5 Fun Techniques with Embossing Paste

If you’re looking to add some serious flair to your cardmaking projects, you’re in for a treat. Embossing paste is one of those magical mediums that can transform your creations from ordinary to extraordinary. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced crafter, this versatile paste opens up a world of creative possibilities.

In this blog post, we’ll share 5 fun cardmaking techniques that will inspire you to play and experiment with embossing paste. From creating stunning textures to adding delightful details, these card ideas will spark your creativity and help you master this fun medium in no time. Let’s get started!

What is embossing paste?

Embossing paste is a thick, creamy paste medium used in arts and crafts to create raised, textured designs on various surfaces, including paper, cardstock, and canvas. When applied through stencils or directly onto your project, it dries to form a durable, three-dimensional effect. It can be tinted with dye inks, watercolors, alcohol inks, or paints, allowing for endless creative possibilities!

How to use embossing paste in cardmaking? 

1. Gather your supplies. You’ll need embossing paste, a stencil, a palette knife or spatula, and your card base.
2. Position the stencil: Secure your stencil on the card base. You can use washi tape or masking tape to hold it in place.
3. Apply the paste. Scoop a small amount of embossing paste onto your palette knife and spread it evenly over the stencil, ensuring all areas are covered.
4. Remove the stencil. Carefully lift the stencil away to reveal your design. Clean the stencil and palette knife immediately to prevent the paste from drying.
5. Let it dry. Allow the embossing paste to dry completely, which may take a few hours depending on the thickness. Once dry, you can embellish your card further with stamped designs, die-cuts, and other embellishments.

Is embossing paste beginner-friendly?

 Absolutely! Embossing paste is quite beginner-friendly. Applying it is straightforward, and it gives instantly stunning results, making it perfect for crafters of all skill levels. With just a stencil, a palette knife (or an old credit card!) and embossing paste, you can create beautiful texture and dimension instantly.

5 Fun Embossing Paste Techniques to Try on Your Next Card!

1. Apply embossing paste with a toothpick! Here’s a unique way to use embossing paste if you don’t want to use stencils. Aga applied it freehand, adding an interesting texture to her stamped images. 

• Stamp the leafy images from Wildflower Garden Stamp Set with Forest Glades Dye Ink onto Forest Glades Cardstock. 
• Cut the panel to your desired size and attach it to the card base.
• Use the Evergreen Alcohol Marker from Cosmic Garden Artist Alcohol Markers Set A to add some details to the stamped images.
• Apply the embossing paste using a toothpick! Feel free to use any thin tool to add some tiny dots of paste to create little white flowers.
• To finish the card, stamp a sentiment from the Heartfelt Sentiments Stamp Set.

2. Create a soft, airy, and almost iced look. If you want to add some sparkle and shine, Jenny’s embossing paste technique is a must-try!    

• Mix a little of the Embossing Paste with Baby Pink and Mango Smoothie Inks.
• Create the background using the Fine Tulle Stencil and the colored embossing paste.
• Before lifting the stencil, sprinkle a little Golden Peach Crisp Embossing Powder all over the card panel.
• Lift the stencil and use a heating tool to melt the powder.
• Feel free to add any die-cut as your focal point.
• Add any sentiment you like. Here’s how Jenny created her ombre sentiment:
• Die cut the Simply Hello Die from white cardstock four times and adhere them together. 
• On the top layer, smooth some of the colored embossing paste, then sprinkle a little more embossing powder.
• Use a small palette knife to get into smaller areas and play around with the paste to get the look you want.

3. Faux Cupcake Frosting. If you want your birthday cards to pop off, this embossing paste technique by Lydia is definitely a must-try! 

• Die cut the Layered Cupcake Die out of Classic Crest Solar White Cardstock. (This cupcake set is currently out of stock, but you can use the Mini Delight: Cupcake Stamp & Die Set or any other cupcake sets you have.)
• Stamp the cupcake wrapper layers and cake image from the Layered Cupcake Stamp Set into place. Use Mountain Mist and Volcano Lake Inks for the wrapper, and Rocky Shore Ink for the cake part. 
• Don’t stamp the frosting, as this is the fun part! 
• Take a bit of the embossing paste using a palette knife and add in a little Pinkalicious Re-Inker to color it. 
• Mix together and use this to ‘frost' the cupcake. 
• After it is nicely "frosted," add a sprinkle of Translucent Pearl Embossing Powder and leave it to dry.  
• Feel free to create any background for your fabulous cupcake or recreate Lydia’s background. You can find the instructions here.

4. 2 Fun Ways with Stencils and Embossing Paste. Make an impact on clean and simple DIY cards with just a stencil, embossing paste, and ink spray! Here’s how:

• Use both Kaleidoscope A and B stencils. For the first layer, use Kaleidoscope A Stencil. (Unfortunately, this fan-favorite geometric stencil is phased out. BUT, you’ll find more geometric stencils here.)  
• Using a palette knife, scoop some white embossing paste onto a craft sheet, add some Dusk Metallic Ink Spray, and mix them thoroughly until the paste gets colored evenly. 
• Spread the colored paste all over the card panel through the stencil.
• Remove the stencil and put the panel aside to let it dry.
• Once dry, tape down the Kaleidoscope B Stencil, color some embossing paste using Ocean Waves Metallic Ink Spray, and spread it over the panel through the stencil.
• After this layer dries up, die cut a square out of this panel. You can use either the Halftone Squares Die Set, Fine Frames Square Die Set, or any other square die you have. 
• Foam mount the die-cut image onto a white card base.

5. Get more out of your stencils! The best thing about layering stencils is you can play around with different mixed media tools to add texture and interest. In Laurie’s cards, she used embossing paste to add dimension to the last layer of the blooms. Here’s how she created her card:

• Ink blend Forest Glades Ink for the greenery stencil.  
• Use Sea Glass Ink for the first layer to create the soft blue. Let it dry.
• Mix some embossing paste with Ocean Waves alcohol marker re-inker. Apply this to the second layer. Let it dry.
• Keep the last layer white by applying plain embossing paste.

Try These Fun & Easy Embossing Paste Techniques on Your Next Card!

Embossing paste is one of those crafting tools that are often overlooked, especially by beginner crafters. Most crafters don’t realize that it’s the quickest, easiest, and most efficient tool for creating instantly gorgeous handmade cards, scrapbook pages, and even DIY home decor. We hope these 5 easy and fun embossing paste techniques motivated you and sparked your creative juices. Give it a try and let us know how it goes! Comment below if you have other embossing paste techniques and tips. For more cardmaking tips and tricks, visit us In the Craft Room.