Following my post about ways to use thin metal dies, I was going to do one for embossing folders — but Sasha Reade beat me to the punch.  She’s assembled 25 ways to use standard embossing folders, in two videos.  Some of us aren’t really “video people,” so I’ve summarized them in a text list below, but the videos are also embedded so you can watch her demonstrate exactly what she means.

Watch the videos to see what to do and then use this post as a written quick-reference when you don’t want to have to re-watch a whole video to find that one idea you’re trying to remember.  (And be sure to like her videos…and comment and subscribe if you like them.)

Embossing Folder Techniques 1-13

1. Emboss – just the standard use of an embossing folder.
2. “Deboss” – use the folder as normal, but flip the paper and use the back side.
3. Ink the folder before embossing with it.  (You can ink either “side” of the folder, for two different looks.  Either the “background” portion or the embossed portion.)
4. Distressed – Use cardstock with a white core, and lightly sand the raised areas after embossing.  (This will also work with most metallic/holographic cardstocks.)
5. Emboss then ink the raised areas by rubbing them lightly with an ink pad.
6. Emboss die cuts or punchies for added interest.
7. Emboss thin metal, like aluminum foil.  (If it’s very thin, you might need to fold it over so you have multiple layers.)
8. Emboss thin plastic, like acetate sheets.
9. Emboss metallic cardstock.
10. “Merge” cardstock – after paper piecing, emboss the completed piece and it will sort of press everything together.
11. Emboss ribbon – use wide satin ribbon, and back it with double-sided tape before embossing.
12. “Aged” metal – after embossing foil or metallic cardstock, coat it with black gesso or acrylic paint.  Either rub some of the excess off while wet, or wait for it to dry and lightly sand it.
13. Selective embossing – Place a thick cutout atop the outside of an embossing folder.  This will increase the pressure on just that spot, so the areas underneath it will emboss but nothing else will.

Embossing Folder Techniques 14-25

14. Wax resist – make a “rubbing” from the raised portion of the embossing folder
15. Double embossing – emboss with a small-detail background folder, then with a larger-image folder
16. Faux foiling – ink folder with clear embossing ink before embossing, then, heat-emboss with metallic embossing powder
17. Chalk effect – ink folder with white or similar pigment ink before embossing
18. Paper towel, etc. – dampen several layers of paper toweling and emboss
19. Multicolor – ink folder with multiple colors before embossing
20. Impressions – heat-emboss a panel with multiple layers of powder; while the final layer is still warm, “stamp” it with the folder
21. Emboss vellum
22. Gilding wax – rub raised areas gently with gilding wax after embossing (Get a similar effect with something like Lunar Paste.)
23. Envelopes – emboss your envelope flap
24. Metallic distressing – after embossing a bit of foiled card, hit the raised areas with patches of black ink and various metallic embossing powders
25. Stamp underneath – stamp the flat side of the embossing folder just before embossing  (Originated here — which looks super-cool!)