Are you getting the most from your embossing folders?

I'd like to share this little tutorial with you today.. as I often find at my demonstrations that people get a bit dispondent with their embossing folders, and think that all you can do with them is to emboss. I always show another way, and now, I'd like to share it on my blog.

This is the card that I made -

 

And the embossing folder that I used was the new large Papermania Christmas tree. Isn't it lovely? It works so well as a stamp too! And here's how to do it. 

 First, you will need an embossing folder that you want to use as a stamped image, some ink and some cardstock.

 Open up the embossing folder and you will see that you have a plain plastic side and a side with a black outline on. You need to rub the ink over (very carefully) onto the plain side of the plastic. This is the raised side and will give you a nice clear 'stamped' image.

Rub it over very lightly, and if you have any excess ink on the plastic, wipe it off with a cloth.

 

Take your cardstock and hold it next to the side of the folder with the black outline on. This is the front. Lower it very carefully into position on the top of the inked side. 

Rub over the top of the folder with whatever you have to hand. I used an acrylic block. You just need to apply a little bit of pressure onto the top of the folder.

When you have gone over all the image, then lift the top of the folder very carefully, making sure that the cardstock stays in place.

This is the inked design transferred onto your cardstock.

The only thing to remember with this technique is that it will reverse the image. Here you can see the embossed design and also the 'stamped' image.

The next step is to colour your image. I used Papermania pens and a watercolour image as I wanted a very light colour shade. I used the Vintage set of pens.

 Rub over some of the colours onto your glass mat (or acrylic block, or plastic wrapping). This will be your colour palette.

 Pick up the colours with your water brush, and colour in your design with your chosen colours.

 You can see that my watercolouring is quite shaded. This is created by adding a second layer of colour to one side of the baubles.

 Take a pen and use it directly to colour in the garlands on the design.

 Trim the image to size ready for matting and layering.

 Choose a ribbon that will coordinate with your design and tie a bow. Attach this to the bottom of the design.

 Finish the card off with a few adhesive gems.
And here are the finished pair of cards.

Two completely different looking cards from the one embossing folder. Double the value!

The one on the left is the 'stamped' technique and I've layered it onto the lovely Christmas Time vellum from Docrafts. (Love this stuff, and it smells really nice too! Bonus!!). 

The one on the right is embossed as it should be, but I've rubbed some brown ink over the design to accent it, then layered up onto brown cardstock and again, some of the lovely vellum. I finished it with a brown ribbon and a greeting from the Christmas Time papers. 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.. and if you try it, I'd love to pop by and take a peep! 

Happy Crafting!!