How to Use Embossing Glazes in Your Paper Crafts

What Is Distress Glaze?

The distress glaze is designed as a translucent embossing powder that is perfect for adding layers to any of your paper projects. It can be paired with distress embossing ink for enhanced effect.

Embossing Glaze is simply translucent embossing powder. Most embossing powders are opaque. That means they are solid, and you cannot see through them. They also have a nice shiny appearance. There are some that are translucent, but generally not labeled as translucent. So, you may not know that before you use the product.

Like embossing powders, embossing glazes are also a powder that is heated up with a heat gun.

Because these embossing powders are translucent (you can see through them), they are fun to layer. They also add a glazed style to small embellishment pieces where you can add some highlights.

Since it adds another layer to all of your projects, it adds dimension and design to all of your paper craft projects.

Like any embossing powder, the powder itself is made of plastic. It is solid when applied to your project. Different embossing powders have different grinds. They can be fine, super fine medium, and heavier, depending on the manufacturer. They are heated to a liquid and then returned to a solid when they cool. That is how all embossing powders work.

The embossing glaze is somewhere between fine embossing powder and standard embossing powder, introducing another subtle color on top of the project while allowing you to see the color under it. It simply enhances whatever is underneath.

With most embossing powders, if you were to stamp an image on a piece of cardstock and cover it, you would not be able to see the stamped image. That is because most embossing powders are opaque (meaning that you cannot see through them). However, because the embossing glazes are translucent, when you apply them over a stamped image, you will still be able to see the stamped image.

The nicest thing about the embossing glazes is that when they are fry, they match all of the distress ink colors. The color that you see in the jar may not quite match the end result. But they do match the dried distress ink colors. Imagine an embossing powder that matches your ink colors!

You can use embossing glaze over a variety of surfaces. It makes any charms, or metal objects to create a galvanized look.

A Versatile Technique

Among paper crafters, embossing glazes are one of the most popular products/techniques on the market. One of the reasons is that you can use them in a variety of ways to stylize just about any creative project imaginable.

This tutorial will break down what embossing glazes are and how you can use them in your paper crafts.

What Products Hold the Embossing Glaze to the Project?

In order to emboss, you have to have a means for the embossing powder to stick to the project.

Embossing Ink

The standard in most embossing techniques has been embossing ink. There are many different types of embossing inks: they are simply translucent inks with a high glycerin content. The glycerin allows the ink to stay wet for a long time. That allows you to apply the powder to the ink and heat it. Embossing inks come in pads, daubers, and pens.

Distress and Distress Oxide Inks

Did you know that you can emboss with distress and distress oxide inks? The trick to using these inks has to do with the type of paper you use. If you use very porous paper, the paper will grab the ink and dry quickly. So if you use this ink, you will want to use heavier paper or nonporous paper.

Tip: If you wanted to use porous paper, the trick would be to stamp the image with regular ink and then re-stamp it with embossing ink before adding your embossing glaze.

Resist Sprays and Glues

Try things like resist sprays and glue sticks. Just remember, if it is sticky, it may work! Experiment with products that you have in your stash and have fun!

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Embossing Ink Dauber Tip

If you have an ink dauber, store it with the top down. To release the ink, you simply push down on the dauber. If you squeeze the dauber, you may blow the head off the product and make a huge mess!

Creating Color Swatches

As you work with and add to your embossing glaze colors, you will want to add color swatches. That way you will be able to understand how the glazes work and affect other elements of your projects. Often the end color may be different then the color of the material in the jar. Having swatches gives you a better idea of how the color will look on your finished project.

Embossing Glaze Swatches

Take the time to make swatches of your embossing glazes. That way you will have a color reference for your projects. You will be able to see the color of the glaze once it is heat embossed. You can do tags on heavy cardstock, watercolor paper and kraft cardstock so that you can see how the product will look on different papers.

