How to Make Embossed Cards

Maybe you've noticed that greeting card prices in stores have decreased in price over the last few years. That's because so many people have discovered the pleasure of stamping their own, handmade cards. You'll need a few tools to get started.

You can buy everything you will need at a craft store. The initial investment can be relatively small to just stamp and color images, or it can be more depending on how fancy you want your cards. Often you can get good deals on materials on online auctions or craft websites.

One of the most impressive types of cards you can make is using an embossed design. Embossing is a very easy technique that makes the card look very classy and unique. Materials you will need to emboss a card are:

• Cardstock - two colors you want for background plus a sheet of white
• Scissors
• Embossing stamp pad
• Rubber stamp
• Embossing powder - gold or silver to start
• Tiny paint brush
• Heat gun
• Design chalks, markers, or colored pencils
• Glue or rubber cement
• Envelope 4 ¼” x 5 ½”

1. Cut the white cardstock in half, then cut in half again so that you have four equal-sized rectangles. Put three squares aside for later.
2. Tap your rubber stamp on the embossing pad until you can see that the outline on the stamp is covered.
3. Place the stamp carefully on the cardstock and press firmly all over without moving the stamp. Lift it straight up when finished.
4. Wash ink from stamp with a wet paper towel
5. Fold a sheet of scratch paper in half; open and lay the cardstock on it being very careful not to touch the inked impression.
6. Liberally pour embossing powder all over the design making sure it is all covered.
7. Shake excess embossing powder from the card onto the paper under it
8. Pour extra powder back into the canister to use again
9. Using the tiny brush and working carefully, remove particles of powder that aren't part of the design.
10. Hold your heat gun 1-2” above the card and move it slowly over an area of the design. Don't hold it too close or stay in one area too long as the card can scorch.
11. You will see the embossing powder melt and turn shiny. If there are small, pin prick holes in it, melt a little longer until it appears smooth. Continue until the entire design is completed.
12. Look the design over. If you don't like what you see, you can try again using another piece of the cardstock. If you do, you're ready to color in the design.
13. For coloring, design chalks work well. They are fast and easy to use and blend well. You can also use colored pencils, markers, gel pens, or any other medium with a fine tip. Color to coordinate with the colors of cardstock you have chosen.
14. Some rubber stamps have colored pictures on them you can use for coloring suggestions. Or use your own sense of color and imagination.
15. After the design is colored, you may carefully cut around the design itself or trim the edges to make the card smaller. You may also want to invest in decorative scissors to trim the edges of the card.
16. Cut a sheet of colored cardstock in half the narrow way across. Fold to make card.
17. Cut a square of the other color of cardstock a little smaller than the size of the front of the card. Glue on so that the card shows evenly around the edges. Make sure this second color is larger than the card with the design.
18. Glue the design on the card. Leave room for a Happy Birthday.
19. For the “Happy Birthday” you can either purchase another stamp and go thru the steps to emboss the greeting as outlined above. Another option is to use a decorative font and your computer to make the greeting which you can then cut out and include on the card.
20. For the inside greeting, you can either buy a stamp and stamp the greeting or type one out on your computer to cut and paste inside.

You'll find that your skills increase with every attempt. I've used this technique with many special needs students who were always able to successfully create a card. I think you'll be surprised what you can do!