Ink Trapping

Heat embossing is one of the very first techniques I learned when I started making handmade cards. And still to this day, it never ceases to amaze me! But aside from heat embossing a sentiment or stamped image, there are so many more techniques you can use heat embossing for. One of those techniques is ink trapping and that’s what I’m sharing today! Be sure to watch the video tutorial below for all the details on this fun and easy cardmaking technique!

Ink Trapping is a great technique for beginners! You are combining heat embossing, stamping and ink blending. All are beginner friendly techniques that you combine to create fun backgrounds!

The Video Tutorial

The video above contains products that were sent to me free of charge for design purposes. I only design for companies I can stand behind 100%! This post also contains affiliate links.

Ink Trapping Technique

When you break down this technique, it is relatively easy. It’s essentially stamping, heat embossing and ink blending. They’re all very simple and beginner friendly techniques, but when you use them in the right order you can create an ink trapped background!

Let’s break down the process:

Prep a piece of card stock with an anti static tool.
On the cardstock stamp your image with Versamark ink. Repeat stamping, but be sure to leave plenty of white space.
Cover the stamped image with clear embossing powder and heat set.
Ink blend over the top of the stamping with a light dye ink.
Once the ink is dry, prep the surface again with an anti static tool.
Stamp in the remaining white space with your stamp and Versamark ink.
Again, apply clear embossing powder and heat set.
Ink blend with a darker dye ink over the entire panel.
Buff any remaining ink that is on top of the embossing.
Finish with a final layer of a colored embossing powder.

Be sure to watch the video tutorial above for the full details and to see in each step in action!

Happy Birthday Handmade Card

A handmade birthday card with an ink trapped background.

I absolutely love the way this card turned out! I used the exact steps I listed above. My first layer of ink was It’s a Girl ink from Catherine Pooler and my second layer was Party Dress, also from Catherine Pooler. My final layer of embossing powder was not clear, but instead I used Metallic Orchid from Image Crafts.

Using different tones and saturations of pink inks creates this fun ink trapped background!

Here’s a closer look at the three layers together! I love the look of using the same color, only darkening it for each layer, but you can easily switch up the colors to any you want! Just be sure to start with the lightest color so it can easily be covered. Also, use complimentary colors so you don’t end up with a muddy brown.

Adding a stamped sentiment is the only addition this bright background needed to complete the handmade greeting card.

To finish this card I kept it very simple. I added the sentiment “Happiest Moments” from Crackerbox & Suzy Stamps, which is one of my favorites!

Set of Chrysanthemums

Cutting up my backgrounds is a great way to get more out of my time. It's also I something I do quite often when I'm not super happy with my results!

I wanted to try this technique with a glitter embossing powder. I have to admit, I don’t love the way it came out, but it is definitely more of a distressed and imperfect look. The glitter doesn’t allow for as much of a resist, so some color will get into the image. Just keep that in mind as you choose your powder.

Using a glitter embossing powder gave a more distressed look to the finished background. It was too much in full, so I cut it in half and used it on two separate cards.

For the layers here I used Irridescent Clear and Valentine’s Day Embossing Powders from Imagine Crafts and for the inks I used Dried Marigold Distress Ink and Rockin Red from Catherine Pooler.

Large sentiments fill the top of the handmade cards and also take a little of the focus off the bottom of the cards.

When I’m not in love with a background I create, I cut it up. Sometimes just chopping it up and creating smaller sections makes it look a little better to me! That’s what I did here, I cut the panel in half at an angle. This allowed me to make two separate cards.

The large sentiments I used also allowed a little more focus being taken off the panel at the bottom!

Tips & Tricks for Ink Trapping

With this much embossing going on, an antistatic tool is your best friend! Use it each time you stamp!!!
If any stray embossing powder end up where you don’t want them, dust them away with a dry paint brush BEFORE you heat set.
Be sure your ink blending is dry before stamping and adding embossing powder. Even dye inks, which do dry quickly, can have wet spots and grab the embossing powder.
Remove excess embossing powder that accumulates on top of the embossing with a dry cloth.

I hope you all enjoyed a look at this easy technique! It’s a great way to combine a bunch of beginner techniques and use them in a new and creative way on your handmade cards.

If you are interested in any of the supplies I used today, you can find them all listed and linked down below. Until next time, happy crafting!!

Supply List

Affiliate links are used

Flower Swirl Set of 2 Shop at: CSS	Happiest Moments Shop at: CSS	Chrysanthemum Solid Wispy Shop at: CSS	Happy Birthday Big Shop at: CSS
Thank You big Shop at: CSS	MISTI Stamping Tool – The Most Incredible Stamp Tool Invented Shop at: SB.COM \| AMZ	Catherine Pooler Designs – Party Collection – Premium Dye Ink Pads – Party Dress Shop at: SB.COM
Nuvo – Deluxe Adhesive Shop at: SB.COM	Fiskars – 12 Inch Personal Paper Trimmer with Cut-Line Shop at: SB.COM \| AMZ	Teflon Bone Folder Shop at: AMZ
Mini MISTI Shop at: SB.COM \| AMZ	Ranger Ink – Anti-Static Pouch Shop at: SB.COM \| AMZ	Imagine Mboss Embossing Powder-Clear Shop at: AMZ
Wagner Spraytech Dual Temperature Hot Air Tool Shop at: AMZ	Makeup Brush Set of 10 Shop at: AMZ	Tsukineko – VersaFine Clair – Ink Pad – Nocturne Shop at: SB.COM \| AMZ
Ranger Ink – Tim Holtz – Distress Ink Pads – Mini – Dried Marigold Shop at: SB.COM	My Sweet Petunia – Creative Corners Shop at: SB.COM \| AMZ	Ranger Ink – Tim Holtz – Mini Ink Blending Tool – Round Shop at: SB.COM \| AMZ
Ranger Ink – Tim Holtz – Mini Ink Blending Tool Replacement Foams – Round Shop at: SB.COM \| AMZ	Catherine Pooler Designs – Party Collection – Premium Dye Ink Pads – It’s a Girl Shop at: SB.COM	Bar Magnets Shop at: AMZ
VersaMark Watermark Ink Stamp Pad Shop at: SB.COM \| AMZ	Mboss Embossing Powder-Metallic Orchid Shop at: AMZ	Mboss Embossing Powder-Iridescent Shop at: AMZ
Mboss Embossing Powder-Valentine Shop at: AMZ	Catherine Pooler Designs – Party Collection – Premium Dye Ink Pads – Rockin’ Red Shop at: SB.COM