Materials and detailed
instructions
Materials
-
1 or more sheets of
full-sheet sticker
paper or inkjet
paper
-
X-ACTO knife
-
Metal-edged ruler
-
Cutting mat
-
Manila folder, thick
(120#) card stock,
or thin cardboard
-
Tracing paper
-
Glue stick or other
adhesive
-
Embossing stylus
-
Masking tape
-
Light box (optional)
Instructions
-
Print the embossing
patterns onto
sticker paper or
inkjet paper. Set
aside to dry
completely.
-
Remove the backing
from the sticker
paper and adhere the
pattern to the open
manila file folder.
This is the top of
your embossing
template. (If you
don’t have sticker
paper, use inkjet
paper and your
adhesive to adhere
it to the manila
file folder, or
simply trace the
design onto the
folder.)
-
Put the cutting mat
underneath the
template. Using the
X-ACTO knife, cut
around the black
pattern without
removing any of the
pieces from the
manila folder.
-
If your pattern is
solid black, remove
the black areas and
skip to step 6.
-
If a black area has
a “floating” piece
of white inside,
cover both the area
outside of the
pattern as well as
the inside white
areas with adhesive,
making sure to leave
the black parts
clean.
-
Cover the patterns
with a sheet of
tracing paper. Set
aside to dry
completely.
-
With the tracing
paper side down, use
the tip of your X-ACTO
knife to carefully
remove the black
areas. The remaining
manila folder is
your embossing
template.
-
Tape your to the
working surface face
down around the
edges (tracing
paper-side down) so
that it does not
move.
-
Lay the paper you
intend to emboss
face down on top of
the embossing
template where you
want the embossed
pattern to show. It
is a good idea to
secure this sheet
down as well with a
removable adhesive.
-
Using your embossing
stylus, carefully
trace around the
pattern edges of the
manila folder to
press your paper
into the embossing
template. Go slowly
so you don’t poke a
hole in the paper.
You may have to
repeat the process
for heavy paper.
-
When you are
finished, carefully
lift the embossed
paper from the
template.
Embellishment
Ideas
 |
To de-boss
something (this
will create a
depression in
your paper
rather than a
raised area),
lay your paper
on top of the
manila folder
template right
side up, and
follow the rest
of the steps. |
|
|
Try embossing
the whole area
of your
template’s
negative space
and also just
around the edges
to get different
results. |
|
|
Use chalk or
glitter to draw
attention to the
embossed
pattern. |
|
|
