Heat Embossed Die Cutting

Hello! Today technique is about combining heat embossing and die cutting to create unique backgrounds. This is a great way to stretch your supplies!

Heat Embossed Die Cuts Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

[All supplies are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. To watch the video in HD on YouTube, click HERE.]

In my video I share three examples of combining heat embossing with die cutting. I chose to make entire backgrounds with the technique but you can do just elements for a card if you prefer.

Heat Embossed Die Cuts Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Let’s start with the most difficult version of the technique first. 🙂 I started by covering a 4.25×5.5″ piece of white cardstock with Be Creative Tape. I then ran it through my die cut machine with the new-and-fabulous Altenew Striped Leaf Die (ALT | SSS). The die cuts through the release paper of the adhesive but not all the way through the cardstock background. I removed the release paper from a few of the leaves and added Altenew Golden Peach Embossing Powder and heat set. Then I revealed the adhesive behind a few more leaves and added Altenew Antique Silver Embossing Powder… and again for the Gold Embossing Powder. Finally, I removed the remaining negative piece of release paper and added white powder. After apply heat to the whole thing I am left with lots of texture and metallic shine.

Heat Embossed Die Cuts Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Embossing powder (like glitter!) can get messy. I recommend using Coffee Filters and Swiffer Dusting Cloths to keep things tidy. I also heat set on a Cutting Board so that I don’t warp my work surface or burn my fingers!

After trimming my embossed background down a bit, I added it to the top left corner of a white notecard.

Heat Embossed Die Cuts Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

I am crazy-in-love with how the sentiment turned out on this one! I stacked several white “hello” die cuts from the Altenew Envelope Liner Die Set (ALT | SSS). On the top, I adhered a die cut covered with three layers of Altenew Antique Gold Embossing Powder. This gives such smooth dimension! The stacking of die cuts and embossing of layers makes a HUGE difference. I added a “sweet friend” sentiment strip from the Altenew Sweet Friend Stamp Set.

Oh, and those metallic dots? I took some old enamel accents and covered them with Altenew Antique Silver Embossing Powder. They turned out great.

Heat Embossed Die Cuts Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

My background on my next example is also covered completely with embossing powder. I again started with white cardstock and covered it with Be Creative Tape. I die cut the piece with Altenew Doodled Lace Die (ALT | SSS)… which only cuts the release paper. I removed the negative piece of release paper and added Altenew Antique Silver Embossing Powder and heat set. Then I removed the remaining release paper pieces and added Altenew Golden Peach Embossing Powder. After heat setting it all, I am left with a metallic, textured background!

Heat Embossed Die Cuts Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

I stacked four white “thanks” die cuts from the Altenew Script Words 2 Die Set (ALT | SSS) and covered it with three layers of Altenew Pure White Embossing Powder. So smooth! I also added a sentiment strip created with the Altenew Crafty Friends Stamp Set.

That Altenew Golden Peach Embossing Powder is so gorgeous.

This last example features a much-faster-to-create background. For this one I used the Altenew Doodled Lace Die (ALT | SSS) to cut into an adhesive-covered-cardstock piece. I also cut a white cardstock piece from the same die. I removed the largest “outline” release paper piece first… and added the white die cut on top. After removing the remaining piece of release paper, I added Altenew Golden Peach Embossing Powder and heat set. This give a background that is part heat embossed and part cardstock.

Heat Embossed Die Cuts Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

I die cut another background from the Altenew Doodled Lace Die (ALT | SSS) and white cardstock and cut from it a flower to add as an accent. I also added a doubled-up vellum strip. These elements serve as a backdrop for the sentiment so it stands out a bit. I stacked several white “hugs” Altenew Script Words die cuts and added several layers of Altenew Antique Silver Embossing Powder. I also heat embossed “sweet friend” from the Altenew Sweet Friend Stamp Set… and gold embossed enamel dots.

Heat Embossed Die Cuts Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Keep in mind that you can do these things with smaller dies and/or colorful embossing powders.

BLOG HOP

Today I am part of the Altenew Blog Hop celebrating their August release! I used many of their products today, but you can see all the new goodies HERE.

By the way, I do not work for Altenew. Just adore their products and people. 🙂

The next stop on the hop is the blog of Vicky Papaioannou! You can also start at the beginning of the hop at the Altenew Blog.

GIVEAWAY

How would you like to win a $30 gift certificate to Altenew? For your chance, leave a comment here by 11:59pmEST on 8/31/17 telling me your favorite coloring medium. (The winner’s name will be randomly selected, emailed and posted on my “Winners page” after the giveaway closes. International folks are eligible, too!)

Also, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to THREE lucky winners! Head to the Altenew Blog for details.

