• There is very little difference between different brands of embossing powders except that the finer the powder the better the detailing for the finished embossed design will be. Available are: detail, regular and super enamel (sometimes referred to as UTEE) types of embossing colors in a rainbow of colors.
  
  
• There are many types of heat sources to use including a stove top burner, a light bulb over 60 watts, a toaster oven, regular oven, frying pan, electric skillet, and heat tools, which look like blow dryers for your hair are much hotter.
  
  
• Before starting always wash your hands well, oil from your hands can make the powder stick in places you do not want it to stick!
  
  
• You can emboss on paper, wood, terra cotta, glass, mirrors, and other media so experiment.
  
  
• Highly detailed stamps are not best for beginners. Select a word or deeply etched stamp to start.
  

1. Tap stamp on the embossing pad or on pigment ink. Make sure entire surface is covered with the ink.
   
   
2. Stamp image onto surface and immediately cover with embossing powder. Tap off excess onto a piece of paper and pour back into the powder container.
   
   
3. Use your heat source to melt the embossing powder. The heat tool is used form the top of the design. All other heat sources will be placed under the surface. Thick surfaces will be difficult to emboss without a heat tool.
   
   
4. The powder will go from a dull finish to a very glossy one signalling you that your embossing is done.
   
   
5. You can overheat the embossing. If your embossed image is cracking use less time to heat. If your embossing is uneven or still powdery you need to apply more heat to melt.
   

• Experiment with mixing small amounts of different colors of embossing powder for fun effects.
  
  
• Make your own embossing ink by mixing 1 part water and 1 part glycerin.
  
  
• Most ink pens will work as embossing pens.
  
  
• Use dark inks with opaque powders and non-tinted embossing ink with others powders, but never use gold pigment ink with gold embossing powder... this combo dulls the gold in finished design.
  
  
• Glitter is not embossing powder, but a small pinch in powder is a fun effect.
  
  
• Fill in a design with markers and sprinkle with clear embossing powder and heat...looks like stained glass.
  
  
• Sprinkle clear embossing powder over a small print/picture and heat...acts like a lacquer.
  
  
• Practice, practice, and practice. Practice is the only way to get really good at embossing.
  
  
• Use a small paint brush to remove powder that is clinging to an area you do not want embossed
  
  
• If a surface is giving you trouble with clinging embossing powder (in the wrong spots) just lightly rub a dryer sheet over the surface and your hands.
  

Maria Nerius is a Professional Crafter, Author, and Contributing Writer and Columnist to industry trade journal, Craftrends.