Create Embossing Glaze Swatches

Supplies

• Heavy cardstock
• Watercolor paper
• Kraft paper
• Embossing Glaze
• Embossing ink
• Embossing pouch
• Stamp
• Acrylic stamp holder or stamping platform
• Scissors or paper cutter
• Ruler
• Label maker
• Hole punch
• Heat Gun

1. Cut tags or rectangles of paper for each of the embossing glaze colors that you have in the same size. Use one piece for each of the three papers listed. You can use your electronic cutting machine (like a Cricut) to cut multiple tags at once. Paper cutters work well too. Or use your rule and scissors to measure and cut your papers.
2. Punch a hole in the top of each tag.
3. Use the embossing pouch on each of the tag. This embossing pouch will prevent any stray bits of powder from getting heat embossed.
4. Lay a piece of cardstock that has been folded in half on top of your workspace.
5. Use a solid stamp or any stamp of your choice to emboss the color. Apply the embossing ink and stamp the image on your tag.
6. Apply the embossing glaze. Tap any excess off on the paper on your workspace. That excess powder can be put back into the jar.
7. Warm the heat gun following the manufacturer's directions for heat settings.
8. Use the heat gun to warm and heat the glaze.

Tag Swatches

Create some tags with watercolor paper or heavy cardstock in white. Stamp some words or letters in some type of black archival ink. Then emboss your tag with the embossing glaze. You can also add a stamped image that has been embossed on top with glue dots or foam pads.

Distress and Embossing Swatches

Another way to do this is to cut several pieces of cardstock. Use the distress inks or the distress oxide inks to the paper. Sprinkle with a little water and allow to dry. Now using a dauber or an embossing pen, add lines of them on the paper. Apply different colors of embossing glaze over the inks. Heat with a heat gun and allow to dry,

Basic Application Of Embossing Glaze

This technique uses a glaze that is like a heat embossing technique in that it is heated with a heat gun.

You can use either an embossing ink pad, An embossing dauber or an embossing pen. The embossing dauber allows to create a larger area of color. This would be useful if you wanted to add color to a tag or a greeting card panel. With the embossing pen, you can add color into very small areas. So that might be of use when you want to color areas on an image. And of course, the embossing ink pad would be used to stamp images.

Supplies

• Embossing glaze in the color of your choice
• Embossing pad, pen or dauber
• Heat gun
• Cardstock
• Parchment paper or cardstock scrap paper

1. Lay a piece of cardstock or parchment paper onto your work area to collect any of the left-over glaze.
2. Use either the embossing pen, the embossing ink pad, or the embossing dauber on the paper.
3. Cover the embossed ink area with the distress glaze. Be generous with the glaze to get the best coverage. Tap the project from the back to get any excess glaze off the design. If you have not gotten complete coverage, pour more glaze over the project and tap it again.
4. Use the paper to pour any left-over glaze back into the container.
5. Heat the glaze with a heat gun following the manufacturer's guidelines for using it. Use a long-handled tweezer or a wooden clip clothes pin to hold the project while you heat it. As you heat the glaze, you will see the shine come up.

How To Use Embossing Glaze

How to Stamp Using Embossing Glazes

One of the nicest things about embossing glazes is that you can stamp over stenciled or stamped areas. Or you can just create a stamped image using embossing glazes. So you can create tags, card fronts, scrapbook pages, and journal pages all using the same technique.

Supplies:

• Stamps of your choice
• Embossing pen or embossing ink pad
• Embossing glazes in the color of your choice
• Distress oxide inks (optional)
• Archival inks
• Cardstock (either a card base, scrapbook page, or journal page)
• Embossing powder bag or some dryer sheets
• Acrylic block or a stamp tool like a Misti
• Craft heat gun

Steps:

1. Using the embossing pen or an embossing ink pad, ink up your stamp.
2. Apply a powder bag to the surface of your paper.
3. Stamp your image on the surface of your paper with the embossing ink.
4. Stamp the same image with the same color of the oxide inks that you are planning to use in the embossing powder (optional step) or with archival ink.
5. Allow the ink to dry before you go further.
6. Apply the embossing glaze of your choice to the paper.
7. Heat the image with your heat gun.
8. Allow it to cool.

