OK here is the tutorial that I mentioned yesterday. I've been meaning to do one on this technique for months now and with the release of the new Papertrey set I thought I may as well do it now! I would love it if you would link to any cards you make with this technique in the comments section so I can see them!
EDITED TO ADD: Questions are answered at the end of this post!
SUPPLIES: Stamp of choice (can be solid image or outline stamp - it's all up to personal preference with this technique!) - the stamp here is from the Papertrey Text Boxed stamp set.
Black or dark color Card Stock
VersaMark Ink
Heat & Stick Powder
Embossing Buddy
Heat Tool
Powder Pal
Paint Brush
Swiffer Cloth
PearlEx in choice of color(s) (here I used Duo Blue-Green, Super Copper, and Super Bronze)
STEP 1: Rub Embossing Buddy all over Card Stock (this helps eliminate any static and oils from fingers etc so that the Heat & Stick Powder will stick ONLY to the stamped image)
STEP 2: Stamp Image in VersaMark Ink (if using a solid image check to make sure the entire image was stamped before moving on - if you missed a spot you can use a VersaMarker to fill in any empty spots).
STEP 3: Pour Heat & Stick Powder over image and tap off excess.
STEP 4: Use your Heat Tool to melt the powder and make sure to stop as soon as it melts - it will be glossy and very sticky. You will know if you've overheated it because it will turn to a matte finish and loses it's "stickiness" (the directions that come with the powder say that if you DO overheat it you can "re-heat" to turn it back but I have rarely been able to make that work. I just toss it and start over if that happens.)
STEP 5: (this is the fun part!!) - Pick up PearlEx with your Paint Brush and rub it on the desired areas of the image. Without brushing the excess off the image pick up the next color and apply it where you want, following with the 3rd or more colors. I always use a fair bit of powder and really dab it on with the brush to cover all the exposed sticky area. When moving on to another color you can just dab the brush onto scratch paper to remove the PearlEx from the bristles.
STEP 6: Brush off the excess PearlEx powder then use the Swiffer cloth to buff the image and the surrounding CS to remove any unwanted powder. (I try not to press to hard at this point as you can leave indents in the image. I also re-heat it with my heat tool at this point to "set" the image as I find it really helps!).
FINAL RESULT: No spray or other sealant is necessary - just re-heat the image to set it and it's good to go!
Finished Card:
STAMPS: Text Boxed (Papertrey Ink). CS: Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black, Brushed Copper (all Stampin' Up!). INK: Ink: Tempting Turquoise (SU!), Palette Hybrid Noir, Encore Copper. ACCESSORIES: Heat & Stick Powder (SU!), PearlEx® Powder, Ribbon, Copper Cord, Brads, Small and Large Oval Punches (SU!).
Questions and Answers:
Does the heat & stick ever lose it's "stickiness" or dry? do you have a certain length of time that you have to get the powder on?
If done properly (as in heat it *just* till it melts and is shiny) I think it will stay sticky for a VERY long time - you don't need to hurry at all with it. I've never bothered to see HOW long it will stay sticky but I wouldn't be surprised if it lasted for hours or more!
Do you find a difference between your SU heating tool and say, a hair dryer?
Oh ya - HUGE difference!! Do not - I repeat - do NOT use your hair dryer for heat embossing. A hair dryer doesn't have the heat to melt the powder (as it's meant to blow hot AIR and really is too large to be using) like a heat tool does ---- all it will do is blow the powder off the card stock before it even gets a chance to melt. A heat tool gets a LOT hotter (if not used properly you can burn yourself quite easily with it - ask me how I know......) and blows air in a much smaller way that a hair dryer. Trust me - leave the hair dryer where it is and get a good heat tool - one meant for papercrafting!! :o)
If we dont have swiffer cloths, is there something else that is a substitute?
Yup - I bet a (clean!) soft, lint-free cloth would do the trick! In fact that's what I should be doing but things like that tend to walk away on me while I have a box of Swiffer cloths gathering dust in my cleaning cabinet LOL!!
Is there any difference between heat and stick powder and regular embossing powder?
Yup - they're totally different. Regular embossing powder when heated melts and becomes a raised NON-sticky image (there is a brief moment (I'm talking just seconds here) after *just* being heated where if you touch the image or bump it into something some of the melted powder will transfer or small items can be embedded into it before it "sets" but it is in no way "sticky") - you can NOT use regular embossing powder for this technique - it just won't work - and you will prolly ruin your brush if you try it!
Heat and Stick Powder is completely different from embossing powder. You use it WITH something - either PearlEx or fine glitter - think of it as glue once it's melted - it needs something to be stuck with LOL!!
