Embossing Basics

Tim Holtz Creative Chemistry 101
Today's focus was on embossing, looking at the differences between embossing powders and embossing inks/mediums that are available, and of course, learning the chemistry behind embossing powders and how they work.  

The first technique Tim taught us was Nostalgic Batik Technique.  I used clear embossing powder over Fired Brick Distress Ink to emboss my roses, then used my ink blending tool and distress inks on the background and stamped images with distress ink over the top, before rubbing over the embossed rose with a soft cloth to help it resist the new ink.  

Tim's Rusted Enamel Technique is one I could never have discovered on my own.  I would never dream of this one, but it is a fun and effective technique, and Tim suggested using it on die cut embellishments or chipboard alphas.  

It's hard to believe that these tags started out as white cardstock (blue and orange) or a kraft tag (red).  The following photos show the texture a little better.  They now feel like sandpaper.

Tim described the texture as being like a pitted orange skin.  On the blue (Tumbled Glass Distress Ink) and red (Fired Brick Distress Ink) tags I moved the embossing powder around using my fingers, as Tim did.  

On my orange (Sweet Marmalade Distress Ink) tag, I wanted more control over the rusted effect and, as my stamped image had an Oriental feel, I thought about a Japanese sand garden, and used the edge of a tissue to move the clear embossing powder around on my tag before embossing.  The colour is a little blown out in the above photo, but you can see the dragged rust effect better on the combined photos at the top of this post.  

Our final technique for today was Distress Powder Resist.  I enjoyed taking notes on this one, as I had limited experience with Distress embossing powder and I didn't really know how to use it properly.  Tim explained that this resist technique works best with a light colour of Distress Powder, but I only own Pine Needles, so I had to use that.  

You can't really see that the Pine Needles Distress Powder resisted the Distress Ink, and in my forgetful messy creativity, I decided to Spritz and Flick my finished tag, forgetting that 

"Distress will never be permanent, it will always react with water" (Tim Holtz) 

and found that Distress Embossing Powder, even when heat set, is true Distress, and does react with water - leading to the green ink bleed around the top of the stamp. 

It's been another great day learning from Tim, and as I said in my first post, I've been deliberately obtuse about how to do these techniques, to encourage you to sign up to Creative Chemistry 101 and learn from the Master.  Enjoy!