Embossing Folder Technique: Letterpress & Other Ideas

Embossing Folder Letterpress

These cards were created using the new Tim Holtz Texture Fades and Lost Coast Designs Alice in Wonderland rubber stamps.

As announced in our last newsletter, we have just gotten the 8 new sets of Tim Holtz Sizzix Texture Fades (embossing folders) in stock. I have always enjoyed
using my Cuttlebug Embossing Folders and am happy to have a few more designs as options. A few months ago we sponsored an embossing folder challenge to see what fun ways readers could come up with for using these. Since then I've had a chance to play with a few new techniques as well. Here are some fun things to do with embossing folders.

Embossing Folder with Vellum

• Emboss cardstock, vellum, grungepaper, acetate or metal - just the basic use is fun enough but there's more!
• Sand the raised area of the embossed colored cardstock - if the cardstock has a white core, the results are striking and distressed looking
• Ink the raised area directly with an ink pad to reveal more contrast in the pattern
• Ink the inside of one side of the embossing folder before inserting paper and running through the machine - this creates a letterpress look
• Lay embossed cardstock into a colorwash to color the raised areas with a softer subtler result than inking the raised area directly

Below are some examples of letter press and colorwash. The sample on the right was done by applying VersaMagic Dew Drop ink pads to the inside of the folder prior to inserting the cardstock for embossing. The middle example uses two colors of Distress ink pads on the inside of the folder. Dye based inks, especially Distress ink can pool into droplets on the folder, which creates a mottled look. Brayering the color onto the folder can reduce this if you don't like it. The example on the left was created by running plain white cardstock through the folder and then creating a colorwash to press the raised area into. This is done by rubbing two different colors of distress inks onto a non-stick craft sheet and spritzing it with water. The color shows on the reverse area compared to the middle example.