In the first of a series of posts, I am going to update you on what I have been doing during my blog’s radio silence… Several groups have been postponed for various reasons, so I have not posted about them, and I have spent the time on a number of projects. This week has been a new Online Card Class; Extraordinary Embossing Folders. For five days there were two videos per day with techniques to expand your use of embossing folders. It’s been a while since I did any card making, so it was good to do some today based on the first day of class:
![](https://i0.wp.com/perfectly4med.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_2904.jpg?resize=584%2C779&ssl=1)
This was for a friend’s wedding yesterday. I used a circular diffuser panel, edged with distress ink and then heat embossed the raised bits with clear holographic glitter embossing powder. Stamped images are coloured with ProMarkers and mounted in a circle of matching cardstock. Sentiment is by Tim Holtz.
![](https://i0.wp.com/perfectly4med.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_2921.jpg?resize=584%2C423&ssl=1)
This card uses the other bit of the diffuser for a positive embossed area. Coloured with ProMarkers and a coloured pencil. Foiled sentiment from Craftworks Cards.
![](https://i0.wp.com/perfectly4med.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_2922.jpg?resize=584%2C782&ssl=1)
Two folders used on this card, with a nifty trick to avoid harsh edges at the edge of each design. The fade creates a nice soft edge for the sentiment area. Coloured with blended distress inks and highlights with foundry wax (I couldn’t find a metallic gold ink pad which I would have used instead). I stuck the panel upside down at first, hence the double mat (which you wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t mentioned it!
![](https://i0.wp.com/perfectly4med.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_2919.jpg?resize=584%2C420&ssl=1)
I mucked about with the colouring for this one for way too long, but learnt a lot in the process! Double embossed, first with 2D dotty folder, then with a 3D flower and vines folder. The trick is to have a slightly less thick sandwich going through the embossing machine so that you don’t completely flatten the first design. Coloured with distress inks and oxides.
![](https://i0.wp.com/perfectly4med.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_2920.jpg?resize=584%2C796&ssl=1)
Another double embossed card, again with 2D folder first, followed by a 3D design. Coloured with blended distress inks and topped with a foiled sentiment by Craftwork Cards (now discontinued. I wanted the embossed background to be the main attraction.
Used for these embossed designs
- Spellbinders 3D embossing folders: Flowers & Foliage [E3D-074], Flower Frenzy [E3D-048]
- Sizzix / Tim Holtz Alterations: ShadowPress Sentiments set [659859], French Script [658577]
- Sizzix – dotty embossing folder, the name of which I no longer have…
- Provocraft/Cuttlebug embossing folder: D’vine Swirl
- Another floral swirly embossing folder… don’t forget to label them if you plan to let people know which you use…
- Sizzix / Tim Holtz Embossing Diffuser set of 3 [657945]
- Ranger / Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Picked Raspberry / Kitsch Flamingo, Antique Linen / Vintage Photo, Dusty Concord / Chipped Sapphire (+ Oxides)
- Ranger / Tim Holtz Distress Foundry Wax: Gilded
- Memento ink pad: Tuxedo Black
- Winsor & Newton ProMarkers (various colours)
- Faber Castell Polychromos Colouring Pencil: Light Ultramarine
- Versamark ink pad
- Heat It Up! Embossing Powder: Holographic
- Hero Arts wood mounted rubber stamps: Tuxedo [C3506] / Party Dress [C3507]