NEW - GUIDE TO CRAFTING BLOGS
Last week, as a Design Team, we launched our NEW Guide To Crafting Blog Series.....
The aim of these is to share our knowledge of top tips, tricks with popular techniques
We will be showing new crafters some simple techniques, as well as some more advanced ones for our hardcore crafters. Also tips you might not have known :-)
EMBOSSING FOLDERS & EMBOSSING TECHNIQUES
This week I am bringing you into the magical world of Embossing Folders and embossing techniques...
Embossing goes back to ancient times and it was thought that Egyptians and Persians used to emboss onto leather.
For us crafters, we use the easier approach with tools like die cutting machines, embossing tools, and embossing folders.
GETTING STARTED.......
CHECK YOUR SANDWICH
And before you ask... no it's not time for lunch lol!
A 'sandwich' describes which cutting / embossing plates you need to use with the relevant dies and folders which are of different thicknesses. This then creates the correct pressure when passing through your machine.
📝 NOTE - Before starting to emboss on your machines, check your manufacturers instructions as all Brands of die cutting machines tend to be slightly different in terms of the 'sandwich' you use.
TYPES OF EMBOSSING FOLDERS
▪️3D Embossing Folders
▪️Standard Embossing Folders
▪️Embossing Folders of Different Sizes
Experiment with various folders and sandwiches through your machine using scrap pieces of card
Never force your plates / shims through your machine as you can snap your folders and cause damage to your machine. I have done this twice :-(
Ok that's the prep talk done.... now let's show you some techniques.....
USING INK PADS
For this technique, I've chosen Nellie Snellen's Woodgrain Folder, which I ran through my machine with some Polar White Elite Card.
✅ TIP - The best surface to blend inks on is a glass mat, or a blending mat as they help with the smooth flow of your hand / ink when colour blending. (I'll pop a couple of examples in my Shopping List below).
To begin, I took my blending brush along with my Distress Tea Dye Oxide Ink Pad which I rubbed over my card...
Next, I took the above Distress Oxide colour and literally dragged the pad over the top of my card.
📸 PHOTO - I did just half to show you the two results
I covered the left side, before doing the right side the same way, but this was with Distress Oxide Vintage Photo Ink.
Drag your ink over as many times as you want to get the result you like :-)
✅ TOP TIP - Remember not to force the pad to hard as you can't remove if you 'over ink.'
📸 My photo shows you both results
I love this rustic, aged wood; quite effective and ideal for mixed media projects as well as card making.
HOW TO CREATE FLAT BACKING PAPER
This is a fantastic technique - great if you want the design, but want a flat surface for your card.
I took a sheet of Jamie Rodgers Crafts Elite Potion Purple Card and cut down to 6x6" to fit into my
Embossing Folder. I ran this through my die-cutting machine once.
This is the beautiful 3D effect you ger.....
Taking my Quick Dry Pigment Ink Pad in Piggy Pink, I lightly rubbed over my embossed image.
Once finished... I then ran it through my machine WITHOUT the embossing folder.
✅ TIP - I used a sheet of thin card on top to prevent any wet ink going onto my cutting plates.
Voilà your image is flat and will make perfect backing paper.
EXTENDING YOUR PANELS
Sometimes you have the perfect folder for a project, but your card base or area is bigger than the folder.... I have the perfect solution
Take the size of the card needed for your card and ADD 3mm.
I'm using this folder and as you will see the excess card hangs out.
Run it through your die cutting machine; take the card out and put it back in on the opposite side of the folder with plain card which needs to be embossed.
I removed the card and with a guillotine, I cut where the two joined.
These aren't always perfectly straight so a guillotine is the ideal tool to create sharp clean cuts.
I cut off the excess 3mm I had added, so my patterned then matched.
This will come apparently when you try this......
Next, I used double sided tape on both pieces in order to stick them together.
✅ TIP - I find that tape creates the best (and permanent) bond when joining card together.
📸 Zoom in and see if you can see the join.....
COLOURING WITH STENCILS
▪️Embossing Folder Sets
Some embossing folders can now also come with either dies or stencils, and sometimes both.
For this demo, I used Creative Expressions Rose Garden which is an embossing folder with matching stencils available.
