Studio Monday with Nina-Marie: Dry Embossing 5 Ways
Hello and Happy Monday everyone! I am thrilled to be bringing you the latest Studio Monday video with five different ways to use the dry embossing technique! Note that today’s video is only about the techniques themselves and not a step-by-step for making the finished cards. However, you can see how I turned all of these techniques into cards in the photos! I tried to keep the finished cards fairly simple so that you could look at the photos and easily tell what I did to embellish them.
So, let’s get technique-y, shall we??
DRY EMBOSSING #1: Simple Embossing + the Faux Tin Ceiling Effect
Have you ever seen the Victorian-era tin ceilings in old homes? I live in a home that was built in the waning years of the 19th century, and in the dining room there is a beautiful tin ceiling; with its seemingly “embossed” texture, this inspired me to want to recreate a similar effect on a card. I have the Jungle Background die from Couture Creations, which to me, was a reminiscence to Victorian print. With that background die, I embossed the design into Mirror cardstock from Tonic Studios. Mirror cardstock is going to give you that “tin ceiling” effect, as the very nature of tin itself is a bit on the shiny side.
This technique is also the most-basic of all the embossing techniques, as we did nothing but embossed a design into paper. But just because the technique is basic, does not mean that it isn’t beautiful. Sometimes the most beautiful things are the ones that are simplest. Just look at that embossing!
DRY EMBOSSING #2: Enhancing with Color
Dry embossing in of itself is a stunning technique. But have you ever tried enhancing that embossing with ink or even markers? I’ve got two examples for you today on this technique! The first uses the new Neat & Tangled Geometric die (I love the crisp, modern vibe of this die). After running it through my die cutting machine in an embossing sandwich (we don’t want to cut this, just emboss), I broke out some inks and daubers! With an assortment of bright Distress Inks, I used the die as a stencil and inked through the openings to make the raised portions of the panel colored. The result is a stunner!
The second method is to use markers. And as a bonus embossing technique, this card was embossed using lots of dies from the Modern Flowers die set; another great way to make use of the small dies you have! I embossed these florals into blue cardstock and then using 2 Copic markers, I shaded all of the raised areas of the panel. You definitely do not have to add shading on this; you could use just a single marker and get amazing results! I just am addicted to coloring and don’t know when to stop sometimes! ;)
The way the coloring looks on both of these cards with the embossed texture is mesmerizing. I love running my fingers over the paper to feel that embossed texture!
DRY EMBOSSING #3: Using Embossing Folders with and without Mediums
One of the most popular ways to dry emboss is with embossing folders! There are so many gorgeous ones to choose from, and really, they don’t get enough love I think! I’ve used three different folders today with backgrounds I made, to show you some fun ways you can add texture to your inked panels. Side note, all the inking was done with Distress Oxide inks and there are gold and pink paint splatters on each. The folders used here were the Couture Creations Field of Daisies and the Carabella Envolée de Coeurs. On the finished card, you see some beautiful tulips that are from Memory Box’s Floral Bloom Oval Frame die set.
But of course, embossing folder impressions do not have to be subtle! The stunning Floral Burst from Brutus Monroe (middle panel in photo above), looks amazing when embossed… but then, when you add ink overtop to enhancing the embossing? Just WOW. It brings the design front and center, creating a focal point instead of an accent. I did not make cards with all of these backgrounds, but have saved them for future use! Take a close up look at the texture…
DRY EMBOSSING #4: Faux Letterpress with a Stencil
I’m sure most of you are familiar with the gorgeous letterpress designs you see on stationary, business cards and more. Relief printing has become so popular, and for good reason! Have you ever tried getting that same effect using a stencil and inks? Its super easy and very addicting! ;)
On both of these cards I used the Folk Dance stencil and both Shaded Lilac and Wilted Violet Distress Inks. The only difference between these two designs are the choices of paper. I wanted to demonstrate that depending on the paper, you may get slightly different results (which isn’t a bad thing!). The first card used Bristol Smooth cardstock and you can see that the ink was transferred very smoothly, as there was not any texture to interfere…
The second version uses cold press watercolor paper from Strathmore and the results are much more textured. I think both look equally as beautiful! I embellished these cards with greetings from our Kind Flowers stamp set and on one of the cards I used a few Nuvo drops on the embossed dots.
DRY EMBOSSING #5: Creating a Ghosted Sentiment
This is a fun way to accent a greeting you have on a card! By taking letter dies, you can emboss them into a beautiful background and then place other elements on and around that embossing because it’s an embellishment. My sentiment “hugs” complements the thank you greeting underneath and grounds the rest of the design. Those letter dies were from Altenew’s Caps Bold Alpha set.
