Beaded Cuttlebug Embossing

Julie Imsland is hosting a technique swap on the Pennywise Yahoo Group and I was watching her work on her swap samples the other day.  It reminded me of this great tutorial on our website that I thought everyone would re-enjoy seeing. 

Beaded Cuttlebug Embossing by Julie Imsland
Creation of this technique was inspired by Julie Buhler's Cuttlebug Ink Embossing.

Supply List:
Cardstock
Pennywise Arts Clear Ultra fine Micro beads [HERE]
Pennywise Arts O'So Sticky Powder [HERE]
Soft Rubber Brayer
Encore Pigment Ink
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder
Cuttlebug
Heat Tool

Optional:
Anti Static Embossing Buddy
Small paint brush
Post It Notes

Directions:

Before you begin, carefully look at the embossing folder and decide which part of the impression you wish to bead. Look at the example of the heart medallion from the Fancy Corners set… you can choose to bead either the hearts themselves, or the background surrounding the hearts. The part of the embossing folder to be inked will be the side with the raised impression that you've chosen to bead. (It may seem a little backwards; because the raised portion will actually become the recessed portion once you've embossed the cardstock.)
It's a bit easier to bead the background of the designs, because there is usually more flat surface area and it's easier to ink. If you choose to bead the design area, you may find it easiest to place masks around the design area while inking.
Once you've decided which portion of the design you want to bead you're ready to begin.

1. Optional: Tap embossing buddy onto cardstock to reduce static on paper surface.

2. Apply ink to embossing folder.
A. For large background areas:
Roll brayer over ink pad until it is inked well.
Lay opened embossing folder on scrap paper and using brayer, completely ink desired design area.
**Note: you will only apply ink to portions of one side of the embossing folder.
B. For smaller design areas:
Mask around design area with Post It notes. Use brayer to apply ink to design area.

3. Place cardstock into embossing folder with the front side facing the inked portion of the folder. Close the embossing folder and emboss as usual in your Cuttlebug.

Turn the handle slowly and roll it through once and then without removing the stack of pads, embossing folder and spacer, reverse the direction you turn the handle and roll it back through the Cuttlebug again.

4. Carefully remove the inked/embossed cardstock from the folder, and sprinkle generously with O'So Sticky Powder. Tap off excess and return to jar.

Use a small brush if necessary to remove any stray specks of powder.

5. Heat (as you would embossing powder), just until the powder melts and turns shiny in appearance. This will activate the Sticky Powder. (You may find it is easiest to hold the cardstock with tweezers for this step.)

6. Lay the cardstock face down into a shallow tray of ultra fine micro beads. Gently press over the backside of the cardstock.

7. Gently lift the cardstock from the tray, allowing loose beads to fall into tray.

8. Heat the image once more (about 5-10 seconds to) "set" the micro beads into the Sticky Powder). Allow cardstock to cool before touching. Gently brush any remaining loose beads from the image into the tray.

9. Clean embossing folders and brayer.

Once cooled, you should be able to touch the beaded image and the beads will remain perfectly adhered.

Remember that inks and cardstock combinations may respond differently. O'So Sticky Powder is like embossing powder and in the same way, before heating may "hold" onto some ink/paper combinations better than others. I suggest testing this technique with a small piece of your desired cardstock and ink before working on something larger. You may also want to experiment with other pigment inks, embossing inks, and VersaMark along with various papers (coated, printed, textured or smooth).

Julie Imsland

Julie Imsland

The pink/blue & yellow/blue sample cards both have the stamped sentiment beaded with O'So Sticky Powder as described in Julie's Beaded Birthday technique shown [HERE].
Papers: Die Cuts With a View - DCWV
Ink: Encore Ultimate Metallic Blue by Tsukineko
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Stylized Flowers (by Provo Craft)
Thinking of you stamp: Unknown

Julie Imsland

Julie Imsland

Paper: Paper Adventures
Ink: Encore Ultimate Metallic Blue by Tsukineko
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Spots & Dots
Paper:  Shaded Blue/Green Basic Grey
Ink: Encore Ultimate Metallic Honeydew by Tsukineko
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Stylized Flowers

                 Julie Imsland
Paper: Memory Box Green
Ink: Encore Ultimate Metallic Honeydew by Tsukineko
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Stylized Flowers

                Julie Imsland
Small Pink Samples:
Paper: Paper Adventures
Ink: Encore Ultimate Metallic Pink
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Heart from the Fancy Corners set

Small Green Samples:
Paper: Memory Box Green
Ink: Encore Ultimate Metallic Pink
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Heart from the Fancy Corners set

                                           Julie Imsland
Silver Encore ink and the Stylized Flowers embossing folder were used.
The ink was carefully brayered onto the raised flowers side of the folder (which after embossing, is the negative, recessed portion of the design).

Evelyn Spikes

Evelyn Spikes

Positive and Negative Beaded Comparison
Evelyn Spikes

Evelyn Spikes

Evelyn Spikes

Evelyn Spikes

Yvonne Grimes

Yvonne Grimes

Yvonne Grimes

Yvonne Grimes

Yvonne Grimes

Yvonne Grimes

Beth Ullman

Yvonne Grimes

 

Beth Ullman

Beth Ullman