I ran Jamie Rodgers Crafts Raven Black Elite Card through my machine in the embossing folder first, before transferring it onto my Make Art Stay-tion Board, and securing the first stencil (there is 2 for this folder) with the magnets.
📝 NOTE - Line it up with the embossed parts before securing.
I decided to use my Nova Metallic Markers to add colour, as these looks stunning on black card.
I found holding the stencil down close to where you are colouring with a finger really helps, so you don't slip underneath with your pen.
Once done, I removed the first stencil and then put on the second one and coloured as before.
You really have the freedom to experiment and play around with different mediums on this technique.
USING METALLIC GILDING POLISH
Now this is truly addictive and one of my favourites which you just have to try......
Here I've used the above embossing folder with Raven Black Elite Card.
📝NOTE - There is a matching stencil with this folder which is in my Shopping List, but here I used the folder on its' own)
I don't usually use a lot of gold and silver together, however I thought I would be adventurous.. and I'm so glad I have!!!!!!
I applied these Cosmic Shimmer Metallic Gilding Polishes to my card - covering random sections to achieve this look :-)
✅ TIP - I find it easier to apply with my finger to keep it light.... you can remove the polish if you are a little heavy handed. However, less is defintiely more!
This is my favourite technique to use with folders as you can achieve a real authentic metal finish when complete!
SANDING & INKING TECHNIQUE
This is an old style to use, however it remains a favourite in the world of card making.
Here I've used Nellie Snellen's 3D Knitting Folder again...
This time I've used plain card and also a core card.
Taking a sanding block, I sanded the core card only and then dragged my Tea Dye Distress Oxide Ink Pad over the left side of the embossed area to add colour.
With the photos you can see that the ink is very bright on the left side of the sanded area and on the right just the sanded area looks so rustic.
The plain embossed can still be coloured but to me the effect is not as vibrant.
Afterwards, I tried to sand the plain image, but struggled to remove the fibres, so core card is the best to use.
EMBOSSING DIE CUTS
Not a lot of people are aware of this little gem....
It doesn't involve an embossing folder and you can create your own backing papers from your die cut images.
Here I've used a fir branch from the above die set and cut it out in Polar White Elite Card several times.
Now in my 'sandwich,' I will be using my rubber mat as this helps the die cuts to stay in shape and embossing into my card.
📝 NOTE - Remember to check the sandwich before trying this :-)
I laid my die cuts onto my rubber mat in various positions and then put my piece of card on top.
(This might take a few attempts to get your die cuts in the right place).
I then put my plate on top and ran through my machine.
Now the effect isn't as 'deep' as you would get with an embossing folder, but very pretty!
I rubbed some gold Metallic Gilding Polish over the embossed areas.
A great little technique, and very versatile meaning you can emboss with all of your dies... giving you so many options!
BLACK OUT TECHNIQUE
So I have saved my most recent and favourite technique until last.....
This is sooo easy - yet amazingly outstanding when you finish!!
For this I used the Magnolia Folder from earlier.
I cut a Polar White 6x6" panel and ran it through my machine.
Now this time we are working with the reverse and debossed side.
For this step you can use what ever you like.... as in pencils, pens, paints or inks.
I chose my Distress Oxide Inks to colour and the best thing is you don't have to be too careful.
If you go over the edges, they will be covered, and if you miss bits out, you can add right at the end.
✅ TIP - Make a note of the colours used for certain parts of the design so it's easier to top up if bits missing.
Now this doesn't look much at all... but believe me, with the next step the results will just POP!
I took a black ink pad -VeraFine Clair Nocturne.
I rubbed the ink pad all over my image until I was happy with the shade of black.
📝 NOTE - Do not worry as the black will not go into your de-bossed areas.
WOW! How fab does this look... and so easy!
Now you can fill in any missing areas of colour.
If you want deep black then maybe try a juicy black ink pad to give a more vivid look.
Well that's the end of this tutorial on various ways you can use your embossing folders.
Hopefully there are some new techniques you can try out.
Please feel free to message me if you have any questions or need help :-)
You can also get in touch with me, ask questions and post your makes on our Facebook Group - Create With Craftmania And Jamie Rodgers.
Cheers guys and happy crafting, until next time!
Take Care
Ian x
Craftmania Shopping List.......
EMBOSSING FOLDERS
Also Available
METALLIC GILDING POLISHES
PENS