How many embossing folders do you have?

I have about 15. I could get rid of a few and never miss them.

I have a lot. And just recently picked up a bunch more at the Ellison warehouse sale. They had embossing folders with coordinating stamps! There was such a new variety that I picked up quite a few. And they were super cheap at this warehouse sale. How could I walk away from that?

I use them so often that I love having a variety to choose from. I've also gotten into using them with different media than paper. I made something for a little book cover for myself out of super thin leather. It embossed perfectly and retained the embossing over time. I wasn't sure because I'd never tried other materials, but I'm on a tangent now!

I'll pass on another tip then. Try using an old soda or beer can. I use gloves because I'm a bit of a clutz and they can be sharp. Cut the top and bottom off with some tin snips (you could use scissors, but then I would dedicate those scissors to aluminum from then on) and make a cut up the side to be able to flatten the piece. Go ahead and emboss as usual.

When you remove it from the embossing plate, if the design is small and you can push on the front and it doesn't crush it, it can be used as is. If you have a larger design or a hollow area like a large bird or flower that would crush inward, turn the tin over, using a spreading tool like one for cake frosting, and spread in a bit of non-shrinking drywall patching compound. The kind you would get at the hardware store that is used to fill in holes in walls. It is inexpensive and dries firm, light in weight, and doesn't shrink away from the aluminum. Once that dries, your design will not flatten because you have the hard compound in there providing support.

And if you should want to try thin leather, wet the leather first just slightly. It will take the shape better. My sister used to own a leather shop where they make everything from little wallets, purses, belts, horse tack, and gorgeous horse saddles (is that considered tack too? I'm not a horse person like she is) Anyway, she gave me a few tools and some leather scraps and told me to wet it first. I'll snap a photo of some when I can get into my scrap room again.

Oh, and the thin leather cuts beautifully with any of the steel rule dies like the Sizzix. I almost gave away some of my old Sizzix when I realized I could use them to cut thicker things like this. Now I use the heck out of the little squares, circles, and small frames, making them out of leather for various things. I made a necklace for myself that is a tiny leather book. Also, you can buy those little silver or bronze round disks on Ebay with an eye for hanging, cut your leather piece to the same size as the inside diameter of the circle, and you can stamp designs on the leather. I've done initials and various stamped designs. It looks great! You could use an embossed piece too.

You can also pressure emboss thin acetate sheets and Vertigo by Imagine crafts. 

After my little splurge (I posted the enabling post about J's) I now have 119.  I have used 7 different ones in the last 2 weeks.  Now I almost feel like one of my layers in my cards really needs some texture so out comes the collection.  I use color core card stock by Coordinations, OR ink up a sheet of white or cream card stock, emboss and then sand the result, OR I emboss and then run and ink pad over the resulting raised pattern.

Maybe around 25 but I hardly ever use any of them.

Yeah, that is funny. I feel like I have 11ty billion, but I never use mine. Awful, I know. I buy them, but don't use them.

Yup same here. I've never counted either maybe between 20-30 but there's lots I never use. I use the 8x8 and the large letter size (a4) mostly

I use mine on cards a lot but not on layouts ......would love some ideas to get more mileage from my folders.....

Well, I'm embarrassed to say that I have never embossed. [blush] But, after reading all these posts, I wanted to have at least a few folders, so I just ordered 3 on Amazon. [I'm so easily influenced. ha ha] I don't have a machine, and will try the rolling pin method to start with. Has anyone here had success with this? I am a card maker and would love to add more texture to my cards, but not sure I want to put out the money for an embossing machine right now.

Maybe 5 if that. I'm not a huge embossing person. I should try and use them more though.

Some how I have too many but at the same time not enough. Or at least not the right one I want at that moment