An Embossing Resist Tutorial

Hello, lovely Bombshells of Blogland!  Cheryl here and I have a tutorial for you today involving embossing.

When I first started stamping 14 years ago and was on the fence regarding whether I wanted to make the investment into the tools and stamps needed for card making, it was the mystery of embossing that officially lured me over to the dark side.  I'll never forget my first encounter with a heat gun and a jar of that magic powder.  I embossed a simple sentiment onto the inside of a card and spent a good portion of the afternoon running my fingers over the shiny raised letters, completely mesmerized by the texture and the polished appearance.  I was hooked and embossed everything I could get my hands on.  It wasn't long after that, I learned the most important lesson regarding embossing...heat guns and acrylic nails do not mix...LOL!

Years later, I have shed the nails and I don't drag the heat gun out that much anymore.  However, once in awhile, I'll get the embossing bug and manage to get my fix with this technique that's been around for ages.

What we'll need:  a white die cut panel, a large background stamp, a small solid detail stamp, Versamark Ink, Onyx Black Versafine Ink, Spun Sugar Distress Ink, Tattered Rose Distress Ink, a sponge applicator, clear high gloss embossing powder, and an embossing buddy (not pictured).

We'll also need a piece of blank newsprint, a heat gun, and a small craft iron.

Swipe the embossing buddy over the entire surface of the die cut panel.  Lightly shake off the excess.  

Liberally coat the surface of the background stamp with Versamark Ink.

Lay the die cut panel face down on the background stamp.  

Cover with a piece of the newsprint and use your fingers to press the die cut onto the background stamp without moving it.  I find it much easier to stamp large backgrounds this way as opposed to taking the block and stamping onto a piece of paper.  With this method, you get a crisp, clean impression every time. 

Cover the die cut with embossing powder and heat with the heat gun.

We have achieved a nice shiny raised pattern on our die cut.

Using the sponge applicator, liberally apply Spun Sugar Distress Ink to the die cut.  The background  design will begin to emerge as the embossed areas "resist" the ink.

Smudge Tattered Rose Distress Ink around the edges for a deeper color.

With the die cut face up, cover with a clean section of the newsprint page used earlier. 

Using the craft iron, iron the die cut using a circular motion.  The embossed design will begin to appear on the newsprint as it melts the embossing powder.

The entire design will transfer over to the newsprint completely after a few minutes.

This process leaves our die cut panel smooth.  Perfect for more stamping and additional embossing.

I chose this tiny skull and crossbones stamp from the Love and Luck set to add some additional pattern and detail to my panel.  I first swiped the panel with the embossing buddy to ensure a clean image.  Then I stamped 3 or 4 skulls at a time and embossed them with embossing powder.  

I tried to place them randomly on the panel, but my OCD nature really wishes they were in a more uniform pattern.  

I added Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress Inks to the edges to finish it up.

It's a fairly simple, but fun technique.  I know what you're thinking..."That's all well and good, Cheryl, but now what are you going to do with it?"  I suppose I'll just have make a shabby chic card to go with my shabby chic panel ;D  I'll post a finished card using this panel next week.  In the meantime, check out the challenges going on this month by scrolling down and don't forget that if you enter you might be randomly selected to win your choice of a Bombsell Stamps set.  Sweet!!!

Tootles, everybody!  Have a wonderful weekend ;D