Hey there, welcome to today’s post focusing on an ombre embossing technique. The ombre effect is quite popular, often seen with stamping, distress inks/oxides and watercolouring. I was inspired to try out ombre embossing as a result of WOW! Embossing Powders July Challenge: Multicolour embossing. I wanted to take part, but wasn’t sure what I wanted to submit at first. That’s when I thought why not try ombre embossing seen as ombre is so popular.
It took me a few attempts to get the technique right, but I am please with the results and feel I managed to obtain the ombre look quite well. Read on to find out how I created it!
Materials required for Ombre Embossing Technique Project:
- Embossing powder – for this project I have featured Mint Macaroon and Opaque Bright White Super Fine by WOW! Embossing powders
- Versamark Ink
- Heat gun
- Wooden letters – I used Papermania Bare Basics wooden letters – these adhesive backed wooden letters are a doddle to apply to projects
- Leaf die cut
- 1 6″ x 6 sheet from Happy watercolour paper pack by Craft Sensations
- White cardbase (5″ x 7)
- Scraps of black and corresponding colour card
- Small sentiment stamp
- Acrylic Block
- Colour matching sequins
- Glossy Accents
- Double sided tape
Ombre Embossing Technique
Trim your chosen sheet of watercolour patterned paper down to 6″ x 4 1/2 and apply to the card base with double sided tape. I left on offset to the bottom of 1 inch as I felt this gave a modern look to the card, as though this was a photograph. However if you prefer, you can trim this down to get an even border all the way around.
Apply versamark ink to the front of your wooden letters used to form your main sentiment. Cover the first 2 letters in your first colour (darker shade) of embossing powder and heat set. Depending on the colour and powder, you may need to repeat this step several times to intensify the colour over the wooden surface. Also this helps to give a smooth and dimensional finish to the embossing.
For the next two letters of my sentiment, I initially covered the letters with the second colour of powder (light shade). Once I had applied 2 coats, I then applied ink over the whole surface of the third letter, and half of the surface of the fourth letter. When you apply your heat gun to set this, the bottom colour (lighter shade) will melt along with the second layer, starting to blend the colours.
If needed, you can repeat this process to again, intensify the colour and smooth out the blending.
Finally, apply your lighter shade of embossing powder to the last letter, repeating several times for a smooth and bright finish.
To create the leaves, I used a very similar technique. Having applied versamark ink to the leaf, I covered the leaf completely with the lightest shade of powder. I repeated this twice more to improve to the coverage and consistency.
Once the pale colour was completely set, I applied versamark ink to lower half of the leaf. I covered the leaf with the dark colour powder and heat set once more. As the dark colour is heated, the pale colour heats at the same time allowing the colours to blend. You can repeat this several times to improve the blending and the intensity of the colours.
Don’t worry if at first its looks like your versamark ink is going to give a straight line, as this will soften when you heat set the powder.
And finally.....
To finish the card, I mounted wooden embossed sentiment on top of a strip of black card. This adds contrast to the card and lifts the sentiment out from similar colour background. I added a small sentiment in white embossing powder to a corresponding colour card strip. Lastly, I applied sequins to the card using glossy accents. I placed them to mimic the ombre effect of the embossing technique.
This was such a fun techqniue and I enjoyed playing around embossing powders for a different look. I hope you have a go with this ombre embossing technique on your next project; if you do let me know you get on below or with #prettylittlebutton.
I have entered this card into the WOW! Embossing Powder July challenge, you can find out more about this challenge here.
Why not sign up to the newsletter to find out when new posts are up on the blog? Just click on the link on the menu or fill out the form to the side. As always, you can also follow on Facebook, Instagram and Pintrest! Or if you prefer to Tweet, well why not follow me there too as I have just flown the nest and joined up!
Till next time,
