embossing in papertrey ink color

Embossing is one of the back to the basics techniques in stamping. there's nothing more magical than stamping, sprinkling on some embossing powder, and then watching as it melts to a shiny finish on your project. You can buy just about every color you can think of out there in embossing powders - how are you supposed to choose what to have in your collection? With a few basic supplies that you probably already have, you can emboss in just about any color that you have an ink pad for! I am going to show you how to make your snowflakes (or any other image) glisten and shine on your next stamping project.

Here are the basic supplies you need - I am sure you have everything here, especially if you have ever embossed before: Versamark ink, colored ink (I am using Limeade Ice, Spring Rain, and Blueberry Sky), clear embossing powder, and a heat tool.

Ink up the stamp that you want to use with the Versamark ink. I am using a snowflake from Snowflake Medley for my project.

Next, add the colored ink of your choice. Normally, a dye base ink - which is what the Papertrey Ink colors are - dries very quickly and so embossing powder won't readily or evenly stick to the stamped image. Versamark is a sticky, slow drying ink and so by adding it to the stamp along with the colored ink keeps that colored ink from drying too quickly.

Always ink your stamp with Versamark first and that will keep you from staining your Versamark pad with color.

Will Versamark ink hurt your colored ink pad? No, you are really adding such a small amount of ink in the first place that it won't affect your dye ink pad.

Next, add the clear embossing powder to the image and then heat to melt the powder.

(Click to see the photo larger for detail)

I covered my cardstock with colored embossed snowflakes for my card - giving them a lovely glisten and shine. A little detail like this is one to use to take your project up that notch.

To finish off my card, I added a tag that I made doing the emboss resist technique and using the new 2012 Holiday Tags set.

Now you can emboss in any color that you want - what color will you try first?

Supplies:

all supplies from Papertrey Ink unless noted

Snowflakes Glisten Card

size: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"

stamps: Snowflake Medley, 2012 Holiday Tags

ink: Limeade Ice, Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky

cardstock: white, Blueberry Sky

other: Blueberry Sky stitched ribbon, 2 1/4" oval Limitless Layers die, Enchanted Evening buttons, clear embossing powder, snowflake brads (Creative Impressions)