Tips:

• Remember to dry any background images or text before you use the embossing powder. Otherwise, you will get embossing powder all over the place.
• Always use an embossing powder bag before any application of the embossing glazes to help keep any stray powder from sticking where you do not want it.
• If you see any stray powder, try brushing it away with a paintbrush.
• Use a Misti or any other platform so that your stamp works in the correct placement.

Two Stamp Embossing Glaze Techniques

The embossing glaze allows you to see through layers of a stamp. Because of that, you can layer through distress and oxide inks. You can stamp one image with ink and then add more to your project by adding another layer that is embossed.

Supplies:

• Paper tags or other shapes of cardstock
• Piece of scrap paper or other paper
• Embossing ink
• Distress ink or distress oxide inks
• Distress ink application tool
• Acrylic block, platform, or Misti tool
• Powder bag
• Archival ink
• Stamps of your choice
• Embossing glaze
• Heat gun

Steps:

1. Apply layers of distress inks or oxide inks of your choice to your tag or paper.
2. Allow it to dry.
3. Stamp the image of your choice with the stamp onto a section of the tag.
4. Allow the stamped image time to dry or use a heat gun to help dry the project.
5. Go over the area where you are planning to stamp the other image with the powder bag.
6. Place a piece of paper on your work surface.
7. Stamp the second image with the embossing ink.
8. Apply the embossing glaze over the embossing ink.
9. Tap the excess away.
10. Heat the embossing glaze with the heat gin.
11. Allow the project time to cool.

Tips:

• The embossing glaze does not need a lot of time to heat. Hold the heat gun about 1 inch away from the paper. If you overheat the embossing glaze it may burn or smoke.
• Always raise the paper up and away from the work surface. Hold the project with a long pair of tweezers if possible. If you leave the project on the work surface, it will take longer to heat and the paper may curl.

Ink Rubbing Embossing Glaze Technique

This is a fantastic idea for any embossing folders that have a raised surface. Three D embossing folders would be perfect for this technique. This is a simple technique that anyone can do.

Supplies

• Cardstock-tags or embellishments
• Embossing ink or inkpad
• Embossing glaze
• Die cut/embossing machines and plates.
• Heat gun
• Cardstock folded in half over your workspace.

1. Emboss your paper, tag or embellishment with the die cut/embossing machine following the manufacturer's directions.
2. Place the cardstock folded in half over your workspace to collect any stray glaze pieces.
3. Apply the embossing ink with your finger where you want the glaze to be.
4. Apply the glaze by sprinkling the powder all over the piece.
5. Tape the paper with your thumb and forefinger to remove any excess powder.
6. Use the paper on your workspace to funnel the extra powder back into the container.
7. Use the heat gun to heat the glaze powder on the cardstock. Follow the manufacturer's directions as far as heat setting and warm up time.
8. Embellish the cardstock or embellishment as desired.

Tips

• In place of the folded cardstock, you can use a coffee filter to collect the left-over powders.
• Do not run fans over the workspace where you are embossing. You may spread the powder through the room.
• Keep a link roller handy to do easy clean up.
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions on warm up time for your heat gun.
• Make sure to give your heat gun time to cool off before you put it away.

Water Drop Embossing

You can add stylish effects to any of your projects with water and your embossing glazes. It is so simple and easy! Just know that you need to work quickly on this technique. If you let the water dry, all you will get is powder blowing around.

Steps:

1. Apply a powder bag to your project.
2. Take a little water in your hand and sprinkle it on your project.
3. Apply the embossing powder on top of the water.
4. Tap any excess powder onto a sheet of paper on your work surface.
5. Heat the powder with your heat gun.
6. Allow the project time to cool.

More Embossing Glaze Tips

• You can use embossing glaze over distress crayons. It works perfectly every time.
• These are very fine powders. Avoid tapping them to get excess material off. You might remove too much. Just allow them to lay on your project.
• Remember, when you glaze a stamped image, the glaze will always intensify the color below it.
• You can stamp over embossing glaze if you use archival ink or any other ink that is made to be used with plastic. Make sure to allow time for the ink to dry.
• You can use some steel wool to dull the shine on your glazed projects. Gently rub the steel wool in a circular motion over the glazed piece. You can also use it on a blending tool.

