Sizzix - Textured Plates

Sizzix Texture Plates are very similar to dry embossing.  These plates create embossed images on paper and card stock.  This tutorial is a step by step picture tutorial showing how to use these plates.  The plate below is part of the Texture Plates Kit #4 (SU PN 114531).

   

Before going through how to set-up the texture plate for embossing, the difference between the crease pad and the silicone rubber needs to be explained.  The Crease Pad is used with dies which create die cuts that require folding to create the final project. 

It is easy to confuse the Crease Pad with the Silicone Rubber Pad when you haven't use them before.  The Crease Pad is larger than the Silicone Rubber Pad and not as stiff as the Impression Pad.  The Silicone Rubber pad which you will be using with the texture plates is extremely floppy.  If the Crease Pad is used instead of the Silicone Rubber Pad, it will be almost impossible to put the sandwich assembly through the Big Shot (or BigKick). I suggest labeling the various pads to help you avoid making this mistake.   The picture below shows the difference between these pads.

 

Let's now build the sandwich assembly for the texture plates.

Step 1: Flip the Multipurpose Platform tab to Tab 1.  

Step 2: The texture plate has a different pattern on each side.  Place the texture plate on top of Tab 1 with the pattern that you want to use facing up.

Step 3: Place the paper on top of the texture plate in the orientation you want it embossed.

 

Step 4: Place the Silicone Rubber pad over the paper.

   

Step 5: Place the Impressions Pad over the Silicone Rubber.

Step 6: Roll the sandwich through the BigKick or Big Shot.

You're done!  Here is a comparison showing the before and after.

Below is a sample using paper which has been texturized (if that is a word) using the texture plates.

I hope this tutorial has helped those of you who wish to use the textured plates!  The more I play with them the more in love I am!!!

After I initially created this post, I recieved several emails and read various post with additional tips and tricks to using these textured plates.  These tips & tricks are listed below.

1. Use an extra piece of card stock as a shim to create a deeper impression - Glenda Trexler
2. Run the Sandwich through the Big Shot twice to create a deeper impression - Patty Bennett
3. Lighty mist the card stock with water or paper glide before embossing it, this can help create a better image - Regina Andari

Comments

[Angela]

I was just panicing trying to figure out which of my soft rubbery pads was the silicone one and which was the crease pad - THANKS!!