VERY SIMPLE TO USE
1. Ink your rubber stamp by stamping it onto a pigment ink pad a few times to ink design and then stamp the item you wish to emboss. Dye based and embossing ink pads may also be used, but their drying time is faster.

2. Pour a generous amount of Thermography powder over the entire stamped image (or, if you wish to do multiple colors, pour the Thermography powder onto the area you wish to have in that color, pour off excess, and repeat with each color). If using pigment ink, you need not rush, but you do want to apply the powder to the inked image before the ink dries on the paper. It is the moisture in the ink that makes the Thermography powder stick.

3. Gently shake the excess powder off the stamped image by shaking it onto another piece of paper. This will allow you to return the unused powder to its container.

4. Check the surface area of the paper or item you are embossing to see if any powder is clinging to areas other than the image itself. If so, gently blow or brush away this excess powder. Be careful, however, that you do not remove the powders clinging to the image itself. A Faiths Little Miracle pounce bag will eliminate this step altogether.

5. Carefully apply your heat source to the powdered image. When the entire area of the image is raised and shiny, remove it from the heat source and allow to cool before touching.

A WORD ABOUT HEAT SOURCES There are many ways to heat Thermography powders, however, precautions should be taken to avoid burning yourself and your artwork. For safety's sake, never allow children to work with Thermography powders unless they are supervised by an adult. The following heat source can be used with effective results, although you will need to perfect your own technique when using one or another heat source.

EMBOSSING HEAT GUN: This is the most versatile tool to use when embossing anything. It blows a gentle stream of heated air that will melt the Thermography powders perfectly but will not blow it off your work. There is no better way to melt Thermography powder!
However, if you choose, you may use an electric iron set at WOOL or 270 degrees and NO STEAM. Place the BACK of the stamped and powdered cardstock directly against the hot surface of the iron until you see the Thermography powders melt completely. Alternative heat sources such as a 150 watt flood light or a toaster oven set at 275 degrees can also be used in the same manner.

HELPFUL HINTS When using thick cardstock or other thick items unsuitable for irons or other alternative heat sources such as wood, rocks, glass, etc., the HEAT GUN is the best way to go!

EMBOSSING ON FABRICS Using STAMPWORKS' Thermography Powders on fabrics is an exciting way to expand you possibilities as well. We recommend our Thermographic Transfer Paper which comes with complete instructions for use.

NORTHERN LIGHTS Add wonderful highlights and depth to your projects. First, pour your Northern Lights powder over the entire surface of your paper. Return the powder to its bottle. Now, stamp your image using any dye, pigment or embossing ink. Pour a generous coat of Northern Lights powder over your image and return excess powder to its bottle. Heat your image using your heat gun or alternative heat source. For a deeper tone, reheat your image and quickly pour a second coat of Northern Lights powder over it. Pour excess powder back into its bottle and melt the new coat of powder.

The first coat of Northern Lights powder on your entire cardstock will brush off, leaving a fine coat of pearlescent color on the paper. Instead of brushing this fine coat off, you may also spray the entire completed picture with a sealer.
You may also use your Northern Lights powders on the final coat of Stampworks' ETEE (Extra Thick) powders for a lustrous finish.

For great background papers, try adding Northern Lights to two or three colors of ETEE (Extra Thick) powders and heat slowly. For added dimension and interest, try stamping directly into the warm powders with various images.

ETEE (EXTRA THICK) EMBOSSING ENAMEL Create jewelry, magnets, boxes and frameable art pieces in a variety of textures using Stampworks' ETEE Powders and heavy box board. It's fun, it's easy and fail proof! If you don't like the results, just reheat and rework the finish. Here's how easy it is:

To Make a Decorative Pin

1. Ink your box board with the ink colors you desire. (For best results, use Colorbox or other Pigments inks.)

2. Cover with Clear ETEE and heat until melted.

3. Add your choice of Colored Interference ETEE over the still hot and sticky Clear ETEE and heat until melted. (This will create a marbled effect.)

4. Add sprinkles of Salt and Pepper ETEE randomly and heat again until melted. Use sparsely. (This will create a metallic effect.)

5. Add one of our many Sparkle ETEE powder and heat until melted.

6. Allow the ETEE powder to cool slightly, but not completely.

7. While still warm and slightly soft, ink up your stamp and carefully press the inked stamp into the ETEE coating on the box board. (If you use pigment ink for a bolder look, be sure and finish your Decorative Pin with a light coating of spray fixative or sealer.)