DIY- Heat emboss/make thermography for your #wedding invitations

Texture and fonts really set stationary apart (my humble opinion). Since I was making my invitations, I wanted to at least make them interesting.

My invitations were very simple and I did them in a week, but if I had more time, I would have tweaked a few things (image on front, chosen a different font for some of the text).

All in all, they reflected the vintage, traditional feel of our wedding. They were also cool because I did some heat embossing to create raised images. Basically, heat embossing weds and melts embossing powder to a stamped image to create a slick, raised surface. It creates an interesting edge and many people instantly ran their hands over the images when I gave them their invites.

Materials:
- Dahlia and cherry blossom rubber stamps, under $15 for all 3 incl. shipping - Etsy through Blossom Stamps.- Pigment ink pads, $4 after 50% coupon - Michael's

- Embossing powder, $2 after 50% coupon - Michael's- Heat embossing gun, $12 after 50% coupon - Michael's (get this, do NOT use a hair dryer)- Paper - 65 lb cardstock at Staples, $13, but used a $10 or $20 off $50 coupon from eBay (110 lb would be even better)

Here is how I created the heat embossed image:

1. Select a rubber stamp and pigment ink pad in a desired color.

2. Press the rubber stamp in the ink pad (all corners) and press it fully onto the paper.

3. Quickly pour embossing powder (clear or in your choice of a color) entirely on the image.

4. Tap excess embossing powder from the image, most powder will be stuck to the image now.

5. Use heat gun and point about 4-6 inches away from the image. Direct at one point for only a few seconds or the powder will fly and melt too quickly.

6. The image will now be heat embossed (sorry picture is a tad fuzzy).

Note: I loved these flower images, but would recommend less detailed or solid images if you are particular about the embossing. The stamp doesn't always come out even and the powder gets everywhere! The girl's flowers were dahlias though so I liked how it matched!
Ultimately, I did a heat embossed image on the main invite and one on the outside of the envelope in the back - I really liked the envelope invite image.

Unfortunately my husband moved the pictures of our invitations to never, never land folder so I can't show you the invites just yet. You'll have to wait until I get back to the US then!

Hope that helps and happy embossing!

Easy DIY invitations using rubber stamps

My invitation design is coming together. I'll definitely use stamps because it leaves a lovely imprint and can be heat embossed! I love the texture, color, and ease of heat embossing (haven't started but it seemed easy!)

I was inspired by:

1. Rebecca Minkoff who created the calligraphy for her main invitation and imprinted it onto a stamp via Picture my Stamp (prices start at $49 for a custom stamp and it looks like letterpress)

2. Custom small stamps that can create a design - Etsy shop Blossom Stamps starts at $3.85 and I love the doily

3.Multiple stamps to create a unique landscape - like the flowers within flowers and stems at Impress Rubber stamps (stamps starting at $5.75 and they have occasional coupon codes)

I'm going to emboss a floral or lace motif, intersperse with hydrangea craft punch outs, and lay them on top of my invitation. I just ordered these (metallic, A7, $14.95 on sale) from Envelope Mall and am so excited!

More to come on my invitations...