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Dry Embossing Guide

Looking for new techniques to try in your scrapbook? Think about dry embossing your next scrapbook page. Dry embossing is an easy technique that raises the surface of the paper to create dimension and adds texture and subtle elegance to your page. This technique that is created by using brass stencils, a stylus and a light box. It's fun, easy and makes the most beautiful cards…no one will believe you did it all by yourself.

What is the difference between dry and wet embossing?

Dry embossing does not involve a heat gun or embossing powders. For dry embossing you will need a ball-tip stylus tool and a stencil. You trace around the edge of the stencil with the stylus, creating an image that has been burnished into the paper.

Wet embossing requires an embossing or pigment ink pad, embossing powder and a heat gun. You stamp the image with the embossing or pigment ink, apply the powder on top, shake off the excess powder and melt with your heat gun.

Tools

Paper - the thicker the paper the more raised your design will be
Template - bass templates, stencils, and even a home-made design cut from heavy weight paper will do
Light source - either a light table or sunny window
Stylus - an embossing stylus looks like a small pencil with a round metal ball at one end
Optional - tape

Directions

1. Place the stencil on the light table or up on the window in the day time. Light tables are easiest to use, but using a window works well if you are just playing around to see if you like what you are doing. Either hold in place or tape in place.

2. Lay your paper on top of the stencil in the desired position with the "front" of your paper towards the stencil. You must be able to see the template and the outline of the design. You should be looking at the backside of your paper. Remember this especially when lettering.

3. Press the dry embossing stylus on the paper where the cut out portion of the stencil is, tracing around the design. Use the large or small end of the embossing tool depending on the size of the design piece that you are tracing over. Simply outline the design with your stylus. Press firmly, but do not rip the paper.

4. Lift paper off the light source and turn over. The design should be raised against the background!

5. The rest is left to your imagination. Have fun! The design can be painted with acrylics, washes, markers, color pencils, watercolor pencils or ink pads using sponge daubers. Make cards, stationary, wall decor, and so much more. This is a great technique for children and older crafters who have hand problems.
When you are done, you will have a pretty raised effect on the front side of your card or scrapbook page.

Embossing Layout Ideas

- Emboss patterns on the background of your page.

- You can also emboss ovals and other shapes on your page where you are going to mount your pictures. You can mount your picture inside the embossed area.

- Emboss borders on your pages.

- Add subtle color onto borders that you have dry embossed. Just use decorator chalks or colored pencils to shade the raised area after you embossed. It is gorgeous! Markers don't work nearly as well because the color is usually too overpowering.

- Try embossing a box (or other shape) on smaller pieces of cardstock to use for journaling or titles. You can emboss classic looking ovals or rectangles or try some other creative shapes like hearts and stars...whatever fits your journaling theme!

More Hints

- If the stylus does not glide easily over the paper, try scribbling the stylus on wax paper.

- The front of the paper is the side that you put down onto the stencil. You will be tracing on the back.

-You only have the trace the edge of the open design. The center does not have to be traced. In fact, don't!

- If you are just embossing, you may want to tape the stencil to the light box. If you are going to stencil after, you may want to tape the stencil to the paper. One common tape that has been recommended is masking tape. If you tape your stencil to the paper be sure that you stick the masking tape to your clothing several times before you use it on the paper or it will be too sticky and tear the paper when you remove it.

- Try to use the largest stylus possible for a given design. The smaller the stylus, the greater possibility of tearing the paper.

- Many papers are suitable for embossing. A heavier paper will give a nicer effect. Watercolor art paper which is about 90 lb. weight is wonderful. 100% cotton paper at a lighter weight is also great. Card stock is good, but if the color is dark, it becomes opaque and you must do "blind embossing".

- Blind Embossing: If you can't see the shadow of the stencil using a light box, then depending on the weight of the paper, you can rub your finger, use the round portion of a spoon, a popsicle stick, or any roundish item to give a general idea of where the indentations are. Then complete the design using your regular stylus. This does not work well with detailed stencils. It is also a good idea to have a copy of the design nearby to guide you where the details are.

- If you take up the paper and find that you missed a portion of your design, you can put it down again and fix it. You do have to align the paper up where it had been. I shine a light on the paper to do this.

- You may decide to use only a portion of the stencil. Also, there is no right or wrong side to a stencil, so you simply flip it over to get a mirror image. Perhaps with words and letters you may not want to do this.

- Storing Stencils. If you  have many stencils keep them in heavy poly bags
A business card file is handy for the smaller stencils.
Poly pages for photos are good for the larger sizes.

- Stencils as Ornaments. Many of the stencils can be hung as ornaments because they have a hole in them for this very purpose. Be careful not to emboss or stencil that functional/non-design hole.

Dry Embossing Vellum

Use the heavier weight vellum, rather than the usual text weight paper. You'll need the sturdy quality of this paper to get the most contrast. There are two methods of using a stencil for dry embossing.

1. Use a light table and place the cardstock over the stencil, and use a stylus to trace the lines of the stencil.
2. Put two stencils together, and sandwich the cardstock between. Be sure to use low-tack masking tape to keep the cardstock and stencils from slipping.

Using a stylus, trace the outline of the image, then "color in" with the stylus to create solid white patterns on the vellum. If the ball tip drags, run the tip over a white candle or wax paper to lubricate.

Dry embossing is a beautiful technique. It is fitting for many scrapbook pages, but this technique is especially appropriate for wedding, antique and heritage albums where you want a very classic look. It is so easy to use and doesn't require a lot of expensive materials. Give it a try on your next page!