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I got my heat gun several years at Walmart for $15. I tried using the toaster one time....took forever and did not do that great of a job. I am as cheap as they come, but compare the price of a heat gun to a new house if something goes wrong using another heat source.
Is it just me that is seeing an ad for a toaster oven at the bottom of this thread. Too funny!!
And, I don't blame you for refusing to pay $40 for a heat gun. (I have one from WalMart) but I'd do the light bulb or toaster thing for that kind of money. Makes me really, really appreciate that I live in an area where Michaels, JoAnns, and Hobby Lobby are readily available to shop in.
While we were living in our motorhome where space is at a premium I made do using my electric fry pan set to the lowest heat. It worked great as long as you did not overcook it! On the lowest setting it would take a long time to burn anything but was hot enough to melt the embossing powder. It was easy to use and I did not have to take up more space which allowed me to have more supplies with me! I used a pancake turner to lift it or a pair of craft tweezers.:p
Before I dug in and purchased a heat gun, I used a space heater to do a chalk resist technique that required heat. Never tried embossing with the space heater but it did work for the chalk resist. Very glad to have purchased the heat gun, though. It has been well worth it. Hobby Lobby's heat gun sells for about $20.00., and that's without a coupon or sale. Do they have HL in Canada?
Embossing without a heat gun. And I thought it was crazy when I tried the soot technique and set my paper on fire (I wasn't really surprised - which is why I did it outdoors!). The answers here simply amaze me. My first reaction was "never even crossed my mind."
My Amish friends taught me about embossing. They use an oil lamp (yup, just like you have for when the electricity goes out!) and hold the card stock over the chimney, heating the bottom side. It works great and I still prefer this over that noisy heat gun! Just keep the card stock moving gently until it starts to melt and be careful not to hold it so close to the chimney that it scorches. HTH!
__________________ Pegg Thomas Socialism is trickle up poverty.
OHHH, Great idea, I even have that kind of clipboard here! I use a hardware heat gun for embossing and have never had a problem. Mine has two settings and I use ONLY THE LOW setting. Not a bad deal since my brother is a painter and had an extra one kicking around = free (In a box even!) Price was right so I make it work....and I spend enough money on so much crafty stuff that the break was welcomed. Here in Canada the craft heat guns go for about $40 at Michaels (which only annoys me that it's so much cheaper in US even though the dollars are not that much difference!)
I think I'll look though on my next visit to Buffalo and get a proper one there since I don't really like the hot metal tip on my exisiting heat gun.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snuckers
I too use a hardware store heat gun to emboss. I leave a wee bit of extra card stock at the top of the image I am going to emboss. Then I clip the cardstock to a clipboard (made of fiber board, not plastic) before embossing. I also leave the cardstock under the clip for a couple of minutes to allow the metal clip time to cool off before I touch it. Works like a charm!
No Hobby Lobby.....Only Michaels, whatever they carry at Walmart and any local scrapbooking store. I have also shopped at Loomis and Curry's for more art supply stuff.
Quote:
Originally Posted by StampinHoosier
Before I dug in and purchased a heat gun, I used a space heater to do a chalk resist technique that required heat. Never tried embossing with the space heater but it did work for the chalk resist. Very glad to have purchased the heat gun, though. It has been well worth it. Hobby Lobby's heat gun sells for about $20.00., and that's without a coupon or sale. Do they have HL in Canada?
Way back when, I used to take a clean saucepan, heat it on the stove for a minute, then turn it upside down and melt the EP by holding it over the bottom of the hot pot. Very awkward, dangerous and stupid. I scorched the paper a couple of times, too. I definitely Do Not recommend this method.
The one good thing about it was that it convinced me to buy a proper heat gun sooner rather than later!
I used my iron. You may have to experiment with the heat setting. Just would rub the back side in little circles over the sitting iron until the embossing powder melted. It worked great.
I did the top of the toaster oven for years without a problem. No issues of powder blowing off there.
Yes, I have a heat gun now, courtesy of a coupon. But I still use the toaster oven on occasion!
Same here, I bought one yesterday with a 40% off coupon from micheals--it cost 14.99 plus tax. How good it that? They also had a cheeper $20 one but i got the $25 cause I trusted the brand, well had heard of it!
Previously I had used a toaster (not oven) for many years with no problems. Set it to a medium heat. It may take a bit longer than high, but the embossing powder will be shinner. Hold with tongs or a wooden peg if your fingers get too hot.
No Hobby Lobby.....Only Michaels, whatever they carry at Walmart and any local scrapbooking store. I have also shopped at Loomis and Curry's for more art supply stuff.
If you can obtain a heat gun, it is worth it, especially if you like to emboss. There was a bit of a learning curve--at least for me, can't speak for others--but now I really like using it to add a touch of elegance and dimension to cards. The heat gun is also nice for setting inks.