SUPPLIES

Want to find the products I used? To make them easy for you to find, I have listed them below. (Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. Thank you! Affiliate and product disclosure can be found here. All products were personally purchased except those from Altenew. As always, this post was NOT asked for, paid, or sponsored.) Click on the letters below each picture to go to a favorite store: Simon Says Stamp (SSS), Ellen Hutson (EH), Altenew (ALT), etc.


Leave a Comment

429 thoughts on “Heat Embossed Die Cutting”

  1. These cards are simply stunning! I love coloring with alcohol markers. Going to try my hand at water coloring in the not to distant future.

  2. I use many coloring methods but distress inks are number one, I use them with watercolor paper. It seems to be the easiest method for me. Still learning Alcohol Markers.

  3. These cards are absolutely beautiful!!

    Distressed inks are my go-to coloring medium and I find it the easiest for me. I use Copic markers, but need to practice a lot more!

  4. Another set of stunning cards.

    Question: I noticed it looked like your Ranger Multi Matte Medium bottle was almost out. Do you refill? Or just get more of the small bottles?

    If you refill do you recommend a funnel or some other way to get the glue in. I have tried on several occasions and seem to get more outside the bottle than in.

  5. Beautiful cards. Right now I have used water color markers and the new distress oxides to color with most of the time.

  6. These cards are gorgeous. My favorite coloring medium is Copic markers, but I am not very good with them yet!

  7. I am so inspired by this! I am going to blow the dust off of my embossing powders and my big die cuts and see what I can come up with! I usually color with my copics but I really want to break out the embossing powders now! thanks so much Jennifer!

  8. This is such an awesome technique. I’m so intimidated by heat embossing but I just might have to try this.
    My favorite coloring medium is Distress inks and watercolors. =)

    Thanks for sharing these gorgeous cards with us!

  9. Colored pencils are my favorite because I’m the best at them. There are many more I would like to be better with and then maybe I’ll fine a new fav. Beautiful cards, thanks.

  10. Lovely cards, love how many ideas you have. So far I love working with watercolours and gelatos, but wanting to learn Copics.

  11. Went to a crop with friends this past weekend and learned about your blog there. I watched this entire video as IM new to heat embossing. Actually only seen it demonstrated at events but have never done it yet. But love embossing in general so am ready to take it up a notch. I love these examples you’ve presented here. Would love to try them all. Especially Love your trick with the sentiments how you triple cut and stack them for more depth. So cute. Ive got to purchase some of these supplies so I can try these techniques. Can’t wait! Great video.

  12. You are a genius! I wonder how you sleep at night with all of these wonderful techniques formulating in your head! Thanks so much for sharing these beautiful cards!

  13. Your YouTube channel is my go-to when I have any spare time. Wonderful techniques! Not all your Ellen Hutson links here are working, though. At least the one for Crafty Friends tries to go to SSS not EH.

  14. By the way my favorite coloring medium is stamping. I like to paint with the stamps. And also use spectrum noir markers

  15. I’m just learning to use Copics and loving them. I first saw Alte New in Ohio at the SSS event. I really like their designs and I’d love to try more.

  16. GORGEOUS cards and EXCITING heat embossing technique, feeling SO INSPIRED – THANK YOU so much for sharing!
    I’m a Copic marker girl, love them so much that I urgently had to get some refills to finish of a big project 🙂

  17. Love these beautiful cards. I usually use colored pencils for coloring, but I’m branching out with Copics and Distress Oxide inks.

  18. Loraine Holzer September 4, 2017

    Jennifer, your work is always done so professionally. Whoever gets a card from you should cherish it!! I always look forward to getting your e-mails and what you have for us each day. Thank you for always making something so easy (with a lot of practice) look so beazutiful. I loved the last card, it reminded me of Battenburg lace which we don’t see very much of lately.

  19. Jennifer I love this embossing tip you gave in this blog post so much I gathered all my dies and attempted my hand at the project today! Until my leaf die arrives. Question?? for some reason when I layer my card stock onto the double sided paper. And use the sandwich the way you instructed in the die cut machine, my entire die cut out. Instead of leaving a white card stock background layer. I went to my local scrapbook store and purchased sookwang double sided sheets to practice with. I’ve done it 3 times now and my die always cut all the way through. How thick is the double sided paper your using?does this only work with square full dies? I’m using an Anna griffin flower vine die. That I wanted to use as a background and then emboss the vine in one color and the background white. So that it could be the background of a wedding card. However the die cuts all the way through the paper. Hmmmmm Any clue on what I may be doing wrong? Thanks so much, still love the idea so much! BEst

  20. Question: How do you clean the VersaMark off of your stencils? I tried this techiniwue, but I can’t get that gummy residue off my stencil, even after cleaning. I have the same problem when I get some VersaMark on my Misti. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

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