Rubber Stamp EmbossingBring those images to life!
. Craft Tray or piece of paper . Stamp Cushion, mouse pad or magazine . Embossing powder . Heat Gun You will need an embossing pad like the Versa Mark pad shown here. The Versa Mark ink is sticky and takes a while to dry, but it is also clear so it is difficult to see. Once stamped, it looks like a watermark after you have stamped with it and can also be used to stamp images for background paper.
You can also use a Pigment Ink Pad, as the ink takes a while to dry and when you put on the Embossing Powder, there is time before the ink dries for the Embossing Powder to stick. When doing Rubber Stamp Embossing or Heat Embossing, you can do this two ways. Use clear Versa Mark ink and colored embossing powders, or use colored ink and clear, metallic or pearl embossing powders. The choice is up to you. The first set of images will show you how to do rubber stamp embossing with the Versa Mark clear ink and colored embossing powder; the second set of images will show you how to use pigment ink and emboss with metallic embossing powder.
When Rubber Stamp Embossing your image, you need to have a flat, level surface to do your stamping on. Some sort of cushion is a good idea if your image has a lot of fine detail. Here is a photo of a cushion that is to be used specifically for rubber stamping, but a mouse pad will work as well as a magazine - just something to give a little bit of extra cushion under the stamp.
First ink the stamp image with your Versa Mark pad. Be careful and only ink the raised edges of the image. It might be easier to lay the image upside down and pat the image with the pad to get full coverage of the raised portion of the image. Even is your stamp pad is smaller than your stamp, you can get full coverage. Turn the stamp over and press the stamp straight down onto the paper carefully. Do not rock the image back and forth - this will cause any ink on the edges to get onto the paper and create a shadow. Then when you go to remove the stamp from the paper or card stock, the paper will probably stick, so hold the paper down with one hand and pull the stamp straight up.
You should be able to see the image slightly on the paper - like a Watermark.
Next you might need a craft tray to collect the excess embossing powder, but if you don't want to buy one, a sheet of paper will do. This will be used to hold the excess embossing powder and to put it back into the jar.
Place the paper with the stamped image into the craft tray or on the piece of paper and shake the embossing powder directly into the Versa Mark Stamped Image. You will immediately begin to see you image appear as the flecks of the embossing powder begin to stick. Once the stamped image is covered with the embossing powder, pick up the card with the image, and shake off the excess powder into the tray or onto the piece of paper. You can tap the card with image on it's side or tap the back with your finger to knock off the excess. If any specks remain near the image, you can remove them with a small dry paint brush.
Now you are ready to get your heat gun and finish the Rubber Stamp Embossing or the Heat Embossing of your project. Tip: Do Not!!!!! leave the paper on your work surface as you could melt the finish underneath it. I either hold the card in one hand and hold the heat gun in the other, or set it down on a piece of left over tile or on a card board to keep my hands away from the heat source. As you heat the Rubber Stamp Embossing Powder, move the heat gun back and forth about 3 or 4 inches from the project. Your intent is to melt the embossing powder, but not to burn the paper. As the embossing powder melts, it will turn shiny. The right two-thirds of this image has been melted, the left side has not yet been heated. Caution: This will be hot and wet for a minute or so, so don't touch or it will stick to your fingers.
When completely heated, turn off your heat gun and put the image aside. If you have finished using that color Rubber Stamp Embossing powder use the tray to pour the rest of the embossing powder back into the jar - or fold the paper to allow the powder to fall back into the jar. Here's a link to some more embossed rubber stamps on our Christmas Card Making Ideas page that uses some of Michael Strong's Cloisenne stamps. His Cloisenne Eggs are shown at the top of this page.
It always seems like a little of the embossing powder will stick to the inside of the tray. That's due to static electricity and you can always help it back into the jar with a tissue or a small paint brush. But, Wait, I'm not quite finished. While talking about Rubber Stamp Embossing, let's talk about the Versa Mark Embossing Pen, which does the same thing as the embossing pad. Here's a photo of the Versa Mark Pad, the Dual Tipped Pen and a Versa Mark fluid refill bottle, in case your pad or pen run dry. This lasts a very long time, several years is not unusual.
Here I have written the last name on the top of the card using the Versa Mark Pen. It is barely visible in this photo, again like a Watermark.
Again, after you have written the text you wish to emboss, put the embossing powder over the writing; shake off the excess embossing powder; then use the heat gun again to melt the embossing powder to produce your final image. Your final product.
There are now ZIG Embossing Markers which stay wet long enough to add embossing powders. These are easier to use than the Versa Mark as you can actually see what you are writing. Here is where you could use your pearl or metallic embossing powders for a special effect. All of the markers contains clear waterbased ink and are available in a set with all four dual-tipped pens mentioned above. Marker 1 has a Fine 0.5mm line & Bullet 1.2mm line.Marker 2 has a Narrow 2.0mm line & Broad 3.5mm line.Marker 3 has a scroll line & Brush line.Marker 4 has a Fine 0.5mm line & Chisel 1.2mm line. Directions for using these are the same as basic embossing. 1. Draw, write or outline area for embossing.2. Sprinkle your embossing powder over the inked area. Shake of excess powder.3. Heat set the area with a heat gun until the embossing powder melts into a shiny, raised surface.4. Let the embossing dry completely - and be careful as the embossing powder will be hot for a while.
Go back to Rubber Stamping from Rubber Stamp Embossing
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