Embossed Waxed Paper Resist Technique!
Embossing is SO much fun!
It’s one of my all-time favorite methods to achieve quick and easy raised/textured patterns when working with paper….
I love it that we can also transfer embossed patterns to paper, and create smooth and subtle (or not!) backgrounds using the Embossed Waxed Paper Resist Technique!
Hello, my dear Graphics Fairy Friends! It’s Heather from Thicketworks…this technique has been around for quite some time, but it’s so much fun that we just HAD to take a fresh look at it!
So, bring out your Big Shot, Cuttlebug, etc…and rummage through those embossing folders!
We have some Happy Messes to Make!
Protective Gloves, if you don’t want to stain your fingers!
How to Employ the Embossed Waxed Paper Resist Technique!
Begin by tearing or cutting plain old waxed paper into roughly 8.5″ x 11″ rectangles.
Select your favorite Embossing Folders!
This will result in a folded sheet that should fit nicely into most embossing folders.
Crank your embossing folder through your machine!
Gently unfold the embossed waxed paper, revealing a FULL sheet of Embossed Goodness!
(of course, you can work in any size sheet of paper you choose – I just like to GO BIG!
Sandwich the waxed paper between a sheet of plain white cardstock and a sheet of glossy photo paper.
This will transfer the resulting pattern onto BOTH sheets at once!
You’ll find that you achieve different results with each paper type, so this will give you a variety of effects from one operation…Yay!
Place plain sheets of printer paper over and under the resulting sandwich, covering any stray waxed paper peeking out of the edges.
With the iron set to the hottest setting, and NO steam, iron away!
The goal is to melt the wax coating of the paper sufficiently that it transfers to your intended paper surfaces.
‘Tis better to err on the side of ‘too long’… I typically just iron until I’m sure I’ve overdone it!
Unpack your ‘sandwich’, and blend a ‘lightish’ shade of Distress Ink over the surface of the paper.
Wipe away the excess, and reveal the cool patterning!
Once you’ve added all kinds of water-based pigment, you can create awesome splotches with water drops, if you’re weird, like me!
Just flick ’em on, wander away for a minute, then sop up the water and pigment to reveal Distressed Splats!
Ah, yes. all is orderly and peaceful! And PRETTY!
Or, grab your VersaMark and Gold Embossing Powder to add some BLING!
Grab some DIY Patina Mix, and add tons of texture through a stencil!
The results are less-than-perfect, but perfectly delicious!
Add a layer of deeper Distress Ink through a stencil!
What to do with all your cool Embossed Waxed Paper Resist papers?
I plan to use many of these in my Art Journal, as starting points for themed pages.
It’s been so much fun experimenting with this tried and true technique! I hope you grab some supplies and create a batch of these fun papers for YOUR projects!
After all, you can never have too many background papers!
Thanks for visiting The Graphics Fairy today! Come see me at Thicketworks, and we’ll make even MORE Happy Messes!
Put those used waxed papers sheets to work!
Click HERE for a quick journey into the Wax Resist Die Cut Technique!
It’s finally here! Our first online crafting eCourse! If you’ve always wanted to try the art of Mixed Media, be sure and check out this amazing course by Heather Tracy!
Embossing Powder Techniques – Design Team Kelly Boler Mixed Media Art Dress – Design Team Tejae Floyde! Paper Craft Techniques – Paper Tearing!
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These are so stunning results, now I only hope I can find papers waxed heavy enough to make it work.
Dearest Dorthe! Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and leave such a lovely message!
Wow thanks for the tutorial I love the look of this technique, now where did I put my wax paper?!!
Ha ha, too funny Julia 🙂 So glad you liked it!
Oh Heather! These are EXQUISITE! I told you I am running out of superlatives to appreciate your techniques and the resulting art! Just gorgeous papers that no one would believe to be home made! I love every pattern and I especially love the architectural stamps on the subtle gray backgrounds. The embossed wax paper reminds of Chikan Embroidery (no, not chicken lol) and the other papers have some resemblance to batik prints. Whatever one wants to label them as, they sure are DROP DEAD GORGEOUS! How on earth do you come up with these unique ideas I don’t know but I am forever grateful to you my friend!! Time to pull out that large roll of wax paper from the cubpoard. Hugs to you.
thanx for a wonderful tutorial. can’t wait to try this out. enjoy everything you offer on your site.
Hello! I am trying this out, but having trouble. I am using a curio machine to emboss the wax paper, which seems to work fine – the paper looks embossed. Then, I am placing a watercolor paper underneath the wax paper, with the embossed side down and placing a sheet of paper on top. I use my iron at the highest setting and iron over the top sheet, but when I take it off, none of the wax has transferred to the watercolor paper, and the embossing is just ironed out so that the wax paper is just flat again. Any idea what I am doing wrong?
This is a cool technique! I am still experimenting, but I did run into one problem. Evidently, my wax paper only had wax on one side so it did not work trying to do both the glossy photo and regular cardstock at the same time. I had no idea that all wax paper wasn’t waxed on both sides. Thank you, though, for the wonderful tutorial. So far, I am loving what I have done so far.
This is wonderful! It’s the first thing I’ve seen that makes me want an embossing machine!
Thanks Martha, I know, so cool!