Use the Back of Your Embossing Folders With This Fun Embossing Technique! (With Video Tutorial)

Hello there, Michelle here with another episode of Terrific Tags with Michelle! 

Today, I have a fun technique to share with you that I learned from my amazing teamie Erum – reverse embossing! Instead of using the front of the embossing folder for an embossed look, I am using the back of the embossing folder for a debossed look!

Reverse Embossing Technique

I started off my tag by die-cutting a panel of Classic Crest Solar White 110lb Cardstock using the middle size in the Terrific Tags Dies Set. Then, I placed it inside the Whimsy Motif 3D Embossing Folder, but with the front of the tag facing the back of the embossing folder, not the front.

I ran this through my die-cutting machine and got a lovely debossed impression on the front of the tag, hence the term reverse embossing!

Add Color

To add color to the tag, I blended Sweet Dreams Fresh Dye Inks onto the tag. I started with the lightest shade (Dew Drops) and put in a light layer over the flower and leaves using a Small Blending Brush.

Then, I started to build up the shading with the next three shades (Aqualicious, Teal Cave, and Galactic Stream), focusing the color towards the base of the flower and the base of the leaves, using a Mini Blending Brush.

I then added Green Valley Crisp Dye Inks (Firefly and Grass Field) to the tips of the leaves. I really like the two-tone effect!

Add Black Ink to the Embossed Areas

I took Obsidian Pigment Ink and swiped the ink pad directly to paper over the tag to catch the raised/embossed areas. This left the debossed areas (where the color is) showing. This covers up the excess ink around the images and makes both the embossing and debossing stand out and the colors pop!

TOP TIP: Experiment with different levels of pressure. Watch my video below for examples of different pressures with the black (or any dark color) ink! It really does give different looks depending on how much ink you add!

I went around the outside edges of the tag with a Brush Tip Fine Liner Pen to remove the white core of the cardstock. This is an optional step but I do think it completes the look!

Finishing the Tag

To assemble the tag, I die-cut another tag from Jet Black Cardstock and adhered it to the back with Glue Tape. I put in some twine through the top of the tag and tied it in a bow.

Using the Stampwheel, I stamped a sentiment from the Sincere Sentiments Stamp Set onto Jet Black Cardstock using Embossing Ink. I applied Pure White Crisp Embossing Powder and heat set. It was cut into a strip and adhered to the tag with Instant Dimension Foam Tape.

I hope I have inspired you to try this fun technique of using the back of embossing folders! You can watch the full process video below or on YouTube.

Thank you so much for stopping by, I hope you have a wonderful day!

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