Embossing Paste - Product Focus

Hi everyone.  This month we are showcasing Embossing Pastes (opaque) as our Product Focus.  We are covering:  types of pastes; how to secure your stencil; how much paste to add; customing your pastes with Colour and/or Texture.  Embossing Gels (transparent) will be covered separately at a later date.

Types of Pastes: (Opaque - doesn't show what is underneath)

• White Pastes
• Coloured Pastes
• Black Paste (Black Gesso is a great alternative if you already have it)
• Metallic Pastes

Specialty Pastes:

• Glitter Pastes: Spectrum Noir (JA - USA); Cosmic Shimmer (SSS - USA)
• Crackle Paste (Opus - Cda) : Crackle Paste (JA - USA); (Blick - USA)
• Fiber Paste (Opus - Cda) : Fiber Paste (JA - USA); (Blick - USA)

Canada:

Opus Art Supplies

USA:

Blick - Blick Art Materials

JA - Jerry's Artarama

SSS - Simon Says Stamp

To save money and also have less pastes to store (which do dry up over time), avoid buying coloured pastes.  Instead buy white paste and colour with re-inkers, powdered inks, acrylic paints or other water soluble colouring mediums.

You can also customize your paste by adding texture (glitter, micobeads, fibres, etc.)

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Supplies for Stenciling with Pastes: (with links to products)

• Card stock
• Stencil
• Painter's tape or Removable Tape
• Palette knife or Stencil Pal (recommended), but you can use any utensil that will spread your paste
• Paste

Place card stock on your work surface.  You may want to add a piece of scratch paper underneath that is larger than stencil to catch any paste that goes off the edge.

Place stencil over card stock, secure with tape to hold it in place while you work.

Use your palette knife, Stencil Pal, or utensil to pick up a fair size of paste.  Start at the top and swipe your paste over the stencil, adding a thick layer.  Smooth the surface, but try not to go over it too many times.

Use your palette knife, Stencil Pal, or item at about 45 degree angle to gently scrape off excess paste.  Try not to go over the same area many times.  If the paste being removed is clean, place it back into your jar to use again later.  Repeat until you have gone over the whole stencil. 

When you are happy with the look, remove tape and gently lift stencil.  Wash your stencil and utensils right away, or temporarily place in a container of water so they are submerged; clean later.

Let the stenciled paste dry thoroughly before finishing your card.

Alternatives:

• Add Colour:  Place an amount of paste on your work surface and add colour (re-inkers, powdered inks, acrylic paint, or any water soluable medium).  Use your palette knife to mix thoroughly together so there are no streaks of white and you've achieved the colour you want.  Apply the coloured paste over your stencil and follow the instructions above on how to apply and remove the stencil.  Make sure to keep the leftover coloured paste in a separate container ... or dispose.  Let dry thoroughly before making your card.
• Add Texture:  Place an amount of paste on your work surface and add texture (glitter, micro beads, etc.).  Use your palette knife to mix thoroughly together.  Follow the instructions above on how to apply and remove the stencil.  Let dry thoroughly before making your card.
• Add Freehand Paste:  Use a palette knife or something similar to pick up paste and add in strokes to your card front.  You can add clouds, snowhills, etc.  Use the palette knife to create a pattern or random design.
• Sponging Paste:  Try using a sponge to add paste over your stencil for a different look. Or use a sponge to add texture to your wet paste.
• Add Heat Embossing:  after removing the stencil, sprinkle your wet paste with embossing powder; shake off excess.  1)  Let dry thoroughly and heat set the embossing powder; 2) heat set the powder before the paste is dry.  The moisture in the wet paste will bubble and create a unique look.

  We hope you'll be inspired to give it a try for yourself.

If you do make cards using Embossing Paste, please join us by adding to the linky at the bottom of this post.  We'd love to see what you make!!

These instructions are listed on the sidebar by technique for easy reference.

Embossing Paste Card Samples

Julia

Susan

Christine

Brenda

Bonnie

Pat

Loll

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Sharing ...

                    Bonnie                                             Bonnie                  (Jo - missing Instagram photo)

    

Pat                                         Robyn O                                      Megan J

Megan J                                                                                           Robyn O

We'll be back on the 28th of April with another

technique and sample cards.

See you then!

Vellum - Product Focus - Embossing (Dry, Heat, Wet)

Hi everyone.  This month we are adding a new category to Group of Seven ... Product Focus.  Vellum may be used in so many ways in place of card stock or over top to create a softened look.

This month we are focussing on Vellum and Embossing (Dry, Heat, Wet).

Thin or thick vellum can be used for all three ways of embossing.  Thick vellum does have advantage as you are less like to experience cracking, tearing or warping.

We recommend thick vellum for most of the techniques.

Amazon USA - Oplymio Thick Transparent Vellum

Amazon Canada - Oplymio Thick Transparent Vellum

Below are a few suggestions for videos to try.

Vellum + Dry Embossing Video:

Vellum Techniques by Laurel Beard (5:22-7:10) - Dry embossing with ink blended background

• Dry emboss a panel of vellum.
• Use a few colours of ink to blend on the back of your panel.  Make sure to smooth the colours together.  Let dry or use heat tool to speed up drying.
• Turn over to complete your card.

Vellum + Heat Embossing Video:

Fabulous Vellum Backgrounds by Christine Stokes (7:28) - how to heat emboss vellum (tips and tricks) and layering stamping for a 3-D look.  You can use a large background stamp or individual stamps.

• Stamp image on front of vellum and heat emboss with white; let cool.
• Flip vellum over and stamp image on back in coloured ink (may use same image or different images).
• Flip vellum over so white embossing is at the front and mount onto card base.  This produces a card from with a 3-D look.  White stamping is in front, and coloured stamping looks recessed.
• Finish card.

Vellum + Wet Embossing Video:  (Embossing Pastes & Embossing Gels)

No video.  Here is a step-by-step:

• Use a vellum piece that is larger than the panel size you need.
• Adhere vellum to work surface (tape down, use magnets, etc. - any way that is strong enough to prevent vellum from curling, which will happen when applying wet paste or gel).
• Place stencil over secured vellum and add paste or gel using a palette knife or scraper.  Remove any excess paste by gently going over surface with a flat edge.
• Remove stencil.  Place stencil and palette knife in water right away or wash thoroughly.
• Leave vellum to air dry.  
• Remove tape or magnets and secure vellum to card.  
• Continue to finish card.

We hope you'll try using Vellum in whatever way inspires you.

If you do make cards using Vellum, please join us by adding to the linky at the bottom of this post.  We'd love to see what you make!!

These instructions are listed on the sidebar by technique for easy reference.

Vellum Card Samples

Loll

 

Julia

Bonnie

Brenda

 

Susan

 

Christine

 

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Sharing ...

                              Marcia Hill                                      Marcia Hill                                           Bonnie

                               Linda W.                                         Linda W.                                          Linda W.

                               Robyn O.                                     Jenny Martin                                      JoAnn B.

                                   Pat                                                Bonnie                                      Nance Salkeld

                                      Pat                                                    Loll                                               Julie B