Embossing creates a decorative raised image into a piece of paper.
The art of embossing is when a design is pressed into the surface of paper, metal, cloth or leather. The design is pressed into the material from the bottom and creates a raised design on the top of the material. In traditional production methods, a metal plate is pushed into a piece of paper using a letterpress. At-home crafters can use similar processes, along with tools available at craft stores, to create similar effects on greeting cards.
Embossing with Stamps
You can create the raised or embossed look on greeting cards with rubber stamps, a clear ink pad, embossing powder and a heat tool. Stamp the image onto the card using the clear ink. Pour the embossing power over the wet ink and shake off the excess. Hold the heat gun over the powder until the powder melts and forms a raised appearance.
Dry Embossing
The process of dry embossing involves place a metal stencil on a light table, placing your paper on top of the stencil, and tracing the image with a stylus. The stylus, which looks similar to a pen, has a round metal tip that pushes the paper into the stencil, thus creating the raised surface. If you can not find a metal stencil with the design you wish to emboss, you can also create your own stencils by cutting the design into a piece of thick cardboard.
Craft Machines
Embossing machines, such as the Sizzix and the Cuttlebug, come with embossing plates. Paper is placed between the engraved plates and placed in the machine. The machine adds pressure to the plates and the image is embossed into the paper. While there are many designs to choose from, the shapes that you can emboss are limited by the availability of the plates.
