Using plastic or metal stencils for embossing is a brilliant way of stretching your stash. All you need is a simple rubber mat that is an optional extra tool and can be purchased to fit the make and model of your machine, or you can adapt one to suit your needs. You will certainly want one after reading this article and will not regret buying one.

How do you emboss with a plastic or a metal stencil, you ask? It’s very easy – all you need to do is to create the correct sandwich. Embossing platforms and plates vary depending on the make of your machine, but the basic rule is to use the base plate, your embossing plates with the mat, and whatever you wish to emboss, in between. This is something you might need to experiment with, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be amazed by the fantastic results.

I have a few handy tips for you too! Keep your plates and the rubber mat clean and free of any fibres so that your cardstock remains neat. You don’t have to stick to embossing cardstock – as you will see in this feature, you can easily emboss other materials such as vellum paper, textured handmade papers, acetate and even a metal sheet.

It is a good idea to add cardstock shims to your sandwich to get a better impression. If you choose to do so, be careful not to force the machine and start from one shim and add more, if needed. I personally find the greyboard from non-bendy envelopes works very well with plastic stencils, and shims of cardstock with metal stencils. Find what works best with your machine.

Try adding ink through the stencil first and then running through the machine for a faux letterpress look or simply add ink to raised areas after embossing, like I did. It would be fun to use textured cardstock for this technique, then sand lightly to reveal the core.

These step by step instructions show you the basics of embossing with a stencil, then why not have a go at some of the other projects.

1

Die-cut a circle from white cardstock measuring 5”in diameter.

2

Run with the metal stencil and the rubber mat through your manual die-cutting machine a few times

3

Use ink-blending foam to colour the embossed areas using Distress Ink.

'I Just Love You' Card
Create this simple embossed valentines card for you
Valentine's Day1 min read16 Oct 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • White 4¼x5½” card blank
  • White & aqua cardstock
  • Sweet Poppy Stencils Deco Heart metal stencil
  • Spellbinders Nestabilities A2 Curved Matting Basics Card die set
  • WPlus9 That Is All die & stamp set
  • Worn Jeans & Broken China Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink
  • Ink-blending foam
  • Onyx Black VersaFine inkpad
  • Manual die-cutting machine & rubber mat
  • 3D foam pads
  • Gem
Love Heart Sentiment Card
Create this pretty 'missing you' sentiment card using die cutting and stamps
Stamping1 min read16 Oct 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • White 5x7” card blank
  • Vellum
  • White cardstock
  • Silver glitter card
  • Sweet Poppy Stencils Flower Back Plate metal stencil
  • Tonic Studios Layering Circles die set
  • WPlus9 Hand Lettered Hello stamp set
  • WPlus9 Happy Greetings die set
  • Dusty Concord & Picked Raspberry Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink
  • Ink-blending foam
  • Onyx Black VersaFine inkpad
  • Manual die-cutting machine & rubber mat
  • Ranger Glossy Accents
  • 3D foam pads
  • Kitchen roll
  • Gems
It’s Your Birthday-Simple Mixed Media Birthday Card In Lilacs And Blues
Create this card with tissue, gel medium, ink blending, dry embossing with dies and stamping
Stamping1 min read16 Oct 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • White 5½x4¼” card blank
  • White cardstock
  • White tissue paper
  • That Special Touch Leaves mask
  • Spellbinders Nestabilities A2 Curved Matting Basics Card die set
  • WPlus9 Strictly Sentiments 1 stamp set
  • Broken China, Dusty Concord & Picked Raspberry Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink
  • Ink-blending foam
  • Onyx Black VersaFine inkpad
  • Manual die-cutting machine & rubber mat
  • Liquitex Gel Medium
  • Water spritzer
  • Craft mat
  • 3D foam pads
  • Heat tool
FAULTY (CF - unable to id fault) Happy birthday
1 min read16 Oct 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • white 5½x4¼” card blank
  • black & white cardstock
  • vellum
  • silver Hobby & Craft metal sheet
  • Creative Expressions Fizz mask
  • WPlus9 That Is All stamp set
  • WPlus9 Happy Greetings die set
  • Broken China & Worn Jeans Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Stain
  • ink-blending foam
  • Onyx Black VersaFine inkpad
  • manual die-cutting machine & rubber mat
  • white Liquitex Heavy Gesso
  • water spritzer
  • sandpaper
  • paintbrush
  • craft mat
  • 3D foam pads
  • heat tool