Lesson 8: Using Stencils with Paper

Heat Embossing

Some of you may be familiar with heat embossing using rubber stamps. But you aren't limited to rubber-stamping to get a raised effect on a piece of ordinary paper. Did you know that you could sprinkle embossing powder over any surface covered with slightly tacky ink? Even a picture fresh from your ink jet printer. Actually, any medium that remains slightly moist for a few moments will do. I've even heard of people using glue.

Powders
Embossing powders come in many colors including clear, iridescent and glitter. There are ultra fine powders to use when creating fine details, as well as ultra-thick embossing enamels that leave a truly dimensional shiny look when heated. You can also but them to create the effect if tinsel, foil, metallics and pearls. They should be sprinkled thickly onto wet or tacky ink and then heated. The heat melts the powder so that it runs together to create a raised surface. The powder should be sprinkled on very evenly to get the best effect.

Sometimes, with a large design you may want to ink and sprinkle only a portion at the time, so that the ink isn't too dry before you are done with the powder. Or you can buy special slow drying ink if you prefer to complete everything in one go.

There are also pens out there that will hold embossing powder when you need fine detail.

Just make certain to take a clean brush and dust any stray grains of embossing powder off of the paper before you proceed to step two. Sometimes a dryer sheet (those used to prevent static cling) is good for getting rid of stray embossing powder. Should you overlook any, you can scrape them off after you have heated it with a craft knife.

Embossing Inks and Other Media
So you can actually stencil using ink in your desired color instead of using paint. If you like, you can even add fine details using an embossing pen, then reheat the image to get extra dimension and a more sophisticated, painterly effect.

Sprinkle the damp stenciled area with the embossing powder color of your choice. Apply heat and the powder will melt and run together to form a raised surface on your paper.

Heat Sources
Some people use a heat gun to do this while others use an iron. If using the iron don't apply it to the paper. Instead, turn it on to a high setting and hold it slightly above the paper so that you can see what's happening and know when the powder has melted.

I've even heard of one person laying the paper, dry side down, in a frying pan and turning on the burner. And at least one crafter reports success with laying the paper on a toaster and turning it on.

Do not use a blow dryer. It doesn't get hot enough and the blast of air will disperse your embossing powder all over the room.

The tool of choice, however, seems to be a small heat gun made especially for the purpose that you hold about 4" away from the paper. You will then be able to see the surface change from powdery to glossy as you work. Don't overheat or you'll get a burnt look.

Advanced Ideas
You can actually double emboss – adding detail that you want more raised and reheating the paper. Brush clear embossing ink on those areas and then use clear embossing powder – or if you want to create a highlighted effect, a powder in a color lighter than what you used previously. This is a good time to ink in fine details with a pen.

NOT: Heat embossed stenciling looks especially good when done on vellum. The translucent background creates a very dramatic look combines with dimensional images.

DIY Net shows the heat embossing process illustrated.

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