There’s something about a cozy coffee-themed card that just makes me happy—especially when I can play with texture in unexpected ways. Today, I’m sharing a fun faux dry embossing technique that gives a beautiful, dimensional look without using an embossing folder. It’s a great way to stretch your dies and create a custom background that looks like it came straight from an embossing plate. Plus, I’m using some adorable coffee-inspired products from Pixi Dust Designs, including the Good Morning Cup Die Set, Coffee Lover Die Set, and the Coffee 6 x 6 Pattern Paper Pad.
If you’ve never tried faux dry embossing before, you’re in for a treat! It’s simple, budget-friendly, and a fantastic way to add depth and interest to your cards. Let’s dive in!
Faux Dry Embossing Coffee Card:
Creating the Faux Dry Embossed Background
To start, I reached for one of my go-to neutral cardstocks—Neenah Desert Storm 80lb. I love this warm kraft tone because it pairs beautifully with so many colors and instantly gives a cozy, organic feel to any card. I cut a panel to 4 1/4” x 5 1/2” and started die-cutting elements for my background using the Coffee Lover Die Set.
One of my favorite things about this set is that it includes three different coffee maker designs. I cut each one multiple times from the same Neenah Desert Storm cardstock, along with some coffee beans, to create a monochromatic layered effect. The key to faux dry embossing is to use die cuts in the same color as your background—this allows the texture to shine without adding visual clutter.
After arranging and gluing my die-cut pieces randomly onto the panel, I trimmed any overhanging edges and ran the entire panel through my die-cutting machine with a rubber embossing mat. This step is what really makes the magic happen—the pressure from the machine presses the die cuts into the cardstock, giving them a deep, embossed look. Running it through twice ensures a nice, crisp impression.
Pro Tip: If your machine doesn’t have an embossing mat, you can create a similar effect by layering a few pieces of thin cardstock underneath your panel to create extra pressure.
To bring out the details even more, I lightly blended Memento Toffee Crunch ink over the raised areas with a foam blending tool. This subtle shading enhances the dimension and makes the embossing pop, just like an actual embossing folder would!
Assembling the Coffee Cup Focal Point
Once the background was complete, it was time to build my focal point—an adorable to-go coffee cup from the Good Morning Cup Die Set. I love how this set includes all the little details, like the lid, straw, and even whipped cream!
I die cut the cup and whipped cream from Neenah Solar White 80lb cardstock, keeping things crisp and clean. For the band around the cup and the straw, I pulled in some patterned paper from the Coffee 6 x 6 Pattern Paper Pad—a subtle way to add a pop of interest without overwhelming the design. To give the cup a realistic feel, I also die cut the lid from vellum and layered a white glitter cardstock drizzle on top of the whipped cream for a little sparkle.
When assembling, I added shading with Toffee Crunch ink to give the cup a more dimensional look. The etched guidelines on the dies make it super easy to line everything up perfectly—one of my favorite features of Pixi Dust Designs’ die sets!
Finishing Touches & Sentiment
For the sentiment, I wanted something bold yet playful, so I used the Coffee Lover word die from the Coffee Lover Die Set. I cut "Coffee" from light blue cardstock and "Lover" from pink cardstock to match my card base, tying everything together. I couldn’t resist adding a little extra charm by replacing the “o” in both words with die-cut coffee beans—because why not?
To bring the whole design together, I mounted the embossed panel onto a slightly larger pink cardstock mat (4 1/8” x 5 3/8”) before adhering it to my A2 top-folding card base. Then, I popped up the assembled coffee cup with foam tape, giving it just the right amount of dimension.
As a final touch, I added a few white gel pen highlights for extra detail—something as simple as a few tiny highlights can make a design feel more polished and complete.
Why Faux Dry Embossing is a Game-Changer
If you’re looking for a fresh way to use your dies, this technique is a must-try! Faux dry embossing is not only a great way to get more mileage out of your die sets, but it also lets you create completely custom backgrounds tailored to your theme. You can try this technique with florals, geometric shapes, or even seasonal elements—the possibilities are endless!
I hope this project inspires you to give it a go. Be sure to check out the video tutorial to see the entire process in action.
Faux Dry Embossed Coffee Card Video Tutorial:
If you have problems watching the video here on my blog you can always watch it on my YouTube Channel by Clicking here!
(Wondering what I used in this video? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible). As always I appreciate your support of my videos!
Materials Used:
Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.
Happy Stampin'
Rick Adkins
Affiliate Disclaimer:
Just a friendly reminder, as part of my commitment to transparency, please note that some of the links provided maybe affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support is truly appreciated!
Additionally, I kindly ask that you always accept the tracking cookie for the affiliate websites. Rest assured, this will not in any way expose your computer to viruses or compromise your information. It's simply necessary for the company to attribute the sale to the affiliate, ensuring creators like myself receive their rightful commissions.
Your trust and support enable me to continue sharing creativity through my email lists, blog, and YouTube channel. Thank you for being a valued part of our crafting community!
Comments