April Massad

Hot apple cider, fresh baked apple pie, fall scented candles…who doesn’t love the scents of fall? I know my family does! With spiced heat embossing, you can bring autumn fragrances into your paper crafting projects. Spiced heat embossing is very easy, and you probably already have the supplies on hand.

I’m so excited to share this fun technique on the blog today. I originally used this technique on a layout five years ago, and the letters still smell like fall! Every time I turn to that page it comes alive to me.

Fall to Me by April Massad. Supplies: Cardstock: Stampin’ Up!; Patterned paper and chipboard letters: BasicGrey; Chipboard elements: FarmHouse Paper Company; Pen: EK Success; Adhesive: 3L Consumer Products A/S.

Gather Your Supplies

Here’s what you will need to get started with spiced heat embossing.

• cinnamon
• fine detail embossing powder
• Versamark or other embossing ink
• heat tool
• chipboard letters

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: Measure out equal parts cinnamon and embossing powder. (I have discovered that only fine detail embossing powder works.)

Step 1: Mix spice with fine detail embossing powder.

Step 2: Mix embossing powder and spice until both are evenly distributed.

Step 2: Mix well.

Step 3: Firmly press your chipboard directly into the Versamark ink pad.

Step 3: Apply embossing ink to chipboard.

Step 4: Coat the chipboard with the mixture. Do not tap! Tapping will knock off too much powder.

Step 5: Heat your chipboard carefully. If the heat tool is too close it will blow off much of the powder.

Step 5: Heat spiced embossing powder until smooth.

Step 5: Repeat with as many letters or accents as you like. Allow to cool and add to your project.

Step 6: Repeat with remaining letters and adhere to layout.

This is also a wonderful technique to use on cards or gift tags. The scent lasts longer than you would expect and will make your scrappin’ space smell wonderful!

—April Massad

P.S. Discover another layout featuring spiced heat embossing in Mixed Media Scrapbooking, a 2012 special issue from Creating Keepsakes magazine. Learn to explore scrapbooking in the spirit of childlike play with this inspiration-packed issue!