embossing with plastic templates

Since I've addressed some of the old business, here's some new business. Alicia wrote requesting a Big Shot tutorial that has to do with embossing using plastic templates. Apparently someone came up with the idea of embossing mini-envelope templates using a Cuttlebug. I guess this makes it easier to cut them out, or at least eliminates that tracing step.

Okay, I don't have a mini-envelope template and most of my envelope templates are for bigger envelopes and are too big to be embossed via a die cutter machine. What I do have that fits is a post-it note cover template. Amazing what a person can find when looking through her stash. Who knew? ;-) But I'd guess that this is roughly the same thickness as an envelope template, even one of the mini variety.

Here's what I did....

These are the supplies I used: my Big Shot, multipurpose platform, black impressions pad, one clear cutting plate, silicone rubber, post-it cover plastic template, scrap paper.


This is the stack, or sandwich, that I used from bottom to top: multipurpose platform open to no tabs, clear cutting plate, template, paper, silicone, impressions pad. Now usually this type of combo, with the silicone and the impressions pad, is used with Tab 1. Since this was a trial run and I do try to start thinner first, and since I was using lightweight paper like I would probably use for an envelope, I started with no tabs.

Here's how it turned out. I know. It's a little tough to see.

Here's how it looks from behind so that you can see that it embossed nicely. The fold lines weren't cut through either, so I was satisfied that using no tabs was a good thing to do and I'd use that same combo again.

FYI, if you decide to try this with mini-envelope templates, you'll need to cut the excess plastic away from the envelope shape then put it through to emboss it. LOL! That's why I picked a really easy shape to experiment with--no cutting, simple shape. :-) Hm, now I may just need to make some post-it note covers with this thing....