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Card Making Techniques
Embossing Techniques

Embossing Techniques
Step One

Take your cards to the next level by embossing!

With wonderful decorative effects that will add texture and dimension to your cards.

Card Making uses two different types of embossing techniques:

Dry Embossing

Heat Embossing

Dry Embossing Techniques

Dry embossing is raised or recessed designs on the paper.

It is created with an embossing or die cutting machine and textured embossing folders.

Sizzix big Shot, the Spellbinders Platinum 6 and the Cuttlebug are the most popular brands on the market. They are operated by a crank handle on the side of the machine.

Alternatively, you can use an electronic die cutting machine such as the Gemini.

A dry embossed Christmas card created with a dynamic embossing folder.

Simply "sandwich" the card into an embossing folder and add different plates.

Each machine will have it's own instructions for making the "sandwich".

Just feed the "sandwich" into the machine by turning the handle. This squeezes the folder between two rollers to create a 2 D image on the card.

Sizzix recommends that the folder is fed into machine hinge side first.

There are a multitude of embossing folder designs on the market from flowers to brick and wood effects. The choice is enormous!

New heavy dynamic folders produce an awesome 3 D effect with realistic textures. These are much thicker and require a different "sandwich" from the standard embossing folders.

Embossing folder make great backgrounds for your die cut images or can be used on their own with a simple sentiment.

Have a look at Paper Die Cutting to find out more about dry embossing.

No Machine?

Create the dry embossed effect by hand using stencils

and an embossing tool.

Embossed lines and borders can also be made with scoring board.

Dry Embossing Ideas

Brayered Dry Embossing

Open up an embossing folder. Ink the raised side using a brayer or sponge. Be carefully not to press too hard as you only want ink on the raised areas.

Place a piece of card into the folder and close.

Run through your embossing or die cutting machine to transfer the ink onto the card.

Carefully remove card from the "sandwich" and allow card to dry.

Clean embossing folder with water or a wet wipe.

Frosted Dry Embossing

Emboss image onto a piece of coloured card with a white core card (eg: designer paper).

Use a sanding block to gently rub off the top layer to reveal the white core.

Dry Emboss Vellum

Emboss image onto a piece of vellum to create a translucent image.

Either leave plain or colour the raised sections with markers.

A Christmas card created with embossed vellum

Dry Emboss Aluminium Foil

Cover a piece of card with extra thick aluminium foil and run through the embossing machine for amazing results.

Silver card can create a similar effect.

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