Calling all you DIYers!

[bnd94]

Does anyone know if it is possible to.....I don't know the correct word....make the paper raised up like this invitation? I love this but I would really like to do it myself:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12/Bnd94/W8716_033Xlr.jpg

Can you all see where the paper is raised up around the leaf?

[CarlosHoney]

I think it's called 'Embossed', and you have to get a paper press thing. Like those notary stamps?

If it's too much, you could always just do this:

1.Cut out the window where the leaves are
2.Cut out the little squiggles/curvy lines instead of embossing them
3.Paste in the picture you like
4.Use some pretty paper to go behind the cut outs of the squiggles.

[usahgrad]

Are you talking raised as in the window or raised as in the design? The design is embossed and you can get plates and a tool to do that at any craft store (it will take some time, but it looks beautiful). Most people will say you need a light box to do it, but I just tape the plate to the window to do it. You flip the paper over and press the paper into the template...it is kind of difficult because you have to make sure you don't push through the paper. The plates run anywhere from 2.00 to 10.00 dollars (some are even more depending on the size) and the tool tends to run 1.00-5.00. It's a wood rod and has two little metal ball ends off each side, one ball is smaller than the other (just to give you an idea what you're looking for). You can get a machine that will do this faster, but be MUCH more expensive.

As for the raised window, there are scrapbooking stickies (I'm sure there's a more technical term for them) that are thicker so that they raise the first sheet up. I would look into that if it's the raised top sheet you're looking for.

[bnd94]

COOL! I was expecting to open this thread and be told that it was impossible for a DIY project. I'm definitely gonna try it. You girls are awesome!!

Just to clarify I was talking about the design around the leaf on the top sheet. The swirlies. I actually have a sample of this invitaion. The second sheet is a sheer(well not sheer, it's almost see thru and feels silky) piece of paper with the leaf printed on it. Then you open that page and you have the wording. I love the wording too:

"No hill too steep, no trail too long to stop our love from growing strong"

It is so perfect since we are getting married on top of a mountain!! I didn't even know what the verse was when I ordered the sample. I just loved the front!

[CarlosHoney]

That's awesome!!

[CindySue]

Oh....I like that! It is very fitting for what you have planned.

[usahgrad]

It is very fitting...what a beautiful quote.

Check out Michaels, they usually have a good supply of plates. If you have to ask, you're looking for Dry Embossing tools and plates. Don't know if some of the yuppies who work at Michaels (or anywhere else) know what that is, but that's what you're looking for. They're usually near the stamps and scrapbooking. I would get it now to practice and start, because it does take some time. Good luck!

[bnd94]

It is very fitting...what a beautiful quote.

Check out Michaels, they usually have a good supply of plates. If you have to ask, you're looking for Dry Embossing tools and plates. Don't know if some of the yuppies who work at Michaels (or anywhere else) know what that is, but that's what you're looking for. They're usually near the stamps and scrapbooking. I would get it now to practice and start, because it does take some time. Good luck!

Thank you very much. I can't wait to get started!! I am going to go to Micheals tomorrow.

Can you use any paper you want? Or is there a certain kind you have to use. Can I practice on that cheap white copy paper? LOL!! as you can see I know nothing about this type of stuff!! :lol:

Does anyone know if it is possible to.....I don't know the correct word....make the paper raised up like this invitation? I love this but I would really like to do it myself:

Can you all see where the paper is raised up around the leaf?

What you’re talking about it making your own paper. ;p

When you make your own paper you build a press that will put the design into the paper. When pressing the paper you can add glue to the press to make a shape (this is how watermarks are made in dollar bills, etc).

Here is one way to make your own paper; some people also add glue to the pulp:

Below you will find a simple papermaking recipe to get you started. If this is the first time you are making paper, don't be afraid to experiment with different fibers, you don't have to stick with paper related products. Add whole flower heads to the pulp mixture after it has been through the blender. You can add scraps of yarn, tin foil, even seeds. Its all comes down to what you want. Experiment with different textures and colors after all Ts'ai Lun did! Remember, some of your ideas will turn out while others may not. Have fun with it, express your creativity.


