Melt Media Embossing Technique

Fran’s Melt Media technique brings out the versatility of embossing powders and enamels as art materials.

• An electric griddle set to about 300 degrees will provide a steady heat source that will free the artist’s hands to really play with the powders.
• A craft sheet on top of the griddle keeps powder off the griddle surface. A second craft sheet can provide an area for making “puddles” of embossing powders to add to the primary piece.
• Use a piece of lightweight chipboard, like cereal boxes or packaging, as the base for the Melt Media Tiles. This chipboard can be die cut for specific shapes if desired.
• Place the chipboard on the craft sheet and sprinkle with a thick coating of our Deep Impressions Chunky Clear Embossing Enamel.
• Cover with a clear lid from a heat resistant pot and allow the enamel to begin melting.
• While waiting, make some puddles on the other craft mat using colors like Opaque White for sea foam, Clear Pacific Blue for contrast in wave colors, Lilac Pastel for stripes in the lavender fields, Clear Bark for mountains, etc.
• Once the puddles have melted, remove that craft sheet from the heat and allow to cool. The puddles will harden and can then be easily added to the primary piece later.
• On the chipboard piece the Deep Impressions Enamel should be melted. You can now add colors for ocean, sky, beach sand, mountains, trees, whatever you want to create.
• Sprinkle powders in with fingers, spoon, or the handy scoops included in the EK141 14-Jar Scenic Selection Embossing Powder Kit.
• Allow colored powders to melt and blend with the Deep Impressions Chunky Clear. You can move or guide them with a craft knife if desired.
• Add hardened puddles to the melted powder for spots of color.
• When satisfied, remove from heat by first sliding the chipboard shape on the craft mat to clean off any powder that has run over the edges.
• Then remove the chipboard and mat to a flat surface.
• If desired, at this time a deep impression can be made in the molten powder.
  • Ink a stamp with pigment ink and press firmly into the molten powder.
  • Allow to cool for a few minutes, and remove stamp leaving a deep impression.
  • Remove cooled tile from the mat with a spatula.
• Save any drippings to use as puddles on later projects.
• Your tile can be easily adhered to a canvas or other project with Dreamweaver Embossing Paste.