I framed this card with the stunning Fresh Picked Flowers die from Memory Box and added small crystal gems from Studio Katia’s Cupid’s Kiss mix. The texture and layers of this card were very much inspired by mixed media. Check out the close up of the relief of the letters!
I hope you will watch the video below to see how I made each of these techniques work, as they are really fun to do. I find it so exciting to experiment and play with these techniques to see what other things can be done to enhance them and create even more techniques. I hope that it inspires you to do the same in YOUR crafty projects!
Thanks for joining me today; stop back again next week to see my next Studio Monday video!
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Time to break out my embossing folders! Thanks for sharing these wonderful techniques!
Beautiful! And thanks for reminding me of all the ways to use dies and folders for embossing!
Embossing is one of my favorite techniques and that faux tin ceiling effect is really interesting!
Thanks Nina Marie for this great video tutorial, I learned a lot from it.
Thanks for sharing the video. You have lots of great ideas!
Thanks for the tips! I will definately try the technique #5.
So many great techniques, I am going to give these a try.
All wonderful embossing techniques.
Melissa
“Sunshine HoneyBee”
Thank you for inspiring me to try a technique that is new to me.
These backgrounds are fabulous, they really make the cards.
Beautiful ideas…thx
ALL BEAUTIFUL!! THANKS so much for sharing and have a FABULOUS WEEK!! =)
Thanks, Nina. I like to emboss using folders but I think I’ll try some of these other ways, too.
Great cards. Thanks for sharing your techniques on embossing. I really enjoyed your video..
My embossing folders are underused and now I am inspired to put them to work. Thanks for these wonderful ideas and a great video!
I’ve been so busy learning inking background techniques, I’d just about forgotten dry embossing! Thanks for the great reminder of all we can do!
So pretty! Didn’t know there were so many different techniques!
Such fun techniques and ideas!
Really cool embossing ideas – thanks
Thanks for all these great ideas!
I have always loved to emboss, it adds a wow factor to every card. Thanks for all of your tips and techniques, they are all beautiful!
Thanks for the tips and tricks. It’s good to be reminded and review the possibilities.
Beautiful cards Nina-Marie. Thank you for the tips and inspiration!
When it comes to embossing I shy away from it! Thanks for the tutorial! I will be trying!
Thanks! Great reminders of all the ways to use embossing folders – which of course I have a few of. ;)
Awesome examples and great techniques to try! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks! I love using my dry embossing folders, or dies, or stencils to create backgrounds. Sometimes, a dry embossed background is the perfect solution for a card that just won’t come together. I appreciate all the variations that you have shown here for using these products and am inspired to give them a try! :)
Great video and examples. Thanks for the ideas on differing how to use your supplies.
I adore all these beautiful creation!
great post … so informative … thank you!
Thanks for the video! Several of these techniques I’ve never tried before, so it was good to see a demonstration of each. I love the card you embossed and then colored with the blue markers! What a beautiful result! Time to get my embossing folders back out!
Great cards today and thank you for the great video with all the different techniques.
Thanks for the inspiration – just getting into dry embossing. x
Thanks for all this ideas. Now I need to find some time to try them out :)
Thanks for sharing this fun and easy technique. I think I will break out my embossing folders today.
Beautiful!
It’s easy to get in a rut and use our products the same way every time. Thanks for sharing these techniques – some I had forgotten about and appreciate the reminder! Love your backgrounds, too :-)
The tin-like embossing is great! And love the tulip card!
Wow. Thanks for all the different variations using the embossing folders.
Thanks for sharing these fabulous techniques and for the detailed video.
Loved the video tutorial!
Awesome video and thanks for all the suggestions on how to use dies and embossing in so many ways. Thanks for sharing.
Linda D.
Oh my gosh Nina Marie, all of your projects and techniques are beautiful! That Tonic Studios paper is so lovely. I don’t have a favorite, however, I love the blue flowered one with your hand coloring. And, now I’m going to dig out my embossing folders – I keep forgetting about using them…Thank you for posting this video!
Such a great conglomeration of all the different ways to emboss!! Love all of your wonderful cards and results!
New things to try!! The day I can’t find something new to try will probably be the day I stop stamping.
Such beautiful cards – I love the colours you use to highlight all the embossed backgrounds!
So many beautiful ideas – thanks!
So many New embossing technique for me. Thanks for sharing this amazing tips.
Thanks so much Nina-Marie. So many wonderful uses for our dies and embossing folders!!!! Now all I have to do is remember them. I really appreciate your lovely designs and beautiful cards.
Fabulous backgrounds and great techniques. Thanks for sharing!