Monday 28 July 2014

Insider Secrets: Chris Dark

Design Team member Chris Dark reviews her favourite stamping product and tells us what she loves most about embossing ink and some exciting ways of using it!


Heat Embossing with embossing ink was one of the first techniques I came across when I started paper crafting, there’s something about watching embossing powder melt on top of an image stamped with embossing ink that’s magical. The formulation of embossing ink is designed to make it sticky and slow drying in order to catch and hold onto embossing powder prior to heating but there are lots of ways of using embossing ink that make it a foundation item for an ink collection.

Have you tried stamping with embossing ink and then dusting over mica powder, chalks or pastels? These products are great for using over both light and dark card and give a lovely rich look to projects. Self colour stamping with embossing ink for subtle interest is great for backgrounds (I’ve found that repeat patterns work well) and on a mid to dark tone of card you get an elegant finish. 

Add an embossing folder and brayer into the mix and there’s another interesting way to put pattern onto card with embossing ink. Use the inked brayer to transfer the embossing ink onto the flat side of an embossing folder and then add coloured ink, mica powder or pastel to highlight the pattern. Embossing ink also works brilliantly as a resist, as well as being an aide for stamping with rubber stamps into hot melted ultra thick embossing powder. The embossing ink acts as a release agent for the stamp once the ultra thick has cooled allowing the stamp to be easily removed.


For my card I initially created a pattern using IndioBlu stamps on black card using the embossing ink to stamp. When the stamping was complete I brushed on Ranger Perfect Pearls powders in cream, gold and blue and dusted off the excess with a tissue to leave a lovely shimmery floral pattern of flowers and leaves on my card. I repeated the process onto a white card blank this time only using the gold powder. Then I assembled the card and embellished with gold cord, dots and lines of relief paste to the centres of the flowers and edges of the leaves. I only used half of the patterned black card that I created so I had some leftover to make a tag.


Above I’ve shown how the stamping looks after applying the mica powder and before cutting my piece for the card. I love the rich effect achieved with this technique which is an old one, but one that gives very pleasing results.

Thanks for looking in at the Craft Stamper blog and have creative day.

To see more of Chris’ work visit www.sketchingstamper.blogspot.co.uk

10 comments:

  1. Love the addition of the relief paste to the PP on dark paper Chris - lovely effect!

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  2. What a gorgeous card!!! I love Perfect Pearls and embossing!! It IS magical! TfS!

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  3. That is beautiful, I must get my mica powders out and try it!

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  4. Great technique; used it a few years back and had totally forgotten it... Have to use it soon...

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  5. Absolutely beautiful card and so many clever ideas. Thank you so much for sharing Chris! Jenny x

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  6. Such a wonderful technique and your card is beautiful Chris! Anne x

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  7. Gorgeous card love mica. Elizabeth xxx

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  8. Very interesting read, thanks for all the great tips, lovely cards x

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  9. What a lovely card and background!.. And thank you for the very useful tips, a great summary of what we can do with embossing ink. :) x

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