I know it is not used too often when scrapping but if any crafty people can give me some tips on embossing, the kind you stamp and then heat to melt and set I would very much appreciate it.

HI Trisha not sure if this is any help but here goes

you can use pretty much any stamp to emboss though some of the more inttacte ones don't show as well you need a special stamp pad made for embossing, pefect meduin works a few other slow drying inks too, but if you are starting out maybe best to be an embosing pad. just stamp you image as usual then place the work on a peice of scrap paper a4 folder so as to crease and then opend out again workes well shake the embossing power over the image and shake off the excess power ( you can buy many type of powders) then all you need is a heat source heat guns are now readily avaiable but all I do is use the hot plate on my stove ( over a toaster was once the go) just be careful with the heat when its done the powers will bubble up to give a raised surface let it cool and you are done

hope this makes some sence and it the right answer to you question as I often read things a bit worng

I can never seem to get it write, I think its got something to do with using a static cleaner

Excellent feedback Gypsy - thankyou

If you use an anti-static pad before you stamp the image then it will stop the powder sticking where it should not, that is what that is about Ant, because the medim you use to keep your embossing powder in place is not what holds it to the surface, when it melts it holds itself, so technically if you are very good you can emboss with water on a pad, however the way I do it

1. Wipe your surface with an anti-static pad making sure to remove any of the excess anti-static powder.

2. Stamp your surface with a medium to hold the embossing powder. I use a Glue Pad, it really grabs and holds the embossing powder very well but some girls like a versamark pad as it will give a slightly finer end product

3. Sprinkle on the embossing powder being sure to really cover the surface - use half a bottle if you have to because the excess goes back anyway

4. shake off the excess and them get a fine paintbrush and brush off any that is still sticking to the surface in places it should not (static cling will hold it there if you do not have an anti-static pad

5. Apply heat - if you have a proper heat gun this works best as it applies the required heat without the air blowing the powder everywhere. If however you are using DH's heat gun from his workshop apply the heat from underneath - this works just fine too - no need to lash out and buy a heat gun just for one project however if you do find that you like embossing I would recommend adding one to your stash - I use mine for all sorts of things

Hope this helps Trisha - I presume we are embossing a bundle of 21's. My last tip would be to do the embossing on something you will be adding to the card rather than directly to the card itself - ie a cut out circle to stick to the front

I so need to more of this work.
I'm a beginner with this stuff! I've got the things to use... but not really have the inkling to set about it!

Thanks ladies!!!

Thank you very much Gypsy and Lee Anne wonderful information, I do have an embossing gun and pad but no anti-static pad and not much experience, I'm off to DFO to see Danny so I will ask there as I was hoping to finish these today.

all good Trish - he has some anti-static pads there - they are around the $10 mark, a good investment if you are going to do a bundle of embossing

Thank you Lee Anne

thanks Trisha sorry I didn't expain it a bit more clearly thanks for filling in the missing bits Lee- Anne anti static pads were not around when I started embosing, and best to have a bit of a practice on some scrap peices first to get the idea. I do have a few pictures or some cards I can put up if you would like

I think I may need one of these anti-static pads!
The more I read - the more I like!!

its great fun Mandy and i have recnetly been shown how do use clear embossing power then blend over the images with distressed inks really loveing this effect, embossing also give a great set fininsh for colouring in images as well as making things stand out more

does work with out the anti staic pad ( i now have one but mostly forget to use it ) just makes the excess power a bit harder to get off

wow Gypsy.. I'm trying to imagine what you mean with the colouring and inking etc.. think I might have to do me some tutes on the net to work it out - love the way it sounds!

put some picutres of cards in the gallery Mandy I am not good at expalining things sorry

Also if you get powder where you don't want it, you can use a fine paintbrush to get rid of the powder.

Oh thats okay Gypsy... it sounds involved...

Oh yes Annie... paint brushes I got plenty off!!!