SSS Magnolia Branches Embossing Folder

Happy Thursday before a three day weekend!  Today I'm sharing some cards created using the Magnolia Branches embossing folder from Simon Says Stamp.

I haven't purchased an embossing folder in years, but when I saw this one, I just couldn't help myself, and when it came in the mail, I was impressed.  Embossing folders have definitely evolved!  I really love how sturdy this folder is compared to my older embossing folders.  The thickness means that the embossing is deeper and there's a lot more dimension in the finished product.

I thought I would try out some of my tried and true embossing folder techniques with this new folder.  I started out by using a brayer to add Versafine ink to the embossing folder.  Then I placed a piece of patterned paper into the folder and ran it through my die cutting machine.  I chose a Pinkfresh Studio patterned paper because those tend to be on the thicker side which really lends itself to embossing.

To finish the card off, I added a mat using the same patterned paper that I embossed.  The sentiment is from an old Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Kit.  

There was still some residual ink in my embossing folder, so I put a panel of white cardstock into the folder and ran it through again.  The result was so pretty!

I trimmed the panel down, added a black mat, and an embossed sentiment from Simon Says Stamp's Clean Line Faith set.

I forgot to mention that for all of these cards, when adhering my embossed panel to cardstock/card base, I used Scor-tape.  For mixed media type cards, I find that this kind of adhesive just works better and keeps things where they need to be.

Next up another favorite embossing folder technique.  For this next card I cut a panel of watercolor cardstock and inked it with Mustard Seed and Twisted Citron distress ink.

Then I liberally spritzed my embossing folder with water, placed the inked panel inside and ran it through the die cutting machine.  This really saturates the color in the embossed areas and is so pretty.

For some extra texture, I added some gold and black splatter to the panel.  I might have over splattered a bit as the photos read more splattery than embossed, but trust me there's some great dimension on this panel.

The sentiment is an older Concord and 9th die.  Because the surface of these panels is so variable, it's a little tricky to adhere a die cut sentiment.  My solution was to use adhesive backed foam.  I ran the die through my machine, then left the entire piece in place.  Working from the back of the die cut piece of foam (with the die cut piece still intact), I removed the adhesive from the sentiment.  Then I centered the entire piece over my panel, and pressed it down onto my panel.  The negative pieces could then be pulled away leaving the sentiment in place.

For this last card, I used the same technique as in the above card, this time blending Bundled Sage, Dusty Concord and Faded Jeans distress ink onto my watercolor panel.  After spritzing the embossing folder and running the panel through, I decided to step things up a bit and combine the two techniques that I used today.

I first let the panel dry, then I lined it up in the embossing folder, taping it in place with washi.  I flipped it up, and using my brayer, inked the panel with Dusty Concord ink, and ran it through my machine.  I wanted a deeper color, so I then inked the embossing folder with Faded Jeans ink and repeated the process.

Just as in the last card, I die cut a sentiment (Altenew's Waterbrush Hello die) from adhesive backed foam, kept the sentiment intact in my foam piece, and adhered it after removing the backing from just the sentiment, centering it, and then pressing it onto my panel.  

You can really see the dimension of the design in the below photo.

These panels were really easy and fun to create and I'm looking forward to trying out some different techniques with this embossing folder.  I'm also thinking I might need some more of embossing folders!

Thanks for visiting!

*This post contains affiliate links to Simon Says Stamp