Embossing (a.k.a. My First Epic Fail)

Embossing (a.k.a. My First Epic Fail)

August 27th, 2010 @ 2:50 pm by Mrs. Hippo
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I mentioned the bridesmaids’ letters I am sending out here, but I needed a way to include a return address on the envelopes, which are a metallic dark blue. This is the same color envelope I plan to use for our wedding invitations, so I figured I would use the bridesmaids’ letters as a test. I was convinced that I had come up with a perfect way to imprint our wedding logo and address on the back of our dark blue envelopes. Embossing. In theory, it was Uh-MAZING! In reality, not so much. Even though it didn’t really work for this project, I think it could be really cool for something else, so I figured I’d share the details of what I did so you could see what worked and what didn’t.

I first purchased a custom rubber stamp from Simon’s Stamps, which was super cheap ($13.95, including shipping…for real!) and came pretty quickly. I was really impressed with the quality and the inexpensive price. I also bought embossing powder (it comes in a ton of colors, but I got silver), embossing ink (again, I bought silver), and an embossing heat tool, which is like a mini blow dryer but doesn’t blow nearly as hard.

The first thing I did was stamp the image on the envelope flap, using the embossing ink. This was the start of the issues, as the image didn’t always come out clearly. I got the hang of it after a few tries, but it still wasn’t 100% perfect…and I pretty much like things 100% perfect.

Next, I sprinkled the embossing powder on top of the stamped image and shook off the excess—think of glitter and glue from elementary school.

Then I used the embossing heat tool to heat up the image. It will melt and puff up into a shiny, glossy image.

Now…from far away, the envelopes look really nice. But up close, they are a disaster, and forget about trying to read the address! Basically, when the embossing powder heats up, it kind of melts, and like all things melty, it spreads. That wasn’t a big deal for our logo, but for the mailing address, the small numbers ran together into little blobs, making it pretty hard to read. Basically, I have no faith that the post office would be able to return mail to me, which wouldn’t be a big deal for the bridal party letters but would be disastrous for our wedding invitations.

You can use a paper towel to wipe off the excess powder once you’ve embossed it…I clearly did not do that here!

I think if the stamp had been created so that our address was more spread out and with a thinner font, it may have worked OK, but as it is, the numbers in our address (which I blocked out here) are filling in and hard to read. Alas…

Anyone else out there using dark envelopes? If so, how are you getting the return addresses on them?

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24 Responses to “Embossing (a.k.a. My First Epic Fail)”

1 2 Last

Member

mrspaetz (message) 3,805 posts, Honey bee

they look really good. i’m sad to hear that they’re not readable

8/27/10 @ 3:13 pm (reply)

Guest

jeff&jen2011

I LOVE embossing. But, I can see where it wouldn’t look too good if the #’s are too close. I am using dark envelopes as well, in fact, where did you get yours? They are the exact color I need… But, I think I will just be printing on clear label stickers, with white ink and a cool font. Not investing the money into someone else addressing them all for me or anything. Have spent too much already! lol And, as long as the font is nice, and coordinates w/ our invites, it will still look good. Haven’t tried it yet though!

8/27/10 @ 3:18 pm (reply)

Member

LRin2011 (message) 386 posts, Helper bee

I think the stamp alone looks good! But yeah embossing really would add something! I want to use dark blue envelopes too. Please share where yours are from and then I’m going to try my hand at calligraphy miss plaid style.

8/27/10 @ 3:26 pm (reply)

Member

bmore (message) 360 posts, Helper bee

I got an invite with a dark brown envelope and for the return address they had gotten a custom paper embossing tool that kind of punched their address onto the back flap. I don’t know how to describe it, kind of like the texture of letterpress without the ink It gives you the opposite of your situation - from far away you can’t really see it but up close it was really clear.
maybe kind of like this: http://www.acornsales.com/product/6009-address-embossing-seal.html

8/27/10 @ 3:28 pm (reply)

Member

bmore (message) 360 posts, Helper bee

I found a better link - sorry it’s hugely long
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod78980063&ecid=NMCIShoppingBecomeFeed&srccode=cii_13736960&cpncode=22-77357015-2

8/27/10 @ 3:30 pm (reply)

Member

Mustang (message) 60 posts, Worker bee

The extra powder might have been your problem. You shouldn’t have that dust look all around your stamp. They have an “embossing buddy” that you can sweep over your paper before you stamp it to prevent static from holding on to extra powder, or you can use a dryer lint sheet. Make sure you gently blow off the excess powder before you use the heat tool or all of the extra powder will melt onto your paper. You have to do it quick because once the ink dries the powder falls off easily. Also be careful not to blow too hard or you’ll blow off too much powder that is suppose to be there.

