Embossing Tutorial: Quick and Easy Dry Embossed Cards

When I invest in a craft supply, it always makes me extra happy when I find that I get a lot of use out of it.

We have all made those impulse purchases that resulted in product that collects dust in our craft area. Right?

Well, today I want to show you a little something that I have used the heck out of!

This one little embossing folder:

I have literally made dozens of cards with this one embossing folder- cards for all occasions that are simple, yet get rave reviews from the recipients. I want to share them with you, so you too, can emboss and crank out some cards!

Supplies needed for dry embossing cards:

• Embossing Machine (any machine is  fine, follow the manufacturers directions for dry-embossing)
• Darice® Embossing Folder – Leafy Tree Trunk
• David Tutera™ Celebrate Bulk A2/A6 Layer Sheets
• David Tutera™ Celebrate A2 Card and Envelope Sets in White
• Sand it Gadget and Dust Buddy
• Adhesive Tape Runner
• Glue Dots
• David Tutera™ Step Three Shapes (optional)
• Craft Punches (optional)
• Metal Rimmed Tags (optional)
• Twine (optional)

If you are not familiar with the David Tutera™ Celebrate card system, you should be. It is the easiest way to make custom cards, using minimal tools. I used the Bulk assortment pack for the cards I am showing you today. The great thing about them is that they are already cut to fit perfectly on top of an A2 card base. No trimming needed. There is a fabulous selection of colors too, something for every occasion in this pack.

All of the cardstock in this pack is Core’dinations cardstock. If you are not familiar with Core’dinations cardstock, you are in for a magical treat. 🙂

Core’dinations cardstock is unique because the core of the paper is a lighter shade than the outer part of the cardstock. We will get to that a little later.

Select the colors you would like to use for your cards, and place them one at a time in the embossing folder.

When you use an embossing folder, the manufacturer’s name should be side-up, and the paper you are using (sandwiched inside the folder) side up also.

Take care to center the cardstock inside the embossing folder.

Then run the folder, containing the cardstock, through your embossing machine. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for dry-embossing. Each machine is a little different.

Remove the embossed cardstock.

Continue assembly-line style, with all of the cardstock you would like!

Here is where the magic happens!

When you get all of your trees embossed, you can begin sanding the cardstock.

I love my Sand It Gadget. I don’t get my fingernails all scraped up, but you can use any regular old sandpaper.

When you go over the embossed areas with sandpaper, the lighter core of the cardstock comes through, and really emphasizes the embossed design.

Isn’t that cool?

The Sand It Gadget comes with a Dust Buddy.

It is a cloth that is specially treated to easily remove cardstock “dust” or glitter, or embossing powder….or any of the little particle messes we make while crafting!

A quick swipe of the dust buddy cleans up the cardstock.

When the cardstock is embossed and sanded, using an adhesive runner, attach the cardstock to your card base.

Then you can begin to embellish your card!

The following ideas are just suggestions on how I created my cards. You can certainly do you own thing here. You could use stamps, punches, stickers, etc.

I selected a variety of sentiments and printed them out on my computer.

I trimmed the sentiments, and cut the ends into banners using scissors:

The sentiments were then adhered to the cards.

Here is a tip I like to use when placing hanging tags on a card:

“Dangle” the tag where you would like it to hang. Then use a glue dot to place the string of the tag.

Squish the string into the glue dot. (I am sure you are impressed by my professional crafting terms!)

The glue dot will hold the string in place, and allow you to tie it tightly.

You can then add an additional glue dot to the back of the tag to hold it in place.

Continue to embellish your cards as desired.

If you do not have craft punches, die cuts or stickers- the David Tutera™ line has some pre-crafted bulk embellishment items that make crafting cards a snap!

You can check them out here:

David Tutera™ Step Three Embellishments

This beautiful butterfly is just one of the embellishments from the David Tutera™ Celebrate Collection, you will see on my other cards silver foil birds, balloons and hearts–also from this line.

Here are my finished cards.  I completed all of them during one episode of Modern Family. I told you- quick and easy!

Wedding/Engagement, Apple of my Eye (this I am using for Teacher Appreciation day),

I Love You, Falling for You,

Happy “Bird” Day and Sweet Baby Girl.

See how much use you can get out of one little embossing folder, and some pretty awesome cardstock?

I am sure you can think of many more!

I hope you try these yourself.

Good luck!

Happy crafting.

Shaunte

Shaunte is a 30-something, chocolate-loving, SAHM from Utah. She has been scrapbooking since 1997, the dreaded era of photos cropped with deco scissors. Since then, her work has evolved into a clean, linear, photo-focused style. Her favorite subjects to scrap are her husband and five kids (never a lack for subject material there).