Deep Debossed Fancy Invitations

Hand Embossing Tips: Deep Debossed Borders

I discovered I can use my ShapeBoss Embossing System to make really elegant deeply debossed borders like you see on wedding and other fancy invitations.

Print and cut your invitations to size. Decide how wide your debossed border will be. It should nicely frame the text and be of equal width all around.

Take four ShapeBoss template sheets - it doesn't matter what patterns you use or even whether they match - and attach them to the tray with some of the pegs. Be sure you have a top sheet (with the visible grid lines) on the top of the stack.

You will be debossing around the outside of the template, so your border will have rounded corners - a really nice look.

With one of your cards right-side-up, slip it under the top template and move it into place to form your border on the top and right sides.

Mark the template, where the lower left corner of the card falls, with a pen or pencil.

Now you're ready to deep deboss.

Flip the card face down for the debossing.

Slip it under the top template again; this time lining it up with the lower left corner mark you made. The frame will be formed by debossing two "L" shapes; then connecting the two open corners to form the rounded ectangle.

Since you are debossing three templates deep, you need to hold the embossing tip a bit differently.

Angle it in toward your card and press as you trace around the "L". You don't need to use a lot of pressure and, in fact, will get a smoother line if you don't.

The tool drags less with less pressure.

Trace your first "L". Be sure not to go too far so that you can connect the two "Ls" later without any "dangling" embossing marks.

Lift the top template; swing the card 180 degrees; and match the lower left corner to your mark again.

Deboss the second "L" in the same manner. You don't need the mark for connecting the two "Ls".

Swing the card 90 degrees and focus on the two "Ls" you have made to visually line up the card and close corner number three.

Deboss the connecting line.

Swing the card 180 degrees and do the same with corner four.

Repeat the process with the rest of your cards.

Technique Tips:

1. Practice first on scraps of the same card stock. Try both ends of the stylus. I thought the thin tip would do a better job than the fat tip on my 225g card stock. Fortunately I tried both and found out I was wrong before I began.

2. Though the stylus needs to be angled toward the template to find the edge and use it to guide you, the pressure should be directed down onto your paper. It's a subtle difference. If you push toward the template edge, the template can slip. Pressing down gives maximum depth to the embossing or debossing.

3. Do not scrub back and forth with the stylus. The line will be jagged and uneven. One or two smooth passes with the stylus give the best result.

4. If you do go too far on one of the lines and end up with a dangling emboss stroke, you can gently smooth it out with your fingernail. Place the card on a smooth hard surface first.