• To help you emboss smoothly and without 'scratching', use a piece of wax paper and rub the paper to be textured or the tip of your tool. You can also use a candle but be careful not to rub too hard as you will leave wax traces. Again it's ideal to rub the point of your texturing tool on the candle to help ensure a smooth embossing motion.

Embossing means that the image is raised slightly - when we flip an embossed image over, forming a slight depression and giving a mirror image, this image is called deboss.
Why not try alternately embossing and debossing a row of motifs?

• For large areas or open designs of our stencils, you only need to emboss around the edge of a shape. Do not "color in" the shape, that will cause undesirable lines in the middle of your design.
• Use the largest stylus possible, as there is a reduced risk of pushing through the paper.
• Thicker paper or cardstock is ideal for embossing and create great results. Very thin paper tends to tear easily and is best avoided.
• Whatever surface you emboss on, it makes it much easier to emboss if you rub the back of it with wax paper. This acts as a lubricant and your stylus goes much more smoothly along the surface.
• When embossing thin metal, you can add a piece of thin craft foam underneath, which will add more depth to your embossed design. Be careful not to press to hard into the softer surface as it may cause the stylus to "tear"the metal.
• Remember, you can emboss a design and then cut out around it and add it as an embellishment to other surfaces.

• When coloring an embossed area, a piece of scrap paper can be used to mask off or cover areas that you don't want color. Any time a color is used over an embossed area with the stencil in place, residue can be transferred to a clean area. Therefore, it is important to clean the residue off the stencil. To clean, use a damp cloth, lanolin free baby wipe, or dampened cotton ball.