top of page
Writer's pictureBonnie Crane

Heat Embossing on an Alcohol Ink Background

Updated: Jan 12

Hello everyone! Like many regions around the globe, my province in Canada has been struck by a second wave of the Covid. The number of people who are contracting the virus is staggering. I have been trying to keep myself busy in my craft room and am fortunate that I only need to venture out for necessities. I worry for my family. I often reflect on how we are all touched by this crisis. It is surreal and I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well.

I have been asked by several people how to heat emboss on an alcohol inked background. When I received Simon Says Stamp's Centre Cut Holiday Floral, I thought this would be a good image for this technique. The materials needed for this card, photo paper, alcohol inks, rubbing alcohol and embossing powder, are relatively inexpensive making this a cost effective card making project.

This card has been worked on Canon Glossy Photo Paper as it can withstand the heat needed to melt the embossing paper while being a fairly good base to allow the alcohol inks to move. The image was stamped with Simon Says Stamp's Intense Black Ink on 5" by 7" photo paper. The stamp was left positioned in the stamping platform for later use. Three colours of Ranger's Alcohol Inks were used; Wild Plum, Sunset Orange and Meadow. The ink was applied at the centre of the image along with drops of rubbing alcohol and were blown out with a straw to the outside edges of the panel. Although alcohol inks can be difficult to control, the stamped image helped me to concentrate the orange and pink on the poinsettia and the green on the foliage ... to some degree!

When the panel was completely dry, the image was stamped again with Versamark Ink and embossed with gold. While applying the heat, it is important to keep the heat tool moving. If it is left in one place too long, the photo paper will blister and pop. If your heat tool has dual heat settings, the lower setting is the safer route but will require patience! The panel was stamped and embossed twice to create more dimension and cut with the largest die in My Favourite Things' Stitched Rectangles Stax 2. It was adhered to black sheet foam and mounted on an A2 sized card base.

A second piece of photo paper was inked with Meadow and the sentiment stamped and embossed following the same process as for the main panel. Both the sentiment and black sheet foam were cut with a die from Hero Arts' Infinity Circles and stacked. My Favorite Things' Merry Christmas Circle Frame die cut was embossed in gold and attached to the panel. The stacked sentiment was adhered and Studio Katia's Gold Foil Confetti was used to highlight the berries and sentiment. Nuvo Morning Dew Crystal Drops was applied to the confetti.


Video Tutorial, link HERE.


Thank you so much for your visit!




Commentaires


bottom of page