How to Heat Emboss

Heat embossing is one of those techniques that crafters are often afraid to try. It is however, in my opinion, one of the most satisfying and versatile crafting techniques around.

• Technique:
• SAFETY ALERT!
• To heat emboss you will need to know the basics:
• Products used:
• Tools used:

Technique:

SAFETY ALERT!

Just remember that a heat tool can reach temperatures of up to 200 °C (about 392°F). Keep your fingers out of the way if you don’t want burn wounds! Also make sure to stay away from any synthetic materials (especially curtains) that can melt! This technique is not recommended for children.

To heat emboss you will need to know the basics:

1. Heat tools can get very hot, so make sure you work on a heat-resistant surface like a Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat. I am using a wooden box.
2. You need something to heat emboss. This could be a stamped image, or a chipboard element or even an embellishment like a brad or a flower.
3. You need some embossing powder. This comes in clear as well as a large variety of colours.
4. You need something to make the embossing powder stick to the object that you want to emboss. I am going to call this the STICKY MEDIUM. This can be an embossing ink pad, an embossing pen, embossing paste, a gel medium or even an ink that dries slow enough so that the powder has time to stick to it. (usually a pigment type ink)
5. You need some heat. Usually this is best provided by a heat tool (hair dryers don’t typically work, too much wind and not enough heat). Long ago we used to use a stove plate!

The following video shows this technique beautifully:

1. Before I start, I use an anti-static pad to cover everything I am using to make sure that the embossing powder only sticks to the sticky medium.
2. Now apply the sticky medium to the object. The sticky medium can be an embossing ink pad, an embossing pen, embossing paste, gel medium or even an ink that dries slow enough so that the powder has time to stick to it. (usually a pigment type ink)
3. Add some embossing powder. I add it over a sheet of paper folded in half so that I can catch any excess powder and return it to the container without a problem.
4. Wait a couple of seconds for the embossing powder to stick to the sticky medium and then shake off the excess powder. This can also be returned to the container.
5. Make sure that you use something to protect your work surface like a glass mat or other heat-resistant surface. I use a wooden box. Also make sure to use something like tweezers or a handle-it-tool to hold the item being heat embossed.
6. Now heat the powder until it starts to melt with a heat tool. When it has melted move to the next spot. If you hold the heat tool too close to the powder (or for too long) it can overheat and it could start to bubble, (yes, you guessed it, it is starting to boil!) and we don’t want that to happen!
7. If you are not satisfied with the result, you could always add a second layer of embossing powder and repeat the process.

Products used:

• Something to heat emboss (an image, Chipboard element, flower etc.)
• Embossing ink (or some other sticky medium like embossing paste, a gel medium or even an ink that dries slow enough so that the powder has time to stick to it, usually pigment ink)
• Embossing powder

Tools used:

• Glass mat or another heat-resistant surface like my wooden box
• Anti-static pad
• Something to handle the warm object with (tweezers or a Handle It tool)
• Crafting Heat tool