Heat-embossed Die-cutting Tutorial

When performing the heat-embossed die-cutting technique, a die is used to remove an area that has previously had a heat-resistant double-sided adhesive sheet affixed then embossed. The rest of the adhesive sheet is removed and a second colour of embossing powder is used. This gives the design its inlaid look.

I’ve demonstrated this in the Hello and Oh happy day cards, I’ve then changed the technique a little for a few other variations, and used our Sparkles Premium Glitters alongside our Powders.

When trying the technique, you should work with thick cardstock so that when die-cutting it doesn’t go through the panel. The effect you’re looking for is called a ‘kiss cut’ – if you don’t have thick cardstock you can easily double up your layers.

With so many dies on the market, the world is your oyster when it comes to selecting ones for this technique. You can achieve many different effects depending on the finish of the embossing powder. For example, I used mainly pearl-based powders on the Hello design, then when I covered the background with white pearl I left a little on the petals for a lovely muted effect. You can achieve this by gently tapping the excess and not removing it all. Have a go and see what you think!