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This weekend, I finally got around to making a mock-up of our invitations. I ordered supplies ages ago from the absolutely amazing Paper Circle. Paper Circle is based in Canada and has fantastic prices and some of the most amazing customer service I’ve experienced. Plus, their products are top notch!
I wanted to make a mock-up so I could know if:
All in all, I was really happy with how my mock-up turned out. The laser printer did a great job on the shimmery paper.
There was, however, one thing that didn’t work out.
Embossing was a bit of a fail.
I love the idea of a white-embossed graphic on black, but check out how messy it looks. The edges are not crisp, and there is white embossing powder flecked around the image. After using the embossing heat tool to set the powder, the card stock warped. I was not pleased with the result.
I’m worried about wasting a lot of card stock to make the embossing work. I’m also a bit of a perfectionist, and I’m not so keen on sending the invite out if the embossing is going to look like this. I’ve tried this stamp on different surfaces before (envelopes, magazines) and it turned out really well, so maybe the powder is sticking to the card stock?
I’m leaning toward ditching my plan to emboss something on our invitations. Do you have any suggestions on what I can do to make this work?
I’ve done some embossing on our invitations too, and I’ve also seen the cardstock warping. I just put them all in a stack afterward and put a heavy book on top overnight, and in the morning they look perfectly flat!
As for the powder sticking randomly all over the paper, I’ve read that you can rub a dryer sheet over the paper before stamping to help remove any static that is causing the embossing powder to stick! Hope this helps 
I am an embossing virgin, so I have no feedback to help you out, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you that a solution magically appears. I love the white on black!
The type of cardstock definitely makes a difference. I tried embossing on a white that was too smooth surfaced and the powder wouldn’t stick at all.
As for those extra little bits that stick to the paper, what I do is emboss, pour off the excess, and then flick the back of the paper. Those little crumbs sticking to the paper, not ink, will fly off and you won’t have a messy design.
There is a really easy way to fix the problem of the embossing powder sticking to the paper. After you stamp your stamp, take a small paintbrush and brush away the excess powder around the image. It takes a few seconds, but it’s well worth it.
For the crisp, clear image, make sure you’re using pigment ink and not dye ink.
If your paper is warping, that means you’re heating it too much. Try holding the embossing gun further back from the paper. If that fails, try heating it from below. You just have to melt the powder, so it doesn’t actually take that much.
Try again! And if you’re still having trouble, you can PM me. My mom designs and sells stamps and stamping supplies, so I can hook you up wtih some great advice.
Hi Miss. Gazelle,
Just wanted to let you know that you have the wrong hyperlink. I think you meant to link to this website instead: http://www.papercircle.ca/customer-service/
Not the Ohio one. Thanks!
Are you using white ink or white powder??
I think white ink and clear powder might give a different look… maybe not so many cling ons?…
I am using Black ink and clear powder ~ seems to look better than the black powder for my daughters invites.
similar to the dryer sheet, you can get a $5 “embossing buddy” that you pat the embossing surface with before you stamp. it will de-staticize (is that a word?) the area and free it of stragglers.
@Lisa: Yeah, but the embossing buddy actually leaves a bit of a ‘white film’ when you are done embossing. I actually bought a $2 brush from Michaels that I used to brush the stray powder and that helped. I also flicked and blew softly on the embossing powder. HOWEVER, the best thing I did was to take everything to a craft store (Paper Presentation) in Manhattan. The lady showed me that I was pressing too hard on my stamp AND overheating. In 3 minutes I was making CRISP images. I was so happy!!
I had a similar problem when I was embossing my napkins. If you do what someone previously posted, and use white ink and clear power, you won’t see the imperfections. You need to try out different white inks though because some don’t show very white on black. I was able to find one at Michaels.
I ditto the use of a brush (either a soft makeup brush or a really really thin paintbrush) to get rid of the extra powder. As for the cardstock warping…I find if you hold the heat blower thingee far enough away from the paper, and finish as fast as possible, it’s kept to a minimum. You could also press the paper between heavy books afterwards to counteract it.
Instead of using white embossing powder on clear ink use a bright white ink with clear embossing powder. This will avoid the flecking you’re getting and help give sharper lines.
Also, try holding the heat gun farther from the paper, or even from the back this should minimize the warping. Thicker card stock will always warp a little, but as suggested previously it should go down over time, especially if heavy objects are placed on top.
OMG I love love love that bicycle stamp! How darling is that! I don’t think it looks messy at all! Good luck on round two!
Hmmm. I think it looks great, but that’s just me!
Could you look into a simpler stamp? I did an embossed bride and groom on the back of my invitation envelopes, and I think they turned out pretty good..
To get the excess powder off, I just blew on it..
I agree with MOBSavingcash…clear powder works way better with a colored ink. I tried both options on black card stock but in the end was still not pleased enough with either method so I scrapped the idea. That stamp is so cute though, you have to find someplace to use it!
@Jenniferk6: Thank you so much for your tips! A brush would definitely help to get rid of the excess powder. I also really need to be careful with that embossing tool as well I guess! Thank you!!!
Jumping on the clear embossing powder train–that’s definitely made a huge difference for me in the past. I hope you get it to work, Gazelle! That bicycle is so adorable, and will look great sans embossing, too!
@craftykeg: @Miss Cinnamon Bun: A dryer sheet? Awesome, I’ve never heard of that!
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Ms. Gazelle, Calgary/Vancouver Age and Occupation: 32, Engineer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Technology Analyst Engagement Date: September 3, 2010 Wedding Date: July 2011 Venue: Brock House Restaurant, Vancouver About Me: I am a marathon runner, cyclist, Ironman triathlete and beautiful shoe fiend who also loves kicking back and watching Glee. I grew up a bit of a nomad as I traveled around the world with my family, living everywhere from Australia to England to South America and Indonesia. I finally settled in Calgary a few years ago and met Mr. Gazelle who loves me even though we cheer for different hockey teams. We are planning a bit of a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia and we can’t wait to share the day with our close family and friends.
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