Embossing Tips and Techniques

All embossing on the Fiskars embossing units is done on the back side of your surface you will be embossing on (paper, cardstock, vellum, thin metal, etc.). The “paper” is placed between the 2 stencils, with the wrong side facing upwards. The top stencil is clear so that you can move your piece around to see the proper placement of the design you choose. Move the pegs around the outer edge as needed to utilize any of the designs or borders. Place as many pegs in through the stencils into the base as needed to hold everything comfortably in place.

Whatever surface you emboss on, it makes it much easier to emboss if you rub the back of it with wax paper. This acts as a lubricant and your stylus goes much more smoothly along the surface.

When embossing a design, you only need to outline the shape of the design, whether it is large or small. Do not “color in” the shape, that will cause undesirable lines in the middle of your design.

Use the size stylus that fits the size of the design you will be embossing.

To chalk or add color to your embossed design, flip it over so that the raised design faces up. Slide it between the stencils with the design facing up through its holes on the stencil. Depending on which design you have embossed, you may have to flip the stencil over as it may be backwards. Having the design face up through the stencil will shield the background and make it easier to add your color.

When embossing thin metal, you can add a piece of thin craft foam underneath, which will add more depth to your embossed design. Be careful not to press to hard into the softer surface as it may cause the stylus to “tear” the metal.

Remember, you can emboss a design and then cut out around it and add it as an embellishment to other surfaces.

Texture Plates

Texture plates will fit onto the side holes using the pegs on the Mini ShapeBoss, ShapeBoss and ScrapBoss for an extra “helping hand”.

Rub the back of the surface to be textured with wax paper to make the tool or stylus move easier.

To use the texture tool, hold it in you hand, gripping as it fits around the rubber grips. Be sure to keep the tool straight up or perpendicular to the surface. Unless the texture design is made up of straight lines in one direction, rotate the texture tool in small circular motions over the entire surface to be textured. Then repeat the circles going in the opposite direction. This will ensure that you “catch” all sides of the texture shapes. You can go back with a stylus if desired to define more of the shapes.

You can use a stylus to texture many of the straight line texture designs.

To texture small shapes, you can either, texture a large area of your paper, then cut out your shape or cut out the shape and then texture it. It will help hold the small shape in place if you use some tape to hold it in position on the texture plate.

Texture an area of an embossed design, for example, the wings of the dragonfly or butterfly. Emboss the design first, then lay it right down on the texture plate. Use the stylus to texture just the wing area with an appropriate texture.

To texture thin metal, tape the piece to the texture plate. Rub the back with the wax paper over your finger. You will begin to see the design on the back of the metal. Then use a stylus to outline the texture designs. Remove the tape and move it around as needed to texture the whole piece.

Texture plates can also be used to texture all types of clay, such as air dry and polymer clay. You may want to rub a small amount of powder or cornstarch on the plate to make sure the clay does not stick when you press the clay onto the surface.

For a fun idea use the texture plates with thinner paper, crayons, chalk or colored pencils. Lay the paper over the texture plate and “rub” over the design with the color. It is a fun way for kids to add texture to their pictures or make your own textured paper for pages and cards.

By Andi Rothenberg

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