CLICK HERE to list all videos in this series.
Welcome to card #3 in my series! Originally, I planned the most beautiful nail polish marbling in water cards. They were really incredible. But, sadly, I realized after they dried that the nail polish peeled off the paper. I was so disappointed! So, I was just searching around on YouTube and Pinterest for more inspiration, and I came across several YouTube videos on a very interesting technique… dry embossing toilet paper. I figured, why not?
I LOVE this technique. The results are really striking. Here’s the first card:
I’ve successfully used ink on embossing folders with paper before, but the results can be pretty spotty. Some inks work well, some don’t. Sometimes you get good coverage, sometimes you don’t. It’s a lot of trial and error. But, with toilet paper, the coverage is vibrant and beautiful. Here is a close-up of this card, which uses Walnut Stain Distress Ink and the Stampin’ Up! Woodlands embossing folder. It’s the one I create in the video below:
By the way, I must apologize for not keeping track of Stampin’ Up! active catalogs. This folder was part of the holiday catalog, which expired in January. Maybe they will bring the folder back in the next annual catalog. I hope they do because it’s a beautiful folder. In the meantime, some substitutes: Tim Holtz Birch Trees, Elizabeth Craft Berry Branch, and We R Memory Keepers Wood Grain (currently out of stock but hopefully in stock soon). By the way, I am experimenting with a new affiliate, Blitsy. They approached me last week about linking to them. I found that they have quite an inventory at good prices. And, I thought it might help with a lot of these items that go out of stock so quickly. I’d like to get some feedback from you before “officially” adding them. So, I’ll put some links in here and there – please let me know your experience.
Okay, so back to the toilet paper…you can use any water-based dye ink. For this next card, I used Stampin’ Up! Real Red and the Sizzix Branches embossing folder:
The sentiment is from the Love You More set. I couldn’t stop! Here is another one using Peeled Paint Distress Ink and another Sizzix Branches embossing folder:
With this one, I used the curved edge die from the Avery Elle Custom Panels die set on my toilet paper panel. By running it through the big shot, it flattened out the raised parts. It’s so soft! Here is a close-up:
Finally, I used Peacock Feathers Distress Ink on the Sizzix Snowflake embossing folder:
For this card, I arranged my Spellbinders square dies into a pattern, like so:
Then, I traced around them with a pencil and cut the toilet paper with scissors.
So what do you think? I hope you are enjoying this series.
Supplies:
To purchase at Ellen Hutson, click the EH link. To purchase at Simon Says Stamp, click the SSS link.
Copic Markers used: R22, R24, R29
 SSS Striped Greetings |
 Femme Frames Dies |
 SSS Songbird Branch |
 Copic Sketch Markers EH|DB |
 Copic .3 Black Liner |
 Walnut Stain Distress Ink EH|SSS |
 Versafine Vintage Sepia Ink EH|SSS |
 Neenah Cardstock EH|SSS |
 Sizzix Big Shot EH|SSS |
 Stampin’ Up! Craft Scissors |
 Dimensionals |
 Tombow Mono Multi Glue EH|SSS |
Connie
Hi Darlene! This is a really neat technique. Who would’ve thought you could use toilet paper in this way!! I haven’t used any embossing folders recently so I must go through mine and see what I have that will work. Thanks for sharing another great card idea with things from around the house.
scrapcajun
Darlene, I love this technique and how bright and vibrant it is as opposed to just stamping regular card stock with the embossing folder. Thank you so much for helping me make great cards with your ingenious ideas!
Merry
Love this!!! Very creative, TFS.
Sarah
what a fun technique! I can’t wait to try it. And I believe stampin up is bringing this embossing folder back in may for the new catalogue due to its popularity
Carol Mac
yup, it’s there…had a little sneak peak!?
lovinpaper
Love this technique. I will definitely give it a try. I just got the PDF of the new 2016 SU Catalog last night and the Woodland Embossing Folder is indeed in it! No worries about using it.
even4stevens
Lovinpaper, can you share that PDFs..I’d love to see it!
lovinpaper
I do not know how to link it here. My sister sent it to me as she is an SU demonstator. Maybe someone has it on their blog.
