Embossing - basics and technique explained easily

• Basics
  • Materials and utensils
• Embossing technique: instructions

Embossing or Embossing is a special design technique in which a relief is created on a base. Many of these reliefs are known for example on glass bottles or greeting cards. The technology for the home needs comes from the US and is becoming increasingly popular with many hobbyists in Germany, as this can create attractive prints. The basics and technique you learn here.

A coining from own hand and without intensive work effort "> Basics

Materials and utensils

Before you can start embossing, you must first have the right materials and utensils ready. These are the basics for Embossing, because without them, it can not succeed. But do not be surprised that you can not use traditional funds from the household, but need special products.

• Embossing powder: per can (30 - 50 g) about three to five euros
• Embossing stamp cushion: five to ten euros
• Embossing ink: ten euros per bottle (15 ml), ideal is a transparent product
• heat gun
• fine brush

These are the typical basics for embossing. The ink pads have proven to be particularly simple, as they are simply pressed on the selected stamp and apply ink in a uniform thickness. As a result, you do not use too much ink, which would quickly cause sticking and uneven results.

If you decide to use the ink, you should use another brush as the fine brush will not be used. The selection of the corresponding material for the underground is also part of the basics.

You can choose from the following:

• paper
• carton
• Wood
• Glass
• metal

When selecting the material, make sure that it is completely smooth . Wrinkles or creases make stamping difficult, which has a negative effect on the final result. Craft cardboard, which is used for greeting cards, for example, has become particularly effective. This is strong enough and does not warp even when heated.

Of course that's the same with metal, wood and glass. Fabric is in no form suitable for this. Last but not least, it is about the stamp, which is one of the most important aspects of embossing. The stamp defines the pattern you want to apply. The following tips should be considered when selecting the stamp.

1. Make sure that the stamp is not too large when using an embossing stamp pad. Because the ink pads only cover a certain size, you might apply too much in some places and too little ink in others. If your stamp would not fit on a stamp pad, get ink and a brush.

2. It does not matter what the motive is. Even lettering is fine as long as the ink is applied evenly. Particularly popular are coats of arms or simple motifs, as they require less ink and dry a little faster. Likewise, it does not matter which material the stamp is from. As long as he can be pressed on the ground, everything is fine.

3. If you are new to embossing, do not choose too complicated stamps. The ink can run fast with filigree patterns and this makes the subject in the end more of a blob than a picture. Thicker lines that are not too close together are therefore recommended. The more experience you have, the easier it will be to use complicated stamp patterns.

Especially the selection of the own stamp makes embossing so popular. If the pattern acts like a relief after all steps and stands out from the background used, you can see why the technique is so much fun. Finally, you should think about the color in which you choose the powder.

Embossing powder is offered in a fairly extensive color palette, but the following shades are particularly popular and frequently found.

• black
• White
• gold
• silver
• more metallic shades

So you can choose from a variety of colors. Do not worry, the powder is intensely colored and is even opaque. Even with white powder, the color of the substrate used does not shine through. Because of this, you can easily use any color you desire.

Mixing colors via embossing is hardly possible. Therefore you have to choose one color per stamp. With these tips, the basics of embossing are complete and you can start using the actual technique directly. You do not need a preparation, because as long as you have a stamp and the utensils ready, you can start.

Tip: You can save on the use of a simple hair dryer because it does not get hot enough to melt the embossing powder. In addition, there is a risk that the powder is simply blown away.

Embossing technique: instructions

The embossing technique sounds harder or more complicated than it really is at the beginning. Since the individual products such as the powder or the ink are tailored directly to the technology, you only need a clear guide that explains all application steps in detail. This looks like this.

1. At the beginning you take care of the underground because you want to "print". Spread it on a flat surface and make sure that all creases or wrinkles have been removed. Especially with thin paper, this is important because otherwise the ink and the relief run. For example, if you have chosen a piece of wood, you do not have to worry about it. For such materials, you should only check if the surface is clean. You do not want to discover any bumps in your work later.

2. When the surface is finished, start to apply the ink. For this, take your stamp and press it on the stamp pad . Alternatively, use a brush and apply the ink evenly on the stamp surface. Be very careful not to apply the ink too thick or too thin. For the beginner, the ink pad is clearly recommended.

3. After applying the ink, press the stamp on the desired location. It helps to lightly mark the spot with a pencil before applying, so you know exactly where to put the stamp. But that is only an assistance, not a necessity. Use some force to apply the ink over the stamp. Do not rub it!

4. Now you need to apply the powder to the ink while it is wet.

Just pour a little more powder on the ground, because you can easily pour the excess back into the bottle afterwards.

5. After you have spread the powder on the ink, you can remove it after a few moments, because it does not dry. Be careful not to see any excess powder on the surface, only on the ink. Already, the final relief should be apparent. Remove powder residues carefully with the brush.

6. Now comes the most important step: the heating . For this you use the hot air blower.

Switch it on and direct the at least 100 ° C hot air directly onto the relief. Do not burn yourself here. Alternatively, you can use a stove top. Do not worry, you can turn the material quietly, the powder is fixed by the ink. Heat the ink until it starts to melt.

7. You can see if the powder has melted when the relief no longer grainy. It should also shine a bit. But be careful not to heat the relief for too long, otherwise it will collapse and remain "flat". In that case you would have to try it again. Yes, Embossing needs a bit of tact to work properly.

8. Finally, you can admire your relief. It should stand out clearly from the ground and shine easily. Do not worry, some shades shine less or not at all.

9. Finally, clean your stamp under running water with a little mild detergent. This will allow you to continue using it in the future without polluting your subsequent artworks.

Tip: If your stamp is dirty or already wet with colors, you should definitely clean it. Impurities and ink residue can have a significant effect on the result, for example, leading to spots with more ink or even other colors.