Embossing powder can be used in conjunction with rubber stamped images to create a raised hard stamped image that will be permanent on most surfaces that can be heated. All embossing powders are made of melt-able enamel in powder form. The primary differences in embossing powder are: color, finish and coarseness.

Color is an aesthetic choice to be made by the artist. The effect the color will have on the art is obvious. Colors can be transparent or opaque depending on the brand. Most embossing powders are opaque and if an artist is unable to find a transparent embossing powder in the color she wants clear embossing powder can be used with any color of pigment ink or slow drying Distress dye ink to get a similar look to colored transparent embossing powder.

Finish texture is similar for most brands of embossing powder. It creates a shiny raised surface in the areas it is applied. Distress embossing powder, however, contains grit which the manufacturer calls “release crystals.” When heated the powder creates a more dull and gritty finish. The finish can be further distressed by allowing the melted enamel and rubbing the “release crystals” out of the hardened enamel. Another non-traditional embossing powder is called Puffs by Ranger Industries. When heated and allowed to cool this embossing powder leaves a foamy puffy texture. In addition to the texture the finish can be pearlescent, metallic or glittery.

The coarseness of the powder may not seem as important to the final look of the embossed image, but there cases in which using the wrong coarseness can ruin the embossed image or project. Embossing powder comes in superfine or extra fine, regular or ultra thick.

Superfine embossing powder can be used to emboss highly detailed images with very little image detail loss. Because the grains of powder are smaller the image will not be raised to quite the same height as a standard embossing powder. Superfine embossing powder may not be available in as many colors and finishes as regular embossing powder.

Regular coarseness embossing powder is not generally labeled as such; it just lacks the superfine or ultra thick designation. This is the embossing powder most commonly used in rubber stamping and where the largest variety of finishes and colors can be found.

Ultra thick embossing enamel, usually called UTEE, is ground into a course powder. UTEE will adhere to a stamped image, much the way the finer powers adhere but a lot of detail in the image will be lost when the powder is melted. For this reason, UTEE is not generally used to emboss a stamped image. It is more commonly used to cover a small surface with embossing enamel. An artist may wish to do this to give the look of glass over the image. An image can also be stamped into melted UTEE before it hardens. This article does not go into all the possibilities for using UTEE. Suze Weinberg provides several project ideas on her website: www.schmoozewithsuze.com

This article also assumes the reader has experience rubber stamping and understands basic embossing techniques. If more information is needed on how to use embossing powder, that can be found here: www.blockheadstamps.com/catalog/Art-Supplies/Embossing

Author Bio: Stacey Dunning, from Blockheads Paper Arts, has been rubber stamping and papercrafting for 10 years. She has demonstrated rubber stamp products at trade shows for 5 of the past 8 years and has taught over a dozen different classes.

Category: Arts and Crafts
Keywords: rubber stamping, scrapbooking, embossing powder, embossing, UTEE