Embossing Pen Ideas

Heat embossing is a fun technique that adds instant glam to journals, ceramic plates, glass, etc. You can use an embossing pen to create the 'raised' texture that is simply delicious to look at and touch!

Tip:

• You can change the color of a brad, button, or half bead by using the embossing glazes and an embossing pen. Just apply the embossing pen to the piece. Apply the embossing glaze and then use the heat gun to heat the glaze. You will want to use a tweezer to hold the item or lay it down on a craft mat.

Distress Glazes and Stencils

One of the most exciting ways to use distressed glazes is with stencils and your oxide inks. Because these glazes are translucent (you can see through them) you can stencil them and use your distress inks as a background. As you play with different combinations of colors, you will find something interesting happens. If you apply the oxide ink backgrounds before you stencil, the color of the stenciled glaze will look a little different than if you stencil first, then add the color later.

Supplies

• Craft mat or another water-resistant surface
• Card stock in a weight of 85 lbs or above
• Distress inks in colors of your choice
• Distress ink applicators
• Distress glazes in colors of your choice
• Anti-static bag or a dryer sheet
• Embossing ink dauber or embossing ink pad
• Craft stencil
• Water spritzer
• Washi tape or Pixie Spray
• Craft Heating tool

Method One

1. Run the antistatic bag or dryer sheet across the cardstock.
2. Attach the stencil either using Pixie Spray or some washi tape.
3. Run the embossing dauber or the embossing pad completely over the stencil area. Make sure there is enough ink on the stenciled area.
4. Remove the stencil.
5. Gently cover the cardstock with the embossing glaze.
6. Use the heating tool to heat the embossing glaze.
7. Allow it to cool.
8. Apply the distress ink in the background.
9. Spritz with a tiny amount of water.
10. Allow it to dry.

Method Two

1. Apply the distress ink with an applicator tool.
2. Spritz with a small amount of water.
3. Allow it to dry.
4. Use the antistatic bag or dryer sheet all over the cardstock.
5. Place the stencil over the cardstock.
6. Either spray with Pixie Spray before you lay on the stencil or attach the stencil to the surface with washi tape.
7. Cover the surface of the cardstock with the embossing dauber or with the embossing stamp pad. Make sure to use enough ink to cover the surface.
8. Lift off the stencil.
9. Cover the cardstock with the embossing glaze.
10. Heat with the heat gun.
11. Allow it to cool.

More Embossing Glaze /Stencil Ideas

• Double layered embossing glaze technique
  Learn to double layer a stencil with embossing glaze

Add the Embossing Glaze to Other Embellishments

If you have other embellishments, like pieces from your electronic cutting machines, you can add embossing glazes to any of these pieces. Because you can see through these glazes, you retain the color of the piece. But the color is highlighted with the glaze.

Using Texture Paste With Embossing Glaze

You can create an entirely different dimension using texture paste with embossing powder on any of your projects.

Supplies:

• Tags or other paper projects
• Texture paste
• Embossing glazes
• Stencils
• Anti-static bag
• Painters tape or another low tack tape
• Palette knife

Steps:

1. Take the tag or other project that you have stamped or applied other techniques that are completely dry and apply the anti-static bag to the projects.
2. Apply the stencil to the project in sections that you want to highlight.
3. Adhere the stencil to the project and work the surface with low tack tape (you could also use Pixie Spray).
4. Apply the texture paste in the areas that you want to stencil with the palette knife and make sure to do an even coat of the texture paste.
5. Lift the stencil like you would open a hinge.
6. Sprinkle the embossing glaze over the texture paste. Cover the texture paste completely.
7. Set aside to dry.

Project Tips

• You can do the same technique with transparent grit paste. Take a tag that you have colored with distress inks. Apply your stencil and then randomly add grit paste. Remove the stencil and add the embossing glaze over the top. Allow it to dry.
• You can also sprinkle embossing glaze over wet texture paste. Use a pinch of any color that you would like to use just to give the texture paste a bit of color.
• If you are using stencils, you can opt to only use the texture paste in specific areas of the stencil rather than apply paste to the entire project.
• If you use a stamped image, you can still stencil over it with translucent texture paste. That way you can still see the inked image.