DebiKT
The new SU catalog is not available to customers until June 1. It was released to demonstrators yesterday and, I can tell you, that the new catalog is generating a lot of excitement!
Darlene DeVries
Yay! Thanks for the update Lisa!
Elyse
Can’t wait to try this!!
jebo739
How neaat is that! what a technique. Very pretty card too. Thank you.
hberry
Awesome! I love this technique. Thanks for showing it! I can’t wait to try it.
swimbikerunat60
Well, leave it to you Darlene, to WOW!! us with your creativity!!! I just love the way the toilet paper was totally transformed into something truly beautiful, you elevated this humble household product, to a higher level.
I do have a question…..you put 7 layers of the toilet paper in the embossing folder and it was pretty thick, when it came out it look thinner but, when you put it in the card, it look like you took some layers away, from the video it looks like it’s way thinner than what came out of the big shot. Did you put the whole 7 layers on your cards?
They look just so beautiful, I have that Woodland embossing folder and I’m going to do this technique right away.
Thank you Darlene, you are so creative, who would have thought…..toilet paper in a card, brilliant!!!!!
Darlene DeVries
Hi Maria. Yes, all seven layers were used, and I didn’t remove any of them. The water and the pressure from the Big Shot fuses all the layers together permanently. I hope you’ll try it!
mjs1033
Where do you come up with these things! Wow!
mary w
Fantastic itdea. I used to lay a stack of toilet paper on top of a red rubber stamp and pounce it with water in a stencil brush. It drove the paper down into the shape of the stamp. In the morning, it was dry and easily removed, trimmed, and used as an embellishment. You have taken that a whole lot of steps further. Now it can be colored and I’m full of inspiration. Thanks so much.
Jan Castle
Will definitely have to give this a try!!!! Thanks so much!
Paper Hugs,
Jan
Cynthia Berquist
I’m away from home for a few days and Now I can hardly wait to get back to try this technique! Darlene you just continue to inspire us! Simply Gorgeous!! Did you put all seven layers of tp on the card? If so, do they really stay together without adhesive?
Carol Mac
I was going to ask this as well…just wondering after say a week, would the layers separate? How long ago did you make the card, Darlene? Thanks ?
Darlene DeVries
I made my first one on Friday, so 5 days ago. There is no sign of anything peeling off at all, even when I attempt to separate it.
Darlene DeVries
Hi Cynthia. Yes, all seven layers fuse together with the water and the squishing. It’s pretty amazing.
Cynthia Berquist
Thanks so much Darlene for clarifying! I appreciate it !n
I’m away from home for a few days and Now I can hardly wait to get back to try this technique! Darlene you just continue to inspire us! Simply Gorgeous!! Did you put all seven layers of tp on the card? If so, do they really stay together without adhesive?
Bertie
So creative. I am going to give this a try. Thank you so much.
CMA
This is the BEST technique I have seen in a long time. OMG!!!!!
Evelyn B
Great idea and the color is really really good!! I don’t know how you think of these things. Loved all three of them and want to try this myself. I’ve done pellon (stiffener for colors and cuffs in sewing) and liked the results but had some trouble getting enough ink on so it turned out to be really soft colors. Thanks for sharing this technique with us!
ben9903
HA! Toilet paper? Are you kidding me? These are beautiful cards, and what an original idea! I can’t wait to try this! You are a genius! Thanks for sharing!!
auntbubbels
I am really enjoying this series, and have made a card using the rice, and need to make one with the tin foil. And who would of thought of using toilet paper!!!
