Using Embossing Paste with Brass Stencils
by Polly's Pals

The general steps for using either of the embossing pastes is listed below.

1. Tape out the edges of the stencil well on all four sides so that it is flat on the surface of the paper.  I use removable tape from 3-M.  It comes up off the paper with no tearing.
    
2. Apply color to the images. (See tips below)
    
3. I now will also use the post-it-notes around the edges of the tape.  I do this for two reasons.
   
   A. To protect the tape because it can be used over and over again unless you get paste on it, then you have to throw it away.
   
   B. By placing post-it-notes around the edges you have made a shield so that you do not get paste on other parts of the card and spoiling it. I do this every time.
    
4. Pick up the paste on the bottom of the metal palette knife and smooth it over the stencil's cut out areas as if applying icing to a cake.  I do this keeping the knife fairly flat to the surface. Then I scrape off the excess paste by starting at the top, with a SLIGHT angle on the knife, pulling it down across the surface of the stencil making it smooth. Put the remains of the paste back in the jar, put the lid back on the jar. You do not want the paste to dry out.  DO THIS EVERY TIME! Place your tool in the water with the SIMPLE GREEN in it.
    
5. Remove the post-it-notes, then the tape, KEEPING THE TOP PIECE OF TAPE ATTACHED. Bring the card to the edge of the table with about 1/2 inch of the paper hanging over the edge of the table.  Use your thumb to press down the edge of the paper.  This will automatically lift up the bottom edge of the paper which will make it easier to grab hold of the stencil.  Lift the stencil STRAIGHT UP and peal it off the paper.
    
6. Immediately place your stencil in a pan of water with the SIMPLE GREEN in it.

TIPS:

1. Always keep your pan of water nearby to submerge your stencil and applicator immediately so that the embossing paste comes off easily when cleaned.
    
2. People have asked me how much Simple Green I use, 15 squirts, about 1 qt. of water.
    
3. With the opaque paste you can either paste first, take the stencil off and let it dry, put the stencil back on and color it or you can color it first, put the paste over it, lift the stencil off and let it dry.  You can put the stencil back on after it is dry and highlight if you wish.
    
4. The opaque is the white, matte finish paste with the red label.
    
5. The translucent paste is the clear paste with the blue label and dries brighter and glossy if you put the color on first.
    
6. The drying time varies from region to region where you live depending on the humidity. Dryer climates take about 40-45 minutes. More humid climates take well over an hour.
    
7. I have taken a dollop of paste and put it on a piece of wax paper and mixed acrylic paint in with it to make colored paste.  Any leftover paste can be stored in a clear film canister and keeps very well. As soon as you put the cap on the bottle it becomes air tight. You can also use other mediums to color the paste such as Pearl X, pastel powder, oil paint, whatever. I chose the acrylic paint because it is cheap. I have found coloring the paste makes it dry a little slower.  Also, when I mixed the color in it kind of looked milky and I was afraid the color would not be the bright color I wanted.  Fooled me!  The color came out perfect so do not let the milky color fool you.
    
8. Never use your heat gun to dry your product. The gun makes it bubble and crack. Let it air dry.
    
9. WHEN YOU ARE SMOOTHING ON THE PASTE OVER THE STENCIL, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, LIFT UP YOUR PALETTE KNIFE ON THE IMAGE. IF YOU HAVE TO LIFT IT FOR SOME REASON MOVE YOUR KNIFE OVER TO A POST-IT-NOTE AND LIFT OFF THERE.
    
10. If there is a film or residue of paste on the stencil use a rubber stamp cleaner that removes permanent inks.  Apply it generously and scrub with a dry paper towel.