8/27/10 @ 3:53 pm (reply)

Member

sapphirebride (message) 1,747 posts, Bumble bee

Mmm, I don’t think embossing is a great idea for very fine details like numbers and letters on a return address. I don’t have a great alternative suggestion for your dark envelopes though–I chose white envelopes and used a blue stamp because of this very concern.

8/27/10 @ 4:29 pm (reply)

Member

Silveramos (message) 93 posts, Worker bee

I would recommend using silver ink but clear powder. That way when the dust melts it is clear and hardly noticeable. We embossed our invites like that and they came out great, but very labor intensive!!

8/27/10 @ 4:30 pm (reply)

Member

jordynrose (message) 6,351 posts, Bee Keeper

What a shame these didn’t turn out quite right. I second the suggestion of clear powder.

8/27/10 @ 4:43 pm (reply)

10.

Member

sweetpeaj (message) 42 posts, Newbee

I would agree with @Mustang and @Silveramos — using the little “embossing buddy” will help keep the excess from forming around what should be a concise stamp. Also, using the silver ink with clear powder could come out nicely as well - that way the defined lines of the stamp really come though and it’s slightly raised with the clear. I wouldn’t give up on it if I were you!!! I think it already looks really nice and maybe with one or both of those adjustments it could turn out to be what you really wanted!

And I love your stamp by the way! Beautiful!

8/27/10 @ 4:47 pm (reply)

11.

Member

LittlestBirds (message) 2,605 posts, Sugar bee

I was just thinking this morning about my experience embossing, and everything I learned through trial and error. My strongest recommendation is to tap off all the excess powder BEFORE you run the embossing gun over the design. I found you could get a fairly precise edge on the detail by getting rid of all that excess, and you also avoid the problem of the little freckles of powder that get stuck scattered all around the design. Our embossing only involved an abstract flourish design though, not tiny letters, so it may be an exercise in futility, but I wouldn’t give up on it.

8/27/10 @ 4:48 pm (reply)

12.

Member

mak418 (message) 693 posts, Busy bee

@bmore: (and Hippo)
I bought the embosser from Neiman Marcus - it worked beautifully, and such a good price! It worked great for our envelopes (which were cream) - but I think it would work on the blue ones, too.

8/27/10 @ 5:24 pm (reply)

13.

Member

mado2616 (message) 31 posts, Newbee

i did this with my envelopes it took me a long while to figure out but once I saw in a posting what another bride did…Eureka! it worked. For the return address just had them (company) to letter press it on for me. But everyone raved about how nice it looked! dont know how to load photos but I have it for you .

8/27/10 @ 5:37 pm (reply)

14.

Member

misschristinec@hotmail.com (message) 163 posts, Blushing bee

I know some girls who use a can of compressed air after they shook the looser powder off.. Some girls used dryer sheets to swipe the area before stamping..

8/27/10 @ 5:38 pm (reply)

15.

Member

Bride_Colleen (message) 627 posts, Busy bee

labels?

8/27/10 @ 6:19 pm (reply)

16.

Bee

Miss Hippo (message) 1,008 posts, Bumble bee

@jeff&jen2011: those envelopes are from Paper Presentation, bbut the ones I’m really using are from Paper and More. They are the same color but were less expensive.

@Mustang: I’ve never heard of the embossing buddy. I’ll have to try that!

I love the embossing look, so I’m not givig up yet!

8/27/10 @ 6:33 pm (reply)

17.

Member

ktisthatbees (message) 2,742 posts, Sugar bee

well they certainly look good from afar minus the slight dust still left around the logo. Sorry to hear it didn’t work out. I’m glad you were smart enough to try them out on a project much smaller than the actual invites!

8/27/10 @ 6:50 pm (reply)

18.

Bee

Miss Elephant (message) 6,177 posts, Bee Keeper

I had problems when it came to embossing, and with smaller print it is harder. I ended up using two different types of powder, one that was more glittery and the other for the readable part. Hope you get a good idea for your invites!

8/27/10 @ 7:06 pm (reply)

19.