Dry Embossing Lesson

Dry Embossing  Lesson 

Tools needed for this lesson:
Paper
Light box
Plastic or brass template
Metal and/or wooden embossing stylus

Lesson:

Dry Embossing on Paper - Dry embossing is easy with a few simple tools. Start by choosing a template and the type of paper or metal to emboss. Since you are creating a raised design using the thickness of the template as a guide, thicker templates such as brass or thick plastic work best. Thin templates will work, however it is harder to create a defined design with them. They also bend more easily, which can make embossing with them more difficult. Dry embossing produces the best results when using cardstock, vellum or scrap metal as the embossed material.

Depending on the design and paper you use, the type of embossing tool needed will vary. Small details require a metal or wooden embossing tool with a small tip. The small tip allows you to follow the detailed curves and sharp points of a design. A metal embossing stylus with small metal balls on either end works best for dry embossing on paper. When embossing on scrap metal, a wooden stylus with a flat and wide tip on one end as well as a small and pointed tip on the other end works very well. A metal stylus tends to rip through the metal much more quickly than the soft wooden stylus.

Once you have chosen your template, material and tool, it’s time to start embossing. If you have chosen to emboss on paper, put the template underneath your paper. It’s best to use a light box or a window underneath the template and paper in order to see the outline of the template through the paper. Light colored cardstock is easier to use because you can see where the template is located underneath the paper.

Be sure that the template is placed face down, so that when you look at the backside you see the reversed image of what you want to emboss. For example, when embossing with a lettering template, the letters should appear backwards while you are embossing them. You’ll be working from the backside of the paper. When you turn your paper over, the letter will be embossed facing the correct direction. There’s nothing more frustrating than embossing a letter backwards right onto your paper!

Once you have the template and paper lined up, apply pressure to the paper with one hand to keep it in place and trace the outline of the design with the embossing tool using your other hand. Press hard enough with the embossing tool to make an indentation in the paper, but be careful not to poke a hole through the paper. Learning the correct amount of pressure to use takes a bit of practice, and will depend on the thickness and type of the material you are embossing.

Once you have outlined the design, you can lightly “color in” the middle sections of the design. Use the larger end of the embossing tool to press the center of the design. Using soft pressure and going over the area multiple times will help avoid harsh indentation marks in the center of your design. This will raise the entire design, rather than just the outline.

When you are finished, flip your paper over, and you’ll see an embossed image on your paper. This can be left as is, or decorated with pens, chalks, glitter, or other embellishments.

Dry Embossing on Metal - Metal embossing is done with a slightly different process. Since metal is not translucent, and is much thicker than paper, you can emboss with the template on top of the metal, instead of underneath.

You’ll need a soft surface to work on. A soft foam pad, such as a mouse pad, works wonderfully to allow enough “give” to emboss the metal sheet. Place your scrap metal face down on the foam pad. Again, you will be working on the backside of the metal.

Next, place your template face-down on top of the scrap metal. Using the small end of the wooden stylus, outline the design of the template. Be sure to hold your template down firmly to keep it from slipping.

Once you have embossed the outline, use the wider end of the wooden stylus to press the center of the design. Use soft pressure and go over the area multiple times to avoid harsh indentation marks in the center of your design. Flip your scrap metal over to reveal your design. To create a more defined outline, use the small end of your wooden stylus or the small metal ball end of your metal stylus and carefully outline the raised image. This will give the raised image some added definition.