted or clear. Using slightly tinted
or clear ink with Metallic powders will produce a true metallic
effect. Although the Metallic Powders can be used with colored
inks to achieve truly remarkable effects such as tinted copper
and aged pewter.

Embossing powders comes in many Opaque colors as well as soft
subtle Pearlized Powders and Clear and also Glitter Powders.

You can experiment by mixing your colors and your effects.
Pearlescence are soft and gentle colors that are excellent for
pastel effects and baby or wedding themes. Clear Powder gives you
image a raised glossy effect and looks stunning on dark papers
and objects.

Tinsels or Glitter Embossing Powders can be Clear or Opaque. Gold
Embossing Powder with fleck of ultra fine gold glitter in it
create a very beautiful and dramatic effect.

Try mixing you powders colors and adding some glitter or confetti
in moderation for you own unique recipes!

A heat gun is the easiest method to melt your powders and create
the even glossy embossed effect. But if you do not have one
alternative sources of hear can be utilized Do not try a hair
dryer this does not get hot enough and will blow the powder off
the card. You can try using your oven by placing the card face up
on a baking sheet and putting it into a preheated 325 degree
oven. Be careful you do not over heat or your card stock will be
scorched. A hot iron will also hear the back side of the card and
melt the powder.

A hot toaster can be used by moving your card stock back and
forth over the top of the toaster until the image is melted. A
good heat gun is a worthwhile investment.

TIPS AND TROUBLE SHOOTING A good tip to help with the static on
your card stock is to wipe the card with a fabric sheet before
stamping on it, this helps reduce unwanted flakes from sticking.

A time saving tip when embossing replications of the same rubber
stamp image is to stamp and cover several images with embossing
powder at one time. This allows you to use your embossing gun on
several pieces at once without stopping and starting constantly.
The ink is slow drying and several cards at a time can be safely
done by using this method.

Using plastic kitchen containers with lids for storage of you
powders works well and also makes it convenient to set up and put
away your craft. A spoon with a pointed tip is useful in
sprinkling the powder onto the card stock.

Good lighting is essential to your rubber stamping success. If
your embossing is dull and not raised then you may be overheating
it. If the image is lumpy and granular you many not have heated
it enough . If the image is incomplete you may need to press the
rubber stamp more firmly on the pad and re-ink if necessary, also
check to be sure you are pressing all corners of the stamp onto
the paper.

If you have completed your image and a line is missing you can
purchase an embossing pen to draw the incomplete line. Also you
can use a sponge or tissue to dab the embossing ink onto the
cardstock to be used as background color or effects. Have fun, be
creative, don't be afraid to use color and enjoy you rubber
stamping hobby all year long.

Copyright 2005 The Stamping Bug

Rubber Stamps and Scrapbooking Supplies from www.StampingBug.com
was founded by Dawn Reaume and Her mother Lydia 10 years ago.
They also operate Rubber Stamp Chat, a friendly place for
stampers to share cards and ideas.
View their website at: http://www.stampingbug.com