LET'S SCRAP DESIGN TEAM TUTORIAL #29

A while back the administrators at Let's Scrap made some changes to the site.  One of the changes they made was to bring in some tutorials.  This way the members get to be reminded of some old techniques, that have long been forgotten about and then also see some awesome new techniques.  So one week it is time for a DT Challenge (my challenge is coming up this Friday, so have a look out) and the following week it is time for a DT Tutorial.  Last week Friday, was my turn to host a tutorial.

LET'S SCRAP DT TUTORIAL #29:  HEAT EMBOSSING

While looking through the Let's Scrap gallery the past two weeks, I realised there were not a lot of layouts with stamping, and even less layouts with heat embossing.  So I decided to do a tutorial on heat embossing.

First of all you will need some tools.  These include the following:

• the stamp you are wanting to use;
• an acrylic block (if you are using acrylic stamps);
• distress ink;
• embossing powder; and 
• heat gun

In order to some stamping with heat embossing, hear are the steps to follow:

• Place your stamp on the acrylic block and ink the stamp.  Transparent Versa Mark ink is great to use when you do not want the ink to show, such as when you are using light coloured embossing powder (thank you Eniko).  
• Stamp on the paper you have decided to use.

• Immediately after you have stamped the image you need to sprinkle a thick layer of embossing powder over the stamped area, such that it covers the area adequately.  The best way is to have the embossing powder ready before you so your stamping.  It is very important to throw the embossing powder over the stamped area while it is still wet.  

• Once you have sprinkled the embossing powder, you need to "tap off" the extra embossing powder, such that the only powder left is that on the paper where the stamped image is.  
• You are now ready to use your heat gun :-)  Once you have switched it on, place it over the stamped area and watch the image transform from dull to embossed :-)

Once you have embossed your stamped image, you can proceed to use it on your layout or card or any other media.  

I love to use it on cards, as well as my chipboard titles for layouts.  What's great about using it on chipboard, is that it gives the chipboard a totally different look.  The layout I have below is an example where I used heat embossing on chipboard letters and embellishments.  

In order to achieve the look above I did the following:

• Painted the chipboard letters;
• Stamped the images on each letter;
• Covered the letters with embossing powder; and
• Heated the letters.

You will see there are red patterns on the chipboard letters, these are the embossed sections on each of the letters.  

This is really one of my favourite techniques, and so versatile!

I really hope you enjoyed the tutorial and that you will try it out sometime.

Happy Scrappin'