* Sponge
* Window Screening (mold)
* Wood Frame (old picture frame can be used too) (deckle)
* Plastic Basin/Tub (Large enough to totally immerse frame)
* Blender/Food Processor (For making paper pulp)
* White Felt or Flannel Fabric
* Staples or Tacks (For tacking screen on frame)
* Liquid starch or glue (optional)

Instructions:

1. Select the pieces of paper to be recycled. You can even mix different types to create your own unique paper.

2. Rip the paper into small bits, and place into the blender. (About half full). Fill the blender with warm water. Run the blender slowly at first then increase the speed until the pulp looks smooth and well blended. ( 30 -40 seconds) Check that no flakes of paper remain. If there are, blend longer.

3. The next step is to make a mold. The mold, in this case, is made simply by stretching fiberglass screen (plain old door and window screen) over a wooden frame and stapling it. It should be as tight as possible.

4. Fill the basin about half way with water. Add 3 blender loads of pulp. (The more pulp you add the thicker the finished paper will be) Stir the mixture.

5. Now is the time to add the liquid starch or glue for sizing.(This is not necessary but if the paper is going to be used for writing on, you should add some, the starch helps to prevent inks from soaking into the paper fibers.) Stir 2 teaspoons of liquid starch into the pulp.

Place the mold into the pulp and then level it out while it is submerged. Gently wiggle it side-to-side until the pulp on top of the screen looks even.

6. Slowly lift the mold up until it is above the level of the water. Wait until most of the water has drained from the new paper sheet. If the paper is very thick, remove some pulp from the tub. If it is too thin, add more pulp and stir the mixture again.

7. When the mold stops dripping, gently place one edge on the side of a fabric square (felt or flannel square). Gently ease the mold down flat, with the paper directly on the fabric. Use a sponge to press out as much water as possible. Wring the excess water from the sponge back into the large plastic tub.

8. Now comes the tricky part. Hold the fabric square flat and slowly lift the edge of the mold. The wet sheet of paper should remain on the fabric. If it sticks to the mold, you may have pulled to fast or not pressed out enough water. It takes a little practice. You can gently press out any bubbles and loose edges at this point.

9. Repeat the steps above, and stack the fabric squares on a cookie sheet. Save one fabric square to place on the top of the stack to cover the last piece of paper. Use another cookie sheet to press the remaining water out of the stack. (do this outside or in the bathtub, it can make a mess)

10. After you press the stack, gently separate the sheets. They can be dried by hanging on a clothesline or laying them out on sheets of newspaper. When they have dried peel them off the fabric and voila! you have paper!

[CarlosHoney]

I'll have to try that sometime. I could watermark my own paper. That's awesome!! :D

[usahgrad]

Becky, the softer the paper, the harder it is to emboss. However, if you practice with, let's say computer paper, and you get to where you're not punching holes in it, you'll be able to do it on cardstock without a problem. You have to be very careful and it is much easier to do on cardstock. Of course, if you make the paper as suggested above, you may be able to get more done faster. Good luck! I'm sure they'll turn out beautiful!

[ikkin510]

That is one of the invitations that we were looking at! They are so beautiful! Perfect for a fall wedding. The only reason we decided against it was cause it seems a little fancier then we wanted.

[usahgrad]

MAN! Did you check out the inscriblio thing on that site? How cool was that?!?! Wonder how much it costs....

[bnd94]

That is one of the invitations that we were looking at! They are so beautiful! Perfect for a fall wedding. The only reason we decided against it was cause it seems a little fancier then we wanted.

Yeah it is a little fancy. I hope it isn't too much though. We are planning just a casual reception. Which others are you looking at?

[bnd94]

MAN! Did you check out the inscriblio thing on that site? How cool was that?!?! Wonder how much it costs....

Which site?

[usahgrad]

On the link at the top of the page, one of the sites listed is a Michael's. They had a suggestion for monograming your own stuff with a thing called an inscriblio. You can use it to engrave pretty much anything.

