Heat embossing problem?
I’m learning how to hand-stamp and heat emboss my paper crafts. But after I stamp, there are stray black granules all around the stamped image from the embossing powder. It really looks awful and tacky. What am I doing wrong? Here’s what I do: first, I wipe the surface I’m going to stamp with an anti-static sheet (regular dryer sheet) before stamping. Next, I stamp the image, then ‘tap’ the stamped paper, to knock of the excess powder. I use a paintbrush to brush away the excess powder. Finally, I heat emboss. But for some reason, I still end up with a lot of black dots of embossing powder all around the image and it’s driving me crazy. It looks like I’ve spilled powder around the edges and didn’t even brush any off.
Help please??? Thx!
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I use an antistatic bag made for stamping. And I use a brush too. Don’t know why you are ending up with dots. This process works for me. So maybe it is the embossing powder. Or the heat gun. After you stamp and pour the powder and tap, does the image you stamp still look neat and clean? If it does, maybe when you turn the heat gun on it, the air from the heat gun is first blowing away the granules before it melts them. There are very low air heat guns. Try holding the heat gun further away from your paper.
Is the ink holding the embossing powder? Try Versamark(if you are not already using it) or ColorBox.
good luck. sorry it is hard to help without seeing how you stamp
The embossing powder I bought yesterday recommends dusting the area with cornstarch before stamping. I THINK that’s what’s in the anti-static bags. The guest on a segment I saw on TV last spring said you can wait until the ink dries (after applying the powder) and then really wipe off what won’t tap off. Finally, are you sure the brush you use is clean each time? I know this problem us a pain; good luck!
What kind of card are you stamping on. I get a lot of specks on glossy and very smooth card even when using an anti static bag but I don’t have much problem with normal matt card and generally just use a very fine paintbrush to tidy it up before heating.
You should also keep the heat gun a few inches away from the image and be patient.
Some stamps always seem to print the line of an edge. Cut it down a bit with a sharp craft knife.
If you can’t get over the problem try using brass stencils and embossing paste for a similar effect. Unfortunately there is not the same range of design choice and it takes a bit longer.