Monday, September 24, 2012

Papertrey's Impression Plates - samples and extra techniques

A friend of mine wanted to buy some of the impression plates offered at Papertrey so I offered to send her some samples.  I used the Curvy Labels punch and cut a whole bunch to impress.  I ran them through my Big Kick with the various IPs.  I even added some cover plates used as IP's as well as Wplus9's chevron IP.  Take a look if you want an idea of what they look like.  Click the images to enlarge:



I have always had really good luck with them just running them through my Big Kick and with my Cuttlebug when I had it.  I bought the embossing pads from PTI's website and they have served me well.  Some people have better success adding shims or misting the paper with alcohol or water but I haven't needed to do that.  I have used Perfect Pearls mist to add some shimmer but I get an excellent impression without adding anything.

I also love to do the letterpress technique where I use ink directly on the IP and then running it through the machine.  Here are some examples I have shared from this post:
Damask IP with Fresh Ink
Mehndi IP with Fresh Ink
Hexagon Cover plate with Fresh Ink
Cane Print with Fresh Ink

And this post:
Giga IP with Distress Ink
Gina K chocolate cardstock, PTI Diamond IP, Colorbox Frost White Ink
Gina K chocolate cardstock, PTI Moroccan motifs IP, Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid (pink)
Gina K sweet mango, PTI Giga Guidelines IP, Distress Ink Spiced Marmalade
Gina K sweet mango, PTI Sunshine IP, Colorbox Frost White Ink
Gina K chocolate cardstock, PTI In Bloom IP, Colorbox Frost White Ink

And the technique shared on a Make it Monday over at PTI about double embossing is really cool - you use an impression plate with a die so that the die leaves a negative area where the card stock is not embossed.  I made a card in this post using that cool trick!
Just be sure to have the order of your sandwich perfect, otherwise you will cut into the impression plate! :)

Cuttlebug Sandwich for double embossing:
A plate
B plate
Impression plate facing up
Die cutting side facing up
Paper facing down
Embossing mats - vanilla and tan
B plate


Which are your favourite impression plates?  Do you like the more subtle debossing they give rather than embossing folders?  What techniques have you tried so far?


4 comments:

Sheila R. said...

Thanks for sharing this - great tips and nice to see all the impression plates together. What pretty letterpress cards you made!

Inkyfingers said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
cards by cara said...

I inadvertently deleted a sweet and kind comment from Inky Fingers ... so sad I can't get it back. No archiving, it seems. :(

listgirl said...

Hi Cara, thanks for the beautiful examples! Do you happen to know the sandwich for the Sizzix Big Shot for embossing with cover plates, such as the happy hexagon one?

Thanks!
Christine