Weeks Of Wonder: A Stylus is Always in Style!

Pull out your stylus because we are about to take a journey into dry embossing and there is no better place to start than Close To My Heart’s white core cardstock. Perfect for cards, photo mats or scrapbook layouts, our cardstock is sturdy enough to hold any texture you want to press into it.

Our first stop on the journey is the Home Sweet Home card. The card’s background was embossed using the stylus and then the raised lines were sanded to expose the white core of the cardstock. Add this simple technique to any project for a subtle background.

Next stop, the One of a Kind Friend card. Here, a more subtle embossed texture was achieved by drawing lines with the stylus then simply sponging over the top of the lines with the same color ink as the cardstock. The ink helps bring out the embossed pattern. Also, you can add a little depth to your project by turning stamped pieces over and using the larger end of the stylus in a circular motion to achieve a “puffed” look. The chair’s cushions really “puff” out, like a real overstuffed chair! This technique works great for flower petals, clouds and Santa’s beard, too.

On the layout, stamping, embossing, sanding and inking were used in combination to create some great interest on the base page.

To get the look, first stamp an image on the back side of the project. This will not show so the ink color doesn’t really matter. You are only going to outline the image—images with well defined edges work the best, so select your image accordingly.

To make the stylus slide better across the cardstock, place wax paper between the tool and the paper. Then place the cardstock on the cushioned side of your Versamat. Using the larger end of the stylus, trace the stamped image.

The cutting track in the Euro Personal Paper Trimmer makes the perfect straight line to use for dry embossing and it is easy to space the lines apart using the measurements on the trimmer as guides.

Now, turn the cardstock over and sand only the stamped raised images to expose the white core.

Finally, use a lightly inked sponge to bring out the depth on the vertical embossed lines.

Any new technique you use can be perfected with just a little practice. And this one will have you styling with your stylus like a pro in no time at all!