Dry Embossing

1. If you don't have a light box you may use a window or a night light on an extension cord under a tinted glass square pan. That is not a recommendation. I recommend a full size light box to keep projects from shifting and to prevent scorching your work surface, your project, or yourself. You will love dry embossing and will need one eventually so you can save yourself some hassle by starting with one. All supplies for dry embossing are available in our card and dry embossing sections of the store.
2. Use the largest possible ball on your embossing tool. To prevent tearing with darker paper start with gentle pressure and repeat gradually adding pressure.
3. Always use a wadded piece of waxed paper and rub over the surface to be embossed for easy flow of the stylus. Do not wax areas where you will be writing or tinting.
4. Use plain white unruled recipe cards for white backgrounds and for pop ups.
5. Use heavy vellum for lacy borders and for bugs wings. Try two layers of vellum for bugs wings and fold the top layer forward. Try adding a line of glitter glue (Embellishments section - Glitter) around edges of the bug wings.
6. Embossing papers are white on the back so they're easy to see through. Place the template on the light box first (backwards for lettering) then paper face down. You may use a small piece of removable tape to hold paper and template together if you fear it may shift. Keep template facing the same direction for each color of paper so you don't have stems headed one way and flowers the other.
7. If you are going to be coloring the image attach the template to your paper using removable tape. Emboss first then flip the paper and template over. Add color to the embossed surface with the template still attached. Color can be added using brushes, daubers, a chalking tool or sponges and water colors, chalk or stamp pads.
8. Keep small pieces connected, like leaves behind flowers or wings behind bugs, so they are easier to adhere.
9. Embossing on metal can be difficult unless you are from the planet Krypton. For most of us it is easier to place the metal sheet face down on a piece of rubber such as a mouse pad or push pad (Basics - Tools). Position your template on top of it then emboss through the template pushing the metal down into the mat. Voila!