Glenismaree
TOILET PAPER!!!!!! WOW! I’m impressed. Love this technique. I will be trying this some time today. Thanks Darlene
suzierubberstamp
Truly inspired! Love stand am going to try it soon.
jennyjo88
Thanks for introducing me to another great technique! BTW, you asked for feedback on Blitsy…I have ordered from them several times, they have great customer service, the only thing to keep in mind is they are pretty slow to ship. If you are not in a hurry for the items, they have a great selection at good prices. 🙂
Nancy R.
What made you think to try toilet paper?? It’s gorgeous! Who’d have guessed?!?!
Gulffire
This is super cool and the results are stunning. So easy to do with supplies we all probably have in one form or another. Thanks!
DebiKT
I have to agree with everyone else….. Great technique and I’ll give it a go!
Brenda L.
OMGosh, this video was so cool Darlene! I would have never tried embossing with ink on toilet paper. I will have to give this a try. Hugs, Brenda
Polka Dot Rosie
Hi, Darlene 🙂 I’m SO happy you posted this! I have tried many times to ink up an embossing folder, but have failed at every single attempt! Hadn’t even thought of using good ole TP, but now I’m going to have to try. I love the way the cards turned out!
okiedee
OMG! I have to try this one…it is like a pressed paper you can buy…this is the best yet!
The bird is perfect!..Cardinals are a large bird..looks great.
Your imagination is a wonder.
Anita
Beautiful card! amazing technique. I was thinking of having birds as our next challenge!! I love the way you colored it. It adds so much to the already beautiful card.
Lesley S
I’m really impressed with how well the ink transfers from the embossing folder to the toilet paper. I think the results are better than with cardstock. Thanks for more inspiration!
Annette
Thank you for sharing this great technique Darlene. I am looking forward to trying it out.
T Blevins
Great technique. Love your cards as usual. I just wanted to put in my two sense about Blitsy. I have ordered from them many times and the prices are great as well as the customer service. The downside is the shipping time. It can take longer than a week some times more than that. I am not sure what their process is for getting the items they have because I’ve received many emails saying they will ship my order as soon as they receive all items. It hasn’t discouraged me from using them but it’s something to note if you order something expecting to come next day.
clarkmbl
I simply LOVE these cards! I have to believe the texture is wonderful too. I added this to my favorites 🙂 Thanks for the reminder about that blog feature – I will use it often now. As for Blitsy, I have used them many times myself and have had good experiences each time. I try to make it a larger order because of the shipping costs but it seems like shipping is a costly item no matter where you order from these days. Thanks for sharing your talents – you truly inspire me quite often.
Aki
where can I find those plastic sleeves by anna griffin, they came 30 to a package for $19.95.
Darlene DeVries
Hi Aki. I’m not sure what you are referring to. Where have you seen me use these?
Amy
Trying to catch up on my emails and I saw this. Don’t know how I missed it because LLC is always the first I scan for. THIS IS HYSTERICAL!!! AND BEAUTIFUL!!!! Darlene, I don’t know how you think up these things but you constantly amaze me with your creativity. I can’t WAIT to try this. I am going to send a TP card to someone on my family and then after they get it I will tell them how I did it. THANKS AS ALWAYS!!!!
Lizzie
Hi Darlene….I have to tell you, I just came out of my office (craft room) to tell you how wonderful these turned out. I am really excited. I used some embossing folders that are from Anna Griffin and they are very elegant ones. Can’t wait to tell my friends they are made from toilet paper! Just one thing I discovered, at least for me. The only inks that actually work are distress inks. When I tried to use any others they stuck to the paper and ripped. I don’t remember if you said to use only distress inks, but it’s just something I wanted to throw out there. Thanks for the cool idea once again
Darlene DeVries
Hi Lizzie. The red one I created was with Stampin’ Up! ink. I’m wondering if more water will prevent the sticking?
Lizzie
More water might do it, I’ll try that. I was just worried about over wetting the paper. Thanks Darlene
Caly
Such a cool technique, Darlene! Thanks for sharing!
crazy4life
WOW ! This is a Really neat technique! I am definitely going to try this…Thanks for the ideas….