Today’s post and video include an Emboss Resist Technique Tutorial plus I’ll be showing another must-know technique called Direct To Paper.
My projects today were inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest by Michele Boyer. She has included a step by step emboss resist technique tutorial in her project post. The color scheme she used included blues and purples. I’ve created two projects in two color schemes but both use the same techniques. For my first project, I used the Country Road Stamp Set and I used the Forever Blossoms Stamp Set on the other.
I started by stamping the grasses image in Versamark and then heat embossed with white embossing powder.
I then cleaned my stamp and stamped this same image repeatedly with Soft Sea Foam ink. Since the heat embossed images “resist” (they don’t absorb into the embossed layer) the ink stamped on top of them, the Soft Sea Foam images look like they are in the background.

The wagon wheel was stamped using Early Espresso ink with second inking. This image also looks like it’s in the background because of the emboss resist effect. Finally, I set to sponging with my Soft Sea Foam and Balmy Blue inks and then stamped my sentiment. This focal element is popped up on Dimensionals and I used the direct to paper technique on the background piece of Soft Sea Foam.

Isn’t this a sweet little stamp set. I especially love the sentiment, grass image, and the wagon wheel!

For my second design, I’ve created three variations with the Forever Blossoms Stamp Set.
They all include the same techniques but they are different with regards to the number of layers of stamping done to create the end result. I’m going to show you the simplest card first but it’s not the order in which these cards were designed. More on that later.
For this first version I simply heat embossed the images with white embossing powder and sponged.

For this second version, after I did the first round of heat embossing and sponging I then stamped and heat embossed again, but this time I used clear embossing powder. I then sponged over these clear embossed images so they would show up a bit more.
Since these second images were heat embossed with clear powder you’re able to see some of the sponged colors through the image, making them more subtle. This makes these images look like they are in the background offering an added layer of dimension.

For this final version (which was actually the first focal piece I created), I’ve added yet another layer of dimension by stamping the same image with Highland Heather ink in first and second inking.

Note: The stamping in Highland Heather was actually done before I stamped and heat embossed the images with clear embossing powder. You may notice that there is one prominent purple leaf in the center that is shiny. It’s looking like it’s in the foreground but it’s actually just showing through the clear embossed image that was stamped on top of it. If I had stamped the purple as my third step, the clear embossing would have resisted the ink, and it would look like it was in the background but as you can see here it looks like it’s in the foreground instead.

So for some reason, I most often create starting with my most complex version first.
It seems illogical and yet it seems to happen a lot with me. It’s just the way my brain seems to work. We all have our methods and this just seems to be mine!
So here’s my trio of card variations. You may notice that the most complex version (below and on the top right) is different from the photo shared above. The one in the photo below shows the focal piece I finished in my emboss resist technique tutorial in my Facebook Live.

So I’m just curious… do you have a favorite version and how do you create?
Are you like me, making the most complex thing first or do you start simpler and then get more complex from there. There is no right or wrong answer, of course. It’s just interesting to know how others create. Leave a comment and let me know if you have a favorite and if you’d like to share a bit about your approach to creating I’d love to know!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my two projects and will check out my Emboss Resist Technique Tutorial in my video, later in this post.

You’ll find a complete supply list and project dimensions at the end of this post for your convenience. If you’d like to check out Michele Boyer’s project and emboss resist technique tutorial click here.
Thanks for spending some time with me today and…
Happy Crafting!
Melissa 🙂
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Check out my Facebook Live and video tutorial here:
The project demonstrations begin at around 10 minutes in case you want to jump ahead.
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Project Dimensions:
- Basic Black Card Body: 4-1/4″ x 11″
- Soft Sea Foam OR Balmy Blue Layer: 4-1/16″ x 5-5/16″
- Basic Black Focal Backing: 3-9/16″ x 4-13/16″
- Whisper White Focal Piece: 3-3/8″ x 4-5/8″
- Whisper White Inside Layer: 4″ x 5-1/4″
Love this. I’m out of cards need to make some more. Love this technique.
Thank you! Happy Crafting!
Very nice cards! This technique looks easy enough and not too time consuming when you get the snack of it! I need to do sympathy cards and these are perfect for slim cards doing! I do have this set of stamps and enjoyed working with it. Lots of possibilities!
Thank you so much! I know you’ll enjoy playing with the technique! Happy Crafting!
Beautiful
Thank you Francine!