Making interesting raised textures and faux ceramic or glass techniques with embossing powder is enjoyable.
Prior to using embossing powder with polymer clay, purchase a heat gun. Using liquid polymer clay is the simplest way to keep the powder adhered to the clay while it melts. This will avoid any compatibility issues that may arise with the fixatives frequently used with embossing powders. Depending on the results you want, you can use the powder on baked pieces or on raw clay.
THE TOOLS
Anything you want embossed should be written using an embossing glue pen. For those of you who enjoy calligraphy and want to use these pens to create faux calligraphy, make thicker lines after each letter. To avoid going over the letters again and running the risk of dragging your hand on the glue, try to finish each letter before moving on to the next one. The Ranger Ink Emboss It pen (Australians: I sell this in my online store) is the embossing pen that I prefer because I find that the powders adhere well to it. The Ranger Ink Emboss It pens come in a pack of two colors: a clear pen and a black pen that writes like a regular black marker. The clear one is good when using lighter embossing powders.
Since many years ago, embossing has been used to give paper crafts and cards a raised texture. With only a few simple steps and inexpensive materials and tools, embossing can produce stunning results. Basically, all you need is a heat gun, embossing glue, and embossing powder. Since the invention of embossing glue pens, calligraphers and letterers have taken up embossing as a popular art form because it can be done on nearly any heat-resistant surface.
Now this is the fun part (sarcasm). Using a pointed tip, dry paintbrush, very carefully but firmly, brush off the excess from the item youre embossing on. You need to be firm as the powder is sticking on by static. Remember that a single particle of loose power will melt into a mini blob once embossed, so you want to remove as much as you can for a clean finish. Dont forget the inside of the letters (inside of the a, e, o, etc.). I would say that any dry pointed tip paint brush would work, but if you are interested in what I use, I love the Ikea Mala paintbrushes. The bristles are synthetic and the package comes in a set of six different sized brushes, so you can choose whatever that suits your needs.
It is much easier to emboss on flat surfaces because the embossing glue pens essentially write like any other pen or marker, so you just write as you normally would. I began embossing words on flat surfaces; paper, card, and notebooks, then eventually moved onto cannisters, vases, and anything I could get my hands on. I’m no embossing expert in comparison because there are so many creative ways to emboss and so many incredible artists who use embossing to create mind-blowing things, but this is how I emboss my canisters.
I have always loved personalised things. I used to look in those swiveling stands as a kid for keychains, mugs, and stickers with my name on them. My dad was always accommodating, which was fortunate for me because I would get hairbrushes and notepads with “Elizabeth” written on them. My husband on the other hand has a unique name. Even finding his name anywhere requires him to spell it out letter by letter for everyone. He vowed to give his children a more common name if he ever had children. So, a few years later, armed with embossing powder and a heat gun, I absolutely love to personalize EVERYTHING.
Is embossing powder durable on polymer clay?
The use of embossing powder can produce a variety of striking effects. You can give your artwork a variety of finishes, including glossy, glass-like, matte, aged, metallic, glittery, or even glow-in-the-dark. However, the effect will fade away very quickly if the powder is not adequately protected.