Embossing Glaze Over Crackle Paste

You can add a totally different texture by using an embossing glaze with crackle paste.

Supplies:

• White cardstock
• Crackle paste
• Embossing glazes
• Palette knife
• Stencils
• Painters tape or other low tack tape

Steps:

1. Apply the stencil over the cardstock.
2. Adhere it with a piece of low tack tape.
3. Apply the crackle paste over as much of the stencil as you wish.
4. Remove the stencil like a hinge.
5. Apply the embossing glaze over the crackle paste by sprinkling it on.
6. From the bottom, tap the cardstock with your fingers in a walking fashion.
7. Set aside to dry completely.

Project Tips

• The larger the opening on your stencils, the better the application of the crackle paste will be.
• If you want to use a stamped design on your project you can use the crackle paste around the stamped image.
• You can use a distress crayon to give more depth and dimension to the crackles on your projects. Use a stencil brush or your finger to rub the crayon into the cracks.

Embossing Glaze With Embossing Folders

The embossing folder embossing glaze technique is easy to do and you will enjoy the results for sure! The most pleasing results will happen when you use an embossing folder that is either 3D or has lots of raised areas to it.

Supplies

• Cardstock-use a cardstock that is 90 bls or above.
• Embossing glaze in the color of your choice
• Embossing ink pad
• Embossing anti-static pouch.
• 3D or raised embossing folder.
• Embossing die cut machine and plates.
• Heat gun

1. Cut the cardstock to fit the embossing folder you have chosen.
2. Go over the cardstock with the anti-static pouch.
3. Ink the inside of the embossing folder with the embossing ink. Just swipe the embossing pad over the raised area of the embossing folder.
4. Place your cardstock into the embossing folder.
5. Run the embossing folder through the die cut/embossing machine. Follow the manufacturer's directions to create the right sandwich for your machine.
6. Remove the cardstock from the embossing folder.
7. Sprinkle the embossing glaze over the embossed cardstock.
8. Heat the cardstock/embossing glaze with your heat gun. Follow the manufacturer's directions for heat setting if you have a dual control heat gun.
9. Apply the cardstock to the card base of your choice.

Tips

• If the embossing folder that you are using has a lot of details, use a finger dauber to push the embossing ink into all the nooks and crannies so that the embossing glaze will pick up the details.
• Add more detail to your project by using distress crayons.
• You could omit the antistatic powder pouch and see the results
• You could apply a second coat of glaze to get more color into your project

Adding More Interest To Your Projects With Embossing Glaze

Here is a fun technique to try that extends the uses for your embossing folders using embossing glaze. It is easy to use and you will find yourself enjoying it so much, you will want to use it on all of your paper craft projects.

This technique would word well for greeting cards, tags, pockets and projects that you would use embossing folders with.

Supplies

• Cardstock
• Embossing folders
• Embossing/ die cut machine
• Embossing ink
• Embossing glaze
• Scrap paper-you can use copy paper
• Craft mat

1. Cover your work area with the craft mat. You can also use a piece of parchment paper.
2. Cut the cardstock into either a tag or a card panel in the size that you need
3. Choose the embossing folder and emboss the cardstock with the embossing/die cut machine following the manufacturer's directions to create the sandwich.
4. Lightly run the embossing ink pad over the cardstock until it is covered. You only want to apply the embossing ink to the raised surface.
5. Lay the scrap paper on the workspace.
6. Now apply the embossing glaze to the cardstock. Make sure to completely cover the cardstock with the embossing glaze. Then tilt and tap the paper the get the extra powder off of the paper.
7. Use the scrap paper like a funnel to replace any excess powder back into the container.
8. Following the manufacturer's guidelines, warm up the heat gun. Remember when you are finished using the heat gun, give it time to cool down before you put it away.
9. Hold the heat gun away from the paper so that you do not scorch the paper. Move the heat gun while you are heating the paper to get an even heating.
10. Use a long-handled tweezer to hold the embossed paper while you are heating the project to heat the embossing glaze.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2022 Linda F Correa