What do I do with this?

Hi everybody, welcome to our new feature What do I do with this? For this challenge our designers will get to try out some of these new tools and share the projects they created using them. We’ve got some fun, new things coming to the Papertrey Ink store and our designers will show you how to use them so you’ll be comfortable incorporating them into your card-making and gift-giving. Stay tuned for exciting and creative things coming your way! We want to share what our designers love with you, and this gives you a first-hand look into their crafty-faves!

This month we are working with WOW embossing powders which are now available in the store. Click HERE to see the selection of WOW embossing powders we are now carrying!

Let’s get started!

Embossing powder is a fabulous partner to one of my favorite coloring technique…watercolor!

The raised lines achieved with heat embossing create a perfect barrier to watercolor, allowing for clean, crisp color. I like to think of those lines like the bumper pads on a bowling alley lane that keep the ball from dropping into the gutters. Heat embossed lines contain the color, much the same way.

In addition, the shiny embossed lines provide a gilded look to your line art, and you end up with a stained glass look. The gorgeous butterfly from the new Flying By set is PERFECT for this technique.

I’ve used many embossing powders through the years, and I love the color variations and quality of the WOW brand. The colors are crisp and clean. The powders melt evenly without bubbles to create thick, rich lines.

Designer tip #1: Use a static release tool to run across your paper before inking with a pigment ink (I like VersaMark and Distress Embossing Ink). This helps eliminate static electricity and removes trace amounts of moisture from the surface of your paper. Both of these things can cause stray pieces of embossing powder to stick to your paper creating stray spots of powder when you heat with your embossing tool.

Designer tip #2: Cover your stamped image with powder quickly while the stamped image is wet. If the stamped ink dries, it will affect the powder sticking to the image lines and create spotty embossed color.

Designer tip #3: Gently tap excess embossing powder into a coffee filter. This makes it easy to funnel extra powder back into the container for use on a future project.

Designer tip #4: Do NOT flick or tap heavily to remove stray pieces of embossing powder from the image pane. I use a small, dry paintbrush to pick up any stray pieces before heating with my heat tool. I have one brush reserved exclusively for this purpose so that I don’t transfer embossing powder particles with my paint color in another project.

I hope you have an opportunity to try this technique. It very forgiving to any skill level of watercolor, and I think you’ll love it!

STAMPS: Flying By

DIES: Flying By and Cover Plate: Ornate

INK: Distress Embossing Ink

PAPER: Raspberry Fizz and Watercolor Paper

OTHER: WOW Embossing Powder Rose Gold, EK Powder Tool, and Karin Brushmarker PRO (gold, amber, magenta, and pale orange)

PRIZE

One winner will be chosen at random to receive a $25 gift certificate.

RULES

To enter, participants are required to create a card with an embossing powder stained glass element using PTI/Ink to Paper supplies and Lori’s technique or your very own. Share your finished project via the link below. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Only one entry per person and the deadline is April 12th at 6am. This post will be updated with the randomly selected winner.

CHALLENGE

EDITED TO ADD THE RANDOMLY SELECTED WINNER

Congratulations, Steffi H! Please send an email to customer service and provide them with your full name and the email address you would like your gift certificate sent to. Thanks so much to everyone for playing along!

Vintage Ornament Card Project Inspiration by Bobbi Lemanski

October 2025 Release Day

Winter Iris Stamps & Dies + Designer’s Free Space

What do I do with this?

PRIZE

RULES

CHALLENGE

PRIZE

RULES

CHALLENGE

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