Embossing help!

[trinibride]

Hey guys,

So I attempted to start my invitaitons yesterday and disaster struck.

My embossing powder will not stick to the stamped image. Even worse, when i attempt to dry it, the gun kinda scorches the paper.

Dont know what to do because I followed everyones instructions about embossing so I went out and bought a pearlescent purple pigment ink pad and ultra snow deep fall embossing powder. but it just doesnt stick to the ink.

What should I do??

[joraye]

Is that a water-based or non-water-based ink? Don't quote me as an expert, as I bought some embossing supplies last week too....but I read that one works better for holding the powder than another....I'll see what I can find.

I know a pink pearlescant ink in a heart stamp pulled significantly less powder, but then a straight black pulled alot and it embossed PERFECTLY. I'll check when I get home.

[Jacobs_Girl]

what size powder did you use? It could be the embossing powder may be to big to stick in all areas.

As for the paper scorching, sounds like your holding the embosser too close to the paper. I like to do round circles 4-5 passes.

[trinibride]

size of powder?? Didnt know that the powder had a size. Oh geez! Right now im jus thinking of scraping this invi idea.

but i must say that without embossing the pearlescent ink looks really pretty on white cardstock :)

[trinibride]

Im wondering if it will look ok if I just stamp it without embossing. Hmm

[Jacobs_Girl]

embossing powder comes in like thickness, if your stamp has fine lines then you would need the thinnest powder.

When you say Ultra does it say Ultra thick embossing powder? I think thats the largest thickness lol

[trinibride]

Im not sure what thickness it is. It doesnt say. Im depressed!

[SunnyAB]

If your ink isnt specifically for embossing, that is most likely the problem. Normally when you stamp something, you want the ink to dry quickly, so it doesnt smudge all over the place, but with embossing, you want the ink to be slow drying so by the time you get the powder on, the powder has something to cling on to. So I would check that first - and get embossing ink. Then for the powder, as Jacobs_Girl mentioned, if you are embossing print or very fine lines you want very fine powder because as you heat up the powder it melts and spreads and if you use a thicker or bigger 'flaked' powder - it will just spread out more and not give you a crisp finish to your print or image. And finally - again as Jacobs_Girl mentioned - the scorching is probably coming from the gun being too close. A trick I often use is to heat the paper from the underside so the powder on the bottom melts and clings to the ink (but with the gun still not held that close to the paper), then finish off with the gun on top, again sweeping it back and forth so the heat isnt directed in one spot for very long. Good luck!

[kimekia5519]

I don't know anything about embossing... but don't give up!!! All of the embossed invitations that we have seen here from the ladies have been fantastic!!! You still have time!!!

[MrsDM]

I always used the VersaMark ink pad and then just any kinds of powder to emboss...hmm..got me what went wrong!

I'm not sure if this is an option, but I was at JoAnn's today and they had embossing markers! I've never seen those before. Apparently you write or color, put the powder over and apply the heat. I must say I'm intrigued...

Good luck, let us know how it turns out because I'm planning on embossing and I'll probably run into the same problem!!

[bichonlvr]

I think the paper gets 20 rippled when you hold the dryer too close!

Also, they sell a clear pad for embossing, I think it is called Emboss stamp pad!

[trinibride]

I think i've figured out the problem. The stamp that I purchased has very thin lines so the powder is not sticking. They also sent me a tiny butterfly rubber stamp and it embossed!! So i think thats my problem. The stamp has fine detailing on it. Will post a pic of my results....