Double embossing tutorial.

I've seen and tried so many different techniques for embossing I was surprised but delighted to come across one more while watching a Tim Holtz video on Scraptime. Even though I didn't have the texture paste he used yet, I had to try the technique right away with what I did have. I love to find a technique to use supplies I already have or to try it even if it's not exactly the same. It's like experimenting and I did like chemistry way back when...

 When I went looking to see what texture paste I had  to use I found a few and decided to try them all. Here, from left to right are Liquitex Modeling Paste, DecoArt Terra Cotta Texture paste, Golden Crackle Paste, Tri Art modeling paste, Jo Sonja Texture paste and DecoArt Media Crackle Paste white. I do like my texture pastes!! They all worked great and most of them came out quite similar. While most of them had a somewhat smooth surface the two DecoArt products looked different then all the others with more texture on one and crackle on the other. 

   The Terra Cotta Texture paste had a gritty texture when applied and this showed in the end result which was interesting. The DecoArt Media crackle paste white, shown above, resulted in a great crackle effect. The Golden Crackle paste has the smoothest end result. 

   But I am getting a little ahead of myself. Here is how I went about trying this technique and making the tag.

 

I started off by using a tag in my stash that already had some colour on with Distress inks and Glimmer mist. I added the pattern on with Dusty Concord Distress Ink and part of a Crafters Workshop stencils.

                                       

As part of the background I used this die cut feather and embossed it by tapping the embossing ink all over it and then sprinkling embossing powder on it before melting it with the heat gun. It was then glued on to the background.

Now for the fun part, double embossing. Mask off the part of the stencil to be used. This is another Crafters Workshop stencil with a variety of leaves or feather, depending who you ask. Today it's a feather!

With a palette knife gently smooth the paste over the stencil. Don't over work it or it will bleed under the stencil. Take the stencil off and wash right away. I used the DecoArt Media Crackle paste white for this project. I really liked the crackle effect on it. I love using the texture paste just like this, it can be inked or painted once dried. But this technique kicks it up a notch. While the paste is still wet, sprinkle embossing powder all over and shake off excess. I used copper embossing powder for my project. So it's double embossed, hence the name I gave it. 

Now the hard part, wait until it's dry before heat embossing the powder. If it's heated before it's dry more texture will result, which could be a good thing too. At this point it's very fragile and can be damaged easily if touched, so place it out of the harms way. Mine was very dry before heating it since once I walk away to let it dry I'm off on another project and it doesn't get done until I happen to remember or come across it again. 

Once the feather was heat embossed I noticed the paste leaked under the stencil so I used a black Stabilo All pencil and water to darken around the feather a little. It didn't completely cover the white but made a nice shadow around the feather. This is before the pencil. I then add the sentiment stamp and some ribbon and charms at the top.

The wonderful puffiness of this technique really makes the central feather standout and it needed little more to finish it.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments about it. And if you try this technique or have already tried it please share your creations here. I'd love to see and hear how you used this double embossing technique.

Happy Creating!

Wendy