[bnd94]

Found it :D

That is cool! I want to engrave my own glasses. There is no way I am going to pay 30 bucks for two toasting glasses!! lol!!

These are the ones I want. Wish I could make them gold leaves like they are in the picture. Do you have any suggestions on how to do that? I know I could paint them but I would really like them to be engraved into the glass.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a12/Bnd94/W04711_006lr.jpg

[bnd94]

Just an update on my shopping adventure yesterday.....

It didn't go so good. I went to two craft stores and neither one had more than 3 things for embossing. I think I may need to just buy what I need online. I also looked around to see what the paper is going to cost. Ben Franklins had the vellum paper for 50cents a SHEET!!! OMG!! That was way too much. But I looked online and I can get 50 sheets for $2.00 plus $5 shipping on ebay so at least I know I can get it cheap.

[bnd94]

Ok so now I need some more help with the whole embossing process.

While I was at the stores I saw this stuff called embossing powder. So I am assuming that is one way of doing this and the other is to use a stencil of what I want and put it on the back side of the paper and use an embossing tool to gently press the paper into the stencil to get the design.

Now the second process sounds much easier to me. Do I have the process right?

[CindySue]

I havent really looked into all the fancy syuff like that for my invitations. All I gonna do is get pretty paper, print them off my home computer, and tie a pretty ribbon on them. Thats about all the effort Im putting into my invitations.
I have heard that the emossing powder takes a while but it is very easy.

[usahgrad]

Ok, embossing powder is different. What you do with embossing powder is you buy an embossing ink pad (it's made with ink that's kind of like glue) and a stamp you think is pretty. You stamp the stamp using the embossing ink pad on whatever you want to emboss. Then you sprinkle the embossing powder on it (immediately after you stamp). It's just like when you were little and made a design with glue and then put glitter on it. Make sure you cover all of the ink with the embossing powder. Now, the last tool for the whole project is a heat gun (I've heard of people using hair dryers, but I wouldn't suggest it). The heat gun melts the embossing powder so that it's solid you get a raised look. You can get embossing powder in a million different colors. I believe that there is also an empossing pen (instead of the ink pad) so you could do fancy letters or something. The raised look of the invitation you were referring to in the very beginning is dry embossing. Regular embossing is what they do to make the raised letters on cards. Hope this helps. (Sorry, worked in a stamping and scrapbooking store for a year, I'm a wealth of useless information when it comes to this stuff!)

[CindySue]

Im actually toying with the idea of using the embossing power on my invitations after looking at a few things.

[usahgrad]

Remember, it won't work without the right ink pad (or marker) and the heating gun. The ink sticks it in the right spot and the heating gun melts it so it stays. It really looks GORGEOUS when it's completed though. I've thought about doing it on our programs. :)

[CarlosHoney]

I'll have to think about that embossing powder! I'll check it out.

Anyone know where I can find a good picture of it? I don't think I've ever seen it before.

[usahgrad]

Ok, here are some pics:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/powder.jpg
Embossing Powder
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d123/usahgrad/heatgun.jpg
Heat Gun

This website looked like it might help y'all out too:
http://www.intersurf.com/~redstic/R101/Emboss.htm

Hope that helps.

[bnd94]

Ok, embossing powder is different. What you do with embossing powder is you buy an embossing ink pad (it's made with ink that's kind of like glue) and a stamp you think is pretty. You stamp the stamp using the embossing ink pad on whatever you want to emboss. Then you sprinkle the embossing powder on it (immediately after you stamp). It's just like when you were little and made a design with glue and then put glitter on it. Make sure you cover all of the ink with the embossing powder. Now, the last tool for the whole project is a heat gun (I've heard of people using hair dryers, but I wouldn't suggest it). The heat gun melts the embossing powder so that it's solid you get a raised look. You can get embossing powder in a million different colors. I believe that there is also an empossing pen (instead of the ink pad) so you could do fancy letters or something. The raised look of the invitation you were referring to in the very beginning is dry embossing. Regular embossing is what they do to make the raised letters on cards. Hope this helps. (Sorry, worked in a stamping and scrapbooking store for a year, I'm a wealth of useless information when it comes to this stuff!)

