Embossing Paste - Combo #2

• 4 oz. Dreamweaver Regular Embossing Paste
• 4 oz. Dreamweaver Translucent Embossing Paste
• 4 oz. Dreamweaver Pearlescent Embossing Paste
• 4 oz. Dreamweaver Matte Yellow Embossing Paste
• 4 oz. Dreamweaver Glossy Blue Embossing Paste
• Acid free
• 100% acrylic emulsion
• $45 value! MSRP $9.00 each

US Shipping only. Thanks.

Using Embossing Paste with Brass Stencils
 
 This technique looks especially nice on dark card stock. It has a sharper edge to it than either dry or thermal embossing and, like dry embossing, it can also be stenciled with color. When iridescent powders are added to the regular embossing paste, the embossing almost has an "Indian sandpainted" look to it.
 
 1. When using embossing paste on the brass stencils, you need to work quickly, because the paste sets up in 20-40 minutes and you don't want it to dry into the fine bridgework of the brass stencils.
 
 2. Make sure you are working on a hard flat surface and the stencil needs to be flat against the surface, because, if it is bent, the paste will pull under the bridges and smear.
 
 3. Tape out the edges well with removable tape.
 
 4. Pick up the paste on the bottom of the metal palette knife and smooth over the stencil's cut out areas as if applying icing to a cake. Now the paste on the stencil is about 1/8"- 1/4" thick. At this point, scrape off the excess paste until all the holes are filled evenly and the stencil surface is smooth.
 
 5. Immediately take off the tape and pick up the stencil from the paper--lifting it off in a straight up manner as much as possible. It is important to clean the stencil off immediately, so drop it into a pan of water until you have time to scrub it with a vegetable or nail brush. If there is a film or residue of paste on the stencil, use a rubber stamp cleaner that removes permanent inks. Apply it generously and scrub with a dry paper towel.
 
 6. Set aside the paste project for 20-40 minutes and, when dry, put the cleaned stencil back in place and stencil with a variety of mediums.
 
 STENCILING ON REGULAR EMBOSSING PASTE
 Iridescent Paintstiks: These have a tendency to be a bit dryer than the regular Paintstiks, but they have a wonderful opalescence to them when stenciled onto the paste. Since they are a bit dry when you initially open them, you need to scrape them off with a sharp knife and then stroke them onto a piece of wax paper or freezer paper. If there are any big paint clumps or flakes on your palette, do not pick them up with your brush. You can load your brush more heavily with the iridescent Paintstiks than with the regular paintstiks, which are creamier. After loading the brush, stencil using a circular "rouging" motion to avoid a piling of paint into the edges of the design. Paintstiks, in general, have a great shelf life and are one of the easiest mediums for beginners to work with.
 Stamp pads: Most of us have a plethora of ink and dye pads for stamping. These can be used for stenciling as well. Remember though, after you load your brush with wet ink or dye, you then need to "unload" the brush. In stenciling we call this a "dry-brush" technique. If your stamp pad is relatively new, it can be very wet, so don't be afraid to press the bristles very hard into a dry paper towel or an old t-shirt to get rid of the excess wetness. Then stencil with the same circular "rouging" style used with the Paintstik medium. You can build color from light to dark by layering colors. I prefer brushes, but foam daubers or makeup sponges can be used as well. Just remember, when using these, to tap up and down rather than the "rouging" motion that you use with a brush. This keeps the wetness from pulling under the stencil.
 
 TRANSLUCENT EMBOSSING PASTE
 This new paste is applied in the same manner as the regular paste, but it dries to a glossy, translucent finish. Therefore, it can be used with iridescent powders or metallic liquid acrylic paints. Add approximately 1/2 tsp. paint or powder to 2Tbsp. paste. The mixture will have a milky look but it dries glossy and iridescent. For a more opaque rough texture that still has a bit of glossy shine, add 1 part regular embossing paste to the iridescent translucent mixture you have already made.