Step 1: Gather the supplies. 

Step 2: Using a script background stamp, such as French Marketplace CMS071, stamp script over an A2 piece of Watercolor Cardstock with Lost Shadow Distress Ink. Distress Ink is used because it is water reactive and will lighten with later steps. Dry with a heat tool. 

Step 3: Put a stencil, such as Flourish THS032 or Roses THS075, over the stamped background. Apply Embossing Ink by dabbing ink onto the stencil with a Dabber or Ink Pad and work it in with a Blending Brush (or Blending Foam) through the stencil onto the background. Apply the Embossing Ink in both corners of the stamped A2 piece. 

Step 4: Spread Embossing Glaze over the areas with the Embossing Ink and shake off excess. Return excess to the jar, then heat Embossing Glaze until it is translucent. 

Step 5: Using a Blending Tool, make a blended background over the entire piece of A2 watercolor Cardstock with Distress Ink or Distress Oxide. 

Step 6: Spray the background several times with water, then with a spray or two of Spritz. Set aside to dry naturally. Do not use a heat tool. 

Step 7: Once dry, heat up an iron. This can be either a craft iron or a regular iron. Turn the steam off. Dry iron only. Place a clean piece of A2 Watercolor Cardstock over the embossed background. Lay a piece of copy paper over both and iron over the top taking care not to shift either piece.  

Step 8: The goal is to remelt the Glaze. As it melts it will soak into the Watercolor Cardstock on top. After ironing for a minute or so, long enough to be sure all the Glaze has remelted, separate the two pieces of watercolor cardstock. The Ink or Oxide and Spritz were resisted by the glaze on the first piece, (the two on the left) and the Glaze soaked into the second piece leaving an opposite image that will also resist ink in a different way (the two on the right.) You can blend a background on the second piece of Watercolor Cardstock. This technique yields two backgrounds each time.  

Step 9: Stamp a focal piece onto a piece of Watercolor Cardstock, such as Classic #17 SCF017 or Tattoo You COM032, and emboss with Distress Embossing Glaze. Watercolor the image with Distress Ink and Distress Spritz if desired. Trim a small mat around the edges of the image with the Deckle Trimmer. Attach the image onto the center of the card front with dimensional adhesive like foam dots or foam tape.  

Step 10: Stamp a sentiment, samples used Noteworthy CMS446, on a strip of Watercolor cardstock and emboss with Distress Embossing glaze. Attach in the bottom center of the card. Machine stitch around the outside if desired. Adhere the finished card front to a white A2 card base. The photo shows all four card fronts, two with the embossed glaze on the top and the two on the bottom with the mirrored ironed-off glaze. 

Thank you so much for following along with the tutorial. I hope you will give this Distress Embossing Glaze Iron-off technique a try. It’s fun and addicting!