NO WAY GIRL your info is not useless. I appreciate it very much!! I am clueless on this stuff :? Thank you so much for your help!! :D

[usahgrad]

Anytime. Hope I helped.

I had never seen embossing with a toaster. That kind of weirded me out...although, it would save on the heating gun. Hey, which reminds me. If you're not a serious stamper/scraper (or even if you are)--heat guns on Ebay are about half the price you'll pay in the store!

[bnd94]

Yeah a toaster is the last thing I would have thought about. Seems like it would work good though. I may try doing my design with the powder. It sounds like it would be easier.

[CindySue]

Wait a minute........I totally missed something......making invitations with a toaster?:confused:

[bnd94]

:D Well you don't actually make the invitation with the toaster. After you put the embossing powder on the card and get to the point where you need to apply heat, you set the card on top of the toaster and use the heat from it to melt the powder. It is explained better in the link that Kelli posted.

[usahgrad]

So Becky anymore luck? Did you change your idea? Any update? ;)

[bnd94]

I'm terrible! I gotta get back to the store this week. I live about an hour away from any major stores so I don't get to go shopping as much as I would like!:(
Maybe this coming week I'll get a chance to experiment a little. I hope. :D

[usahgrad]

You're not terrible. I can't imagine living that far from stores...although, I think I would kind of enjoy the quiet. We're a hop, skip, and jump from michael's and there's this GREAT craft store around here that I've just discovered called Pat Catans. They have HUGE sales! It's my heaven! :)

[courthay]

You're not terrible. I can't imagine living that far from stores...although, I think I would kind of enjoy the quiet. We're a hop, skip, and jump from michael's and there's this GREAT craft store around here that I've just discovered called Pat Catans. They have HUGE sales! It's my heaven! :)

Kelli, I'm just curious, is there a Pat Catans in Cuyahoga Falls? If so do you mind telling me where it is? I've been to the one in Canton and I LOVE it! That would be awesome because I'm SO much closer to Cuyahoga Falls than Canton. :)

[usahgrad]

Yes there's a Pat Catan's in Cuyahoga Falls! It's up on State Road...well, it may be in Akron at that point...but it's in that area that's kind of the muddy line...by the McDs. If you're coming from Akron and you hit Broad, you've gone to far. Also, if you're coming from Akron, it's on the right. It's where Hilarities Comedy Club is in that strip mall that kind of has the Aspen look to it.

[courthay]

Yes there's a Pat Catan's in Cuyahoga Falls! It's up on State Road...well, it may be in Akron at that point...but it's in that area that's kind of the muddy line...by the McDs. If you're coming from Akron and you hit Broad, you've gone to far. Also, if you're coming from Akron, it's on the right. It's where Hilarities Comedy Club is in that strip mall that kind of has the Aspen look to it. AWESOME!! Thanks so much! I'm so going to check it out today! :)

[usahgrad]

You know...I think we live REALLY close...lol. You beat out Lacey for how close we live to each other. And I didn't realize it until you said something...I'm a bonehead.:bbmrgreen:

[courthay]

You know...I think we live REALLY close...lol. You beat out Lacey for how close we live to each other. And I didn't realize it until you said something...I'm a bonehead.:bbmrgreen:
:) I went to Pat Catan's today, thanks so much for telling me there is one there (saves me driving time :) ) Yeah we are probably really close, I live only about 10 minutes from the Falls (I'm really close to the UA campus). I drive thru there just about everyday on my way to work. It took me awhile to realize that we are so close too, it didn't even dawn on me until I saw your post about Pat Catan's.

[usahgrad]

Lol...well, you know Midwesterners...we're not the quickest to grasp on to things...lol! :velo:

[courthay]

Lol...well, you know Midwesterners...we're not the quickest to grasp on to things...lol! :velo:

LOL, I guess you could say that :bblol:

[usahgrad